Skilled Wages

Ironworker salary in Louisiana

Median $33.09 an hour for 1,180 structural iron and steel workers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$33.09/hrMedian hourly wageLouisiana, May data
$68,830/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.81 – $38.7310th to 90th percentilehourly range
1,180Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-09-28

Ironworker pay in Louisiana: the full range

Wage percentiles, LouisianaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrLouisiana: 10th $18.81 · 25th $24.84 · median $33.09 · 75th $35.32 · 90th $38.73Louisiana$33.09$18.81$38.73United States: 10th $21.43 · 25th $23.98 · median $30.18 · 75th $39.74 · 90th $52.05United States$30.18
Hourly wage percentiles for structural iron and steel workers: Louisiana vs United States, May 2025.

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 structural iron and steel workers work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$18.81 – $24.84$39,130 – $51,680roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$24.84 – $35.32$51,680 – $73,470the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$35.32 – $38.73$73,470 – $80,560the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Ironworker pay by metro in Louisiana

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrBaton Rouge: $35.32Baton Rouge$35.32New Orleans: $22.85New Orleans$22.85Houma: $22.50Houma$22.50
Median hourly wage for structural iron and steel workers by metro area in Louisiana, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Baton Rouge$21.53$35.32$37.823907% above
New Orleans$13.36$22.85$30.5910031% below
Houma$12.17$22.50$26.509032% below

Ironworker wages in Louisiana over time

Louisiana, 1999-2025LouisianaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$33.09Louisiana$30.18United States
Median hourly wage for structural iron and steel workers, Louisiana vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearLouisiana $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$14.43$27.88$17.191,760
2000$15.28$28.57$17.921,270
2001$15.52$28.21$18.721,940
2002$16.04$28.70$19.551,710
2003$15.41$26.96$19.581,500
2004$16.50$28.12$20.402,120
2005$16.23$26.75$19.512,680
2006$16.61$26.53$19.463,170
2007$18.42$28.60$20.262,990
2008$17.70$26.47$20.682,160
2009$18.06$27.10$21.402,270
2010$17.06$25.19$21.421,890
2011$17.76$25.42$21.971,950
2012$16.91$23.71$22.181,970
2013$18.50$25.57$22.362,380
2014$19.87$27.02$23.173,190
2015$22.12$30.05$24.282,980
2016$25.53$34.25$24.912,870
2017$26.01$34.16$25.302,760
2018$25.79$33.07$25.952,400
2019——$26.461,580
2020$25.29$31.46$26.361,450
2021$23.11$27.46$28.151,140
2022$28.86$31.75$29.091,160
2023$30.89$32.64$30.171,360
2024$32.22$33.07$30.141,560
2025$33.09$33.09$30.181,180

In today's dollars, the median ironworker wage in Louisiana changed by +10.1% over the last ten years of data.

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.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, LAAcadia: $26.59 (survey)Allen: —Ascension: $48.61 (union)Assumption: —Avoyelles: —Beauregard: —Bienville: —Bossier: $48.61 (union)Caddo: $48.61 (union)Calcasieu: $48.61 (union)Caldwell: —Cameron: $48.61 (union)Catahoula: —Claiborne: —Concordia: —De Soto: $48.61 (union)East Baton Rouge: $48.61 (union)East Carroll: —East Feliciana: $48.61 (union)Evangeline: —Franklin: —Grant: $48.61 (union)Iberia: $26.59 (survey)Iberville: $48.61 (union)Jackson: —Jefferson: $48.61 (union)Jefferson Davis: —Lafayette: $26.59 (survey)Lafourche: $48.61 (union)LaSalle: —Lincoln: —Livingston: $48.61 (union)Madison: —Morehouse: —Natchitoches: —Orleans: $48.61 (union)Ouachita: $48.61 (union)Plaquemines: $48.61 (union)Pointe Coupee: $48.61 (union)Rapides: $48.61 (union)Red River: —Richland: —Sabine: —St. Bernard: $48.61 (union)St. Charles: $48.61 (union)St. Helena: $48.61 (union)St. James: $48.61 (union)St. John the Baptist: $48.61 (union)St. Landry: —St. Martin: $26.59 (survey)St. Mary: —St. Tammany: $48.61 (union)Tangipahoa: $48.61 (union)Tensas: —Terrebonne: $48.61 (union)Union: $48.61 (union)Vermilion: $26.59 (survey)Vernon: —Washington: —Webster: $48.61 (union)West Baton Rouge: $48.61 (union)West Carroll: —West Feliciana: $48.61 (union)Winn: —Union / prevailing package, $/hrn/asurvey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for ironworkers by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)$20$30$40$50$60/hrLafourche (Houma): market median $22.50, prevailing (union) $48.61, gap +$26.11Lafourche (Houma)+$26.11Jefferson (New Orleans): market median $22.85, prevailing (union) $48.61, gap +$25.76Jefferson (New Orleans)+$25.76Bossier (Louisiana): market median $33.09, prevailing (union) $48.61, gap +$15.52Bossier (Louisiana)+$15.52Ascension (Baton Rouge): market median $35.32, prevailing (union) $48.61, gap +$13.29Ascension (Baton Rouge)+$13.29
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for ironworkers, metro counties in Louisiana.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AscensionUnion IRON0623-017 2025-07-01$34.75$13.86$48.61LA20260049
BossierUnion IRON0623-021 2024-07-01$34.75$13.86$48.61LA20260030
CaddoUnion IRON0623-021 2024-07-01$34.75$13.86$48.61LA20260031
CalcasieuUnion IRON0623-021 2024-07-01$34.75$13.86$48.61LA20260032
CameronUnion IRON0623-021 2024-07-01$34.75$13.86$48.61LA20260033
De SotoUnion IRON0623-021 2024-07-01$34.75$13.86$48.61LA20260034
East Baton RougeUnion IRON0623-017 2025-07-01$34.75$13.86$48.61LA20260035
East FelicianaUnion IRON0623-017 2025-07-01$34.75$13.86$48.61LA20260050
GrantUnion IRON0623-021 2024-07-01$34.75$13.86$48.61LA20260051
IbervilleUnion IRON0623-017 2025-07-01$34.75$13.86$48.61LA20260037
JeffersonUnion IRON0623-021 2024-07-01$34.75$13.86$48.61LA20260038
LafourcheUnion IRON0623-021 2024-07-01$34.75$13.86$48.61LA20260040
LivingstonUnion IRON0623-017 2025-07-01$34.75$13.86$48.61LA20260050
OrleansUnion IRON0623-021 2024-07-01$34.75$13.86$48.61LA20260041
OuachitaUnion IRON0623-021 2024-07-01$34.75$13.86$48.61LA20260042

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. 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?

152.6kConstruction jobsLouisiana, 2026-08
+12.6%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202680k100k120k140k160k180k19901995200020052010201520202025153kAug 2026
Construction employment in Louisiana (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Ironworker pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in 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 structural iron and steel workers in Louisiana in May 2025, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.39; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Louisiana and metro areas, SOC 47-2221.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.