Ironworker salary in Louisiana
Median $33.09 an hour for 1,180 ironworkers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Ironworker pay in Louisiana: the full range
Louisiana ranks 22nd of 50 states for median ironworker pay, and 17th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $37.52). 1,180 ironworkers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.1× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $18.81 – $24.84 | $39,130 – $51,680 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $24.84 – $35.32 | $51,680 – $73,470 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $35.32 – $38.73 | $73,470 – $80,560 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Ironworker pay by metro in Louisiana
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $21.53 | $35.32 | $38.90 | $37.82 | 390 | 7% above |
| New Orleans | $13.36 | $22.85 | $24.68 | $30.59 | 100 | 31% below |
| Houma | $12.17 | $22.50 | $26.44 | $26.50 | 90 | 32% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Ironworker wages in Louisiana over time
Table
| Year | Louisiana $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $14.43 | $27.88 | $17.19 | 1,760 |
| 2000 | $15.28 | $28.57 | $17.92 | 1,270 |
| 2001 | $15.52 | $28.21 | $18.72 | 1,940 |
| 2002 | $16.04 | $28.70 | $19.55 | 1,710 |
| 2003 | $15.41 | $26.96 | $19.58 | 1,500 |
| 2004 | $16.50 | $28.12 | $20.40 | 2,120 |
| 2005 | $16.23 | $26.75 | $19.51 | 2,680 |
| 2006 | $16.61 | $26.53 | $19.46 | 3,170 |
| 2007 | $18.42 | $28.60 | $20.26 | 2,990 |
| 2008 | $17.70 | $26.47 | $20.68 | 2,160 |
| 2009 | $18.06 | $27.10 | $21.40 | 2,270 |
| 2010 | $17.06 | $25.19 | $21.42 | 1,890 |
| 2011 | $17.76 | $25.42 | $21.97 | 1,950 |
| 2012 | $16.91 | $23.71 | $22.18 | 1,970 |
| 2013 | $18.50 | $25.57 | $22.36 | 2,380 |
| 2014 | $19.87 | $27.02 | $23.17 | 3,190 |
| 2015 | $22.12 | $30.05 | $24.28 | 2,980 |
| 2016 | $25.53 | $34.25 | $24.91 | 2,870 |
| 2017 | $26.01 | $34.16 | $25.30 | 2,760 |
| 2018 | $25.79 | $33.07 | $25.95 | 2,400 |
| 2019 | — | — | $26.46 | 1,580 |
| 2020 | $25.29 | $31.46 | $26.36 | 1,450 |
| 2021 | $23.11 | $27.46 | $28.15 | 1,140 |
| 2022 | $28.86 | $31.75 | $29.09 | 1,160 |
| 2023 | $30.89 | $32.64 | $30.17 | 1,360 |
| 2024 | $32.22 | $33.07 | $30.14 | 1,560 |
| 2025 | $33.09 | $33.09 | $30.18 | 1,180 |
In today's dollars, the median ironworker wage in Louisiana changed by +10.1% over the last ten years of data.
Are there more ironworker jobs in Louisiana?
BLS counted 1,180 ironworkers in Louisiana in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 11%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.
Outlook for ironworkers in Louisiana
Louisiana's labor market agency projects the number of ironworkers in the state to change by +11.3% between 2024 and 2034, from 1,620 to 1,800, with about 150 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.1% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 1,180 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Louisiana labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for ironworkers in Louisiana
On federally funded construction in Louisiana, contractors must pay ironworkers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 30 of the 35 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $48.61 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $26.59). 5 of the 35 counties still use a survey rate dated 2014 or earlier (for example Acadia County at $26.59). The market median for the state is $33.09.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascension | Union IRON0623-017 2025-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260049 |
| Bossier | Union IRON0623-021 2024-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260030 |
| Caddo | Union IRON0623-021 2024-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260031 |
| Calcasieu | Union IRON0623-021 2024-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260032 |
| Cameron | Union IRON0623-021 2024-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260033 |
| De Soto | Union IRON0623-021 2024-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260034 |
| East Baton Rouge | Union IRON0623-017 2025-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260035 |
| East Feliciana | Union IRON0623-017 2025-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260050 |
| Grant | Union IRON0623-021 2024-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260051 |
| Iberville | Union IRON0623-017 2025-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260037 |
| Jefferson | Union IRON0623-021 2024-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260038 |
| Lafourche | Union IRON0623-021 2024-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260040 |
| Livingston | Union IRON0623-017 2025-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260050 |
| Orleans | Union IRON0623-021 2024-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260041 |
| Ouachita | Union IRON0623-021 2024-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260042 |
| Plaquemines | Union IRON0623-021 2024-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260052 |
| Pointe Coupee | Union IRON0623-017 2025-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260050 |
| Rapides | Union IRON0623-021 2024-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260051 |
| St. Bernard | Union IRON0623-021 2024-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260043 |
| St. Charles | Union IRON0623-021 2024-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260052 |
| St. Helena | Union IRON0623-017 2025-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260049 |
| St. James | Union IRON0623-021 2024-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260052 |
| St. John the Baptist | Union IRON0623-021 2024-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260052 |
| St. Tammany | Union IRON0623-021 2024-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260044 |
| Tangipahoa | Union IRON0623-021 2024-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260045 |
| Terrebonne | Union IRON0623-021 2024-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260046 |
| Union | Union IRON0623-021 2024-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260047 |
| Webster | Union IRON0623-021 2024-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260048 |
| West Baton Rouge | Union IRON0623-017 2025-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260050 |
| West Feliciana | Union IRON0623-017 2025-07-01 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | LA20260050 |
| Acadia | Survey SULA2012-014 2014-09-22 | $19.07 | $7.52 | $26.59 | LA20260029 |
| Iberia | Survey SULA2012-021 2014-09-22 | $19.07 | $7.52 | $26.59 | LA20260036 |
| Lafayette | Survey SULA2012-024 2014-09-22 | $19.07 | $7.52 | $26.59 | LA20260039 |
| St. Martin | Survey SULA2012-038 2014-09-22 | $19.07 | $7.52 | $26.59 | LA20260053 |
| Vermilion | Survey SULA2012-038 2014-09-22 | $19.07 | $7.52 | $26.59 | LA20260053 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Louisiana prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Louisiana?
Keep comparing
Ironworker pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Louisiana
More on Louisiana
Questions this page answers
How much do ironworkers make in Louisiana?
The median ironworker in Louisiana earned $33.09 an hour ($68,830 a year) in May 2025, 10% above the national median of $30.18. The middle half earn $24.84–$35.32; the top 10% earn more than $38.73.
Where does Louisiana rank for ironworker pay?
Louisiana ranks 22nd of 50 states for ironworker pay, with a median of $33.09 an hour, and 17th after adjusting for Louisiana's cost of living (BEA price parity 88.2, US = 100).
What is the union ironworker rate in Louisiana?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for ironworkers in 30 counties, with a typical package of $48.61 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many ironworkers work in Louisiana?
BLS counted 1,180 ironworkers in Louisiana in May 2025, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.39; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is ironworker work growing in Louisiana?
Louisiana's labor market agency projects +11.3% growth for ironworkers between 2024 and 2034, from 1,620 to 1,800 jobs.
How many ironworker openings a year are there in Louisiana?
Louisiana projects about 150 openings a year for ironworkers over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 5,900 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Louisiana and metro areas, SOC 47-2221. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: Louisiana labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.