Skilled Wages

Ironworker salary in North Dakota

Median $39.48 an hour for 270 ironworkers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$39.48/hrMedian hourly wageNorth Dakota, May data
$82,120/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$27.60 – $48.0010th to 90th percentilehourly range
270Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Ironworker pay in North Dakota: the full range

Wage percentiles, North DakotaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrNorth Dakota: 10th $27.60 · 25th $29.72 · median $39.48 · 75th $40.38 · 90th $48.00North Dakota$39.48$27.60$48.00United 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 Dakota vs United States, May 2025.

North Dakota ranks 12th of 50 states for median ironworker pay, and 9th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $44.36). 270 ironