Skilled Wages

Ironworker salary in Missouri

Median $37.22 an hour for 1,320 ironworkers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$37.22/hrMedian hourly wageMissouri, May data
$77,410/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$23.39 – $42.9610th to 90th percentilehourly range
1,320Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Ironworker pay in Missouri: the full range

Wage percentiles, MissouriMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrMissouri: 10th $23.39 · 25th $28.14 · median $37.22 · 75th $39.33 · 90th $42.96Missouri$37.22$23.39$42.96United States: 10th $21.43 · 25th $23.98 · median $30.18 · 75th $39.74 · 90th $52.05United States$30.18
Hourly wage percentiles for ironworkers: Missouri vs United States, May 2025.

Missouri ranks 13th of 50 states for median ironworker pay, and 13th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $40.99). 1,320 ironworkers work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.8× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$23.39 – $28.14$48,650 – $58,520roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$28.14 – $39.33$58,520 – $81,800the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$39.33 – $42.96$81,800 – $89,350the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Ironworker pay by metro in Missouri

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrSt. Louis: $39.25St. Louis$39.25Columbia: $38.03Columbia$38.03Kansas City: $37.30Kansas City$37.30Springfield: $35.73Springfield$35.73Joplin: $30.10Joplin$30.10
Median hourly wage for ironworkers by metro area in Missouri, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
St. Louis$24.22$39.25$41.27$47.106705% above
Columbia$28.15$38.03$42.54$38.03402% above
Kansas City$23.29$37.30$40.32$41.59380about the same as
Springfield$21.26$35.73$40.33$38.76504% below
Joplin$22.25$30.10$35.12$43.859019% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Ironworker wages in Missouri over time

Missouri, 1999-2025MissouriUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$37.22Missouri$30.18United States
Median hourly wage for ironworkers, Missouri vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearMissouri $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$19.30$37.30$17.193,190
2000$21.28$39.78$17.923,050
2001$21.00$38.18$18.722,630
2002$22.60$40.44$19.552,900
2003$23.33$40.82$19.582,680
2004$23.30$39.71$20.402,990
2005$21.68$35.74$19.512,660
2006$23.09$36.87$19.462,130
2007$24.09$37.40$20.261,830
2008$26.66$39.86$20.681,960
2009$25.72$38.60$21.401,850
2010$22.49$33.20$21.421,340
2011$22.33$31.96$21.971,660
2012$24.60$34.49$22.181,770
2013$26.23$36.25$22.361,610
2014$25.47$34.64$23.171,170
2015$28.87$39.21$24.281,100
2016$32.49$43.58$24.911,330
2017$28.27$37.13$25.301,610
2018$26.54$34.03$25.951,650
2019$23.74$29.90$26.461,660
2020$25.15$31.28$26.361,150
2021$26.45$31.43$28.15830
2022$27.07$29.78$29.091,080
2023$29.11$30.76$30.171,040
2024$28.96$29.72$30.14910
2025$37.22$37.22$30.181,320

In today's dollars, the median ironworker wage in Missouri changed by -5.1% over the last ten years of data and by +24.5% since 2019.

Are there more ironworker jobs in Missouri?

0.5Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.0× the US share, 20th of 49 states

BLS counted 1,320 ironworkers in Missouri in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 16%. 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 Missouri

+6.9%Projected growth in Missouri2024–2034, state agency
110Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
1,300Jobs in 20241,380 projected for 2034
+3.1%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Missouri's labor market agency projects the number of ironworkers in the state to change by +6.9% between 2024 and 2034, from 1,300 to 1,380, with about 110 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.1% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 1,320 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Missouri labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for ironworkers in Missouri

