Skilled Wages

Ironworker salary in North Carolina

Median $23.43 an hour for 2,000 ironworkers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$23.43/hrMedian hourly wageNorth Carolina, May data
$48,740/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$17.68 – $38.0410th to 90th percentilehourly range
2,000Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Ironworker pay in North Carolina: the full range

Wage percentiles, North CarolinaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrNorth Carolina: 10th $17.68 · 25th $21.21 · median $23.43 · 75th $28.04 · 90th $38.04North Carolina$23.43$17.68$38.04United States: 10th $21.43 · 25th $23.98 · median $30.18 · 75th $39.74 · 90th $52.05United States$30.18
Hourly wage percentiles for ironworkers: North Carolina vs United States, May 2025.

North Carolina ranks 46th of 50 states for median ironworker pay, and 48th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $24.85). 2,000 ironworkers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.2× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$17.68 – $21.21$36,780 – $44,120roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$21.21 – $28.04$44,120 – $58,330the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$28.04 – $38.04$58,330 – $79,130the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Ironworker pay by metro in North Carolina

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrVirginia Beach: $28.19Virginia Beach$28.19Durham: $27.79Durham$27.79Greensboro: $23.79Greensboro$23.79Charlotte: $23.22Charlotte$23.22Winston-Salem: $22.95Winston-Salem$22.95
Median hourly wage for ironworkers by metro area in North Carolina, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Virginia Beach$22.87$28.19$28.79$35.7070020% above
Durham$18.66$27.79$28.47$29.1010019% above
Greensboro$18.71$23.79$25.61$39.251702% above
Charlotte$18.90$23.22$23.86$30.545501% below
Winston-Salem$17.40$22.95$24.95$27.141602% below

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

Ironworker wages in North Carolina over time

North Carolina, 1999-2025North CarolinaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$30.18United States$23.43North Carolina
Median hourly wage for ironworkers, North Carolina vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNorth Carolina $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$13.56$26.20$17.191,900
2000$14.62$27.33$17.921,670
2001$14.61$26.56$18.721,420
2002$15.30$27.38$19.551,270
2003$15.59$27.28$19.581,130
2004$14.41$24.56$20.401,110
2005$15.68$25.85$19.511,540
2006$15.27$24.39$19.461,600
2007$15.40$23.91$20.261,500
2008$15.84$23.69$20.681,290
2009$15.97$23.97$21.40990
2010$16.30$24.07$21.421,010
2011$16.86$24.13$21.971,070
2012$17.14$24.03$22.181,400
2013$17.22$23.80$22.361,430
2014$17.06$23.20$23.171,490
2015$17.68$24.01$24.281,250
2016$17.75$23.81$24.911,500
2017$18.63$24.47$25.301,330
2018$19.21$24.63$25.951,660
2019$20.31$25.58$26.461,570
2020$20.45$25.44$26.361,730
2021$22.47$26.70$28.151,330
2022$23.88$26.27$29.091,630
2023$24.68$26.08$30.171,380
2024$24.06$24.69$30.141,540
2025$23.43$23.43$30.182,000

In today's dollars, the median ironworker wage in North Carolina changed by -2.4% over the last ten years of data and by -8.4% since 2019.

Are there more ironworker jobs in North Carolina?

0.4Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.9× the US share, 23rd of 49 states

BLS counted 2,000 ironworkers in North Carolina in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 14%. 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 North Carolina

+4.7%Projected growth in North Carolina2024–2034, state agency
130Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
1,580Jobs in 20241,650 projected for 2034
+3.1%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

North Carolina's labor market agency projects the number of ironworkers in the state to change by +4.7% between 2024 and 2034, from 1,580 to 1,650, with about 130 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 2,000 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for ironworkers in North Carolina