On federally funded construction in Missouri, contractors must pay ironworkers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 114 of the 115 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $72.92 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $39.73). 1 of the 115 counties still use a survey rate dated 2010 or earlier (for example Phelps County at $39.73). The market median for the state is $37.22.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, MOAdair: $62.10 (union)Andrew: $73.25 (union)Atchison: $62.10 (union)Audrain: $72.92 (union)Barry: $70.25 (union)Barton: $70.25 (union)Bates: $73.25 (union)Benton: $70.25 (union)Bollinger: $75.92 (union)Boone: $73.25 (union)Buchanan: $73.25 (union)Butler: $59.32 (union)Caldwell: $73.25 (union)Callaway: $73.25 (union)Camden: $72.92 (union)Cape Girardeau: $75.92 (union)Carroll: $73.25 (union)Carter: $72.92 (union)Cass: $73.25 (union)Cedar: $70.25 (union)Chariton: $70.25 (union)Christian: $73.25 (union)Clark: $62.10 (union)Clay: $73.25 (union)Clinton: $73.25 (union)Cole: $73.25 (union)Cooper: $70.25 (union)Crawford: $72.92 (union)Dade: $73.25 (union)Dallas: $73.25 (union)Daviess: $62.10 (union)DeKalb: $73.25 (union)Dent: $70.25 (union)Douglas: $73.25 (union)Dunklin: $59.32 (union)Franklin: $75.92 (union)Gasconade: $70.25 (union)Gentry: $62.10 (union)Greene: $73.25 (union)Grundy: $62.10 (union)Harrison: $62.10 (union)Henry: $73.25 (union)Hickory: $73.25 (union)Holt: $62.10 (union)Howard: $73.25 (union)Howell: $72.92 (union)Iron: $72.92 (union)Jackson: $73.25 (union)Jasper: $73.25 (union)Jefferson: $75.92 (union)Johnson: $73.25 (union)Knox: $62.10 (union)Laclede: $73.25 (union)Lafayette: $73.25 (union)Lawrence: $70.25 (union)Lewis: $62.10 (union)Lincoln: $75.92 (union)Linn: $62.10 (union)Livingston: $62.10 (union)McDonald: $73.25 (union)Macon: $62.10 (union)Madison: $72.92 (union)Maries: $70.25 (union)Marion: $62.10 (union)Mercer: $62.10 (union)Miller: $70.25 (union)Mississippi: $59.32 (union)Moniteau: $73.25 (union)Monroe: $62.10 (union)Montgomery: $70.25 (union)Morgan: $70.25 (union)New Madrid: $59.32 (union)Newton: $73.25 (union)Nodaway: $62.10 (union)Oregon: $72.92 (union)Osage: $73.25 (union)Ozark: $73.25 (union)Pemiscot: $59.32 (union)Perry: $72.92 (union)Pettis: $73.25 (union)Phelps: $39.73 (survey)Pike: $62.10 (union)Platte: $73.25 (union)Polk: $73.25 (union)Pulaski: $72.92 (union)Putnam: $62.10 (union)Ralls: $72.92 (union)Randolph: $62.10 (union)Ray: $73.25 (union)Reynolds: $72.92 (union)Ripley: $59.32 (union)St. Charles: $75.92 (union)St. Clair: $73.25 (union)Ste. Genevieve: $72.92 (union)St. Francois: $72.92 (union)St. Louis: $75.92 (union)Saline: $62.10 (union)Schuyler: $62.10 (union)Scotland: $62.10 (union)Scott: $59.32 (union)Shannon: $72.92 (union)Shelby: $62.10 (union)Stoddard: $59.32 (union)Stone: $73.25 (union)Sullivan: $62.10 (union)Taney: $73.25 (union)Texas: $72.92 (union)Vernon: $70.25 (union)Warren: $75.92 (union)Washington: $75.92 (union)Wayne: $72.92 (union)Webster: $73.25 (union)Worth: $62.10 (union)Wright: $72.92 (union)St. Louis: $75.92 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$62.10$70.25$73.25survey 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$40$60$80/hrJasper (Joplin): market median $30.10, prevailing (union) $73.25, gap +$43.15Jasper (Joplin)+$43.15Bollinger (Missouri): market median $37.22, prevailing (union) $75.92, gap +$38.70Bollinger (Missouri)+$38.70Christian (Springfield): market median $35.73, prevailing (union) $73.25, gap +$37.52Christian (Springfield)+$37.52Franklin (St. Louis): market median $39.25, prevailing (union) $75.92, gap +$36.67Franklin (St. Louis)+$36.67Bates (Kansas City): market median $37.30, prevailing (union) $73.25, gap +$35.95Bates (Kansas City)+$35.95Boone (Columbia): market median $38.03, prevailing (union) $73.25, gap +$35.22Boone (Columbia)+$35.22
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for ironworkers, metro counties in Missouri.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BollingerUnion IRON0396-008 2025-08-06$44.27$31.65$75.92MO20260083
Cape GirardeauUnion IRON0396-008 2025-08-06$44.27$31.65$75.92MO20260083
FranklinUnion IRON0396-008 2025-08-06$44.27$31.65$75.92MO20260074
JeffersonUnion IRON0396-008 2025-08-06$44.27$31.65$75.92MO20260077
LincolnUnion IRON0396-008 2025-08-06$44.27$31.65$75.92MO20260087
St. CharlesUnion IRON0396-008 2025-08-06$44.27$31.65$75.92MO20260087
St. LouisUnion IRON0396-008 2025-08-06$44.27$31.65$75.92MO20260089
WarrenUnion IRON0396-008 2025-08-06$44.27$31.65$75.92MO20260087
WashingtonUnion IRON0396-008 2025-08-06$44.27$31.65$75.92MO20260089
St. LouisUnion IRON0396-008 2025-08-06$44.27$31.65$75.92MO20260080
AndrewUnion IRON0010-003 2025-04-01$39.00$34.25$73.25MO20260081
BatesUnion IRON0010-003 2025-04-01$39.00$34.25$73.25MO20260082
BooneUnion IRON0010-003 2025-04-01$39.00$34.25$73.25MO20260084
BuchananUnion IRON0010-003 2025-04-01$39.00$34.25$73.25MO20260081
CaldwellUnion IRON0010-003 2025-04-01$39.00$34.25$73.25MO20260082

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Missouri prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Missouri?

163.2kConstruction jobsMissouri, 2026-09
+6.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025163kSep 2026
Construction employment in Missouri (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Ironworker pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Missouri

More on Missouri

Questions this page answers

How much do ironworkers make in Missouri?

The median ironworker in Missouri earned $37.22 an hour ($77,410 a year) in May 2025, 23% above the national median of $30.18. The middle half earn $28.14–$39.33; the top 10% earn more than $42.96.

Where does Missouri rank for ironworker pay?

Missouri ranks 13th of 50 states for ironworker pay, with a median of $37.22 an hour, and 13th after adjusting for Missouri's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.8, US = 100).

What is the union ironworker rate in Missouri?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for ironworkers in 114 counties, with a typical package of $72.92 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many ironworkers work in Missouri?

BLS counted 1,320 ironworkers in Missouri in May 2025, 0.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.02; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is ironworker work growing in Missouri?

Missouri's labor market agency projects +6.9% growth for ironworkers between 2024 and 2034, from 1,300 to 1,380 jobs.

How many ironworker openings a year are there in Missouri?

Missouri projects about 110 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, Missouri 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: Missouri labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.