On federally funded construction in North Carolina, contractors must pay ironworkers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 48 of the 100 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $47.75 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $24.37). 52 of the 100 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Alleghany County at $24.37). The market median for the state is $23.43.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, NCAlamance: $47.75 (union)Alexander: $47.75 (union)Alleghany: $24.37 (survey)Anson: $47.75 (union)Ashe: $24.37 (survey)Avery: $24.37 (survey)Beaufort: $24.37 (survey)Bertie: $24.37 (survey)Bladen: $24.37 (survey)Brunswick: $47.75 (union)Buncombe: $47.75 (union)Burke: $47.75 (union)Cabarrus: $47.75 (union)Caldwell: $47.75 (union)Camden: $24.37 (survey)Carteret: $24.37 (survey)Caswell: $24.37 (survey)Catawba: $47.75 (union)Chatham: $47.75 (union)Cherokee: $24.37 (survey)Chowan: $24.37 (survey)Clay: $24.37 (survey)Cleveland: $24.37 (survey)Columbus: $24.37 (survey)Craven: $47.75 (union)Cumberland: $47.75 (union)Currituck: $47.75 (union)Dare: $24.37 (survey)Davidson: $47.75 (union)Davie: $47.75 (union)Duplin: $24.37 (survey)Durham: $47.75 (union)Edgecombe: $47.75 (union)Forsyth: $47.75 (union)Franklin: $47.75 (union)Gaston: $47.75 (union)Gates: $47.75 (union)Graham: $24.37 (survey)Granville: $24.37 (survey)Greene: $47.75 (union)Guilford: $47.75 (union)Halifax: $24.37 (survey)Harnett: $24.37 (survey)Haywood: $47.75 (union)Henderson: $47.75 (union)Hertford: $24.37 (survey)Hoke: $47.75 (union)Hyde: $24.37 (survey)Iredell: $47.75 (union)Jackson: $24.37 (survey)Johnston: $47.75 (union)Jones: $47.75 (union)Lee: $24.37 (survey)Lenoir: $24.37 (survey)Lincoln: $47.75 (union)McDowell: $24.37 (survey)Macon: $24.37 (survey)Madison: $47.75 (union)Martin: $24.37 (survey)Mecklenburg: $47.75 (union)Mitchell: $24.37 (survey)Montgomery: $24.37 (survey)Moore: $24.37 (survey)Nash: $47.75 (union)New Hanover: $47.75 (union)Northampton: $24.37 (survey)Onslow: $47.75 (union)Orange: $47.75 (union)Pamlico: $47.75 (union)Pasquotank: $24.37 (survey)Pender: $47.75 (union)Perquimans: $24.37 (survey)Person: $47.75 (union)Pitt: $47.75 (union)Polk: $24.37 (survey)Randolph: $47.75 (union)Richmond: $24.37 (survey)Robeson: $24.37 (survey)Rockingham: $47.75 (union)Rowan: $47.75 (union)Rutherford: $24.37 (survey)Sampson: $24.37 (survey)Scotland: $24.37 (survey)Stanly: $24.37 (survey)Stokes: $47.75 (union)Surry: $24.37 (survey)Swain: $24.37 (survey)Transylvania: $24.37 (survey)Tyrrell: $24.37 (survey)Union: $47.75 (union)Vance: $24.37 (survey)Wake: $47.75 (union)Warren: $24.37 (survey)Washington: $24.37 (survey)Watauga: $24.37 (survey)Wayne: $47.75 (union)Wilkes: $24.37 (survey)Wilson: $24.37 (survey)Yadkin: $47.75 (union)Yancey: $24.37 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hrsurvey 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/hrDavidson (Winston-Salem): market median $22.95, prevailing (union) $47.75, gap +$24.80Davidson (Winston-Salem)+$24.80Anson (Charlotte): market median $23.22, prevailing (union) $47.75, gap +$24.53Anson (Charlotte)+$24.53Alamance (North Carolina): market median $23.43, prevailing (union) $47.75, gap +$24.32Alamance (North Carolina)+$24.32Guilford (Greensboro): market median $23.79, prevailing (union) $47.75, gap +$23.96Guilford (Greensboro)+$23.96Chatham (Durham): market median $27.79, prevailing (union) $47.75, gap +$19.96Chatham (Durham)+$19.96Currituck (Virginia Beach): market median $28.19, prevailing (union) $47.75, gap +$19.56Currituck (Virginia Beach)+$19.56
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for ironworkers, metro counties in North Carolina.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AlamanceUnion IRON0848-003 2025-07-01$29.75$18.00$47.75NC20260013
AlexanderUnion IRON0848-003 2025-07-01$29.75$18.00$47.75NC20260014
AnsonUnion IRON0848-005 2025-07-01$29.75$18.00$47.75NC20260021
BrunswickUnion IRON0848-003 2025-07-01$29.75$18.00$47.75NC20260015
BuncombeUnion IRON0848-003 2025-07-01$29.75$18.00$47.75NC20260016
BurkeUnion IRON0848-003 2025-07-01$29.75$18.00$47.75NC20260014
CabarrusUnion IRON0848-003 2025-07-01$29.75$18.00$47.75NC20260017
CaldwellUnion IRON0848-003 2025-07-01$29.75$18.00$47.75NC20260014
CatawbaUnion IRON0848-003 2025-07-01$29.75$18.00$47.75NC20260002
ChathamUnion IRON0848-003 2025-07-01$29.75$18.00$47.75NC20260013
CravenUnion IRON0848-003 2025-07-01$29.75$18.00$47.75NC20260018
CumberlandUnion IRON0848-003 2025-07-01$29.75$18.00$47.75NC20260122
CurrituckUnion IRON0848-003 2025-07-01$29.75$18.00$47.75NC20260123
DavidsonUnion IRON0848-003 2025-07-01$29.75$18.00$47.75NC20260124
DavieUnion IRON0848-003 2025-07-01$29.75$18.00$47.75NC20260124

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

Is construction work growing in North Carolina?

296.4kConstruction jobsNorth Carolina, 2026-09
+6.0%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025296kSep 2026
Construction employment in North Carolina (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Ironworker pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in North Carolina

More on North Carolina

Questions this page answers

How much do ironworkers make in North Carolina?

The median ironworker in North Carolina earned $23.43 an hour ($48,740 a year) in May 2025, 22% below the national median of $30.18. The middle half earn $21.21–$28.04; the top 10% earn more than $38.04.

Where does North Carolina rank for ironworker pay?

North Carolina ranks 46th of 50 states for ironworker pay, with a median of $23.43 an hour, and 48th after adjusting for North Carolina's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.3, US = 100).

What is the union ironworker rate in North Carolina?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for ironworkers in 48 counties, with a typical package of $47.75 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many ironworkers work in North Carolina?

BLS counted 2,000 ironworkers in North Carolina in May 2025, 0.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.92; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is ironworker work growing in North Carolina?

North Carolina's labor market agency projects +4.7% growth for ironworkers between 2024 and 2034, from 1,580 to 1,650 jobs.

How many ironworker openings a year are there in North Carolina?

North Carolina projects about 130 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, North Carolina 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: North Carolina labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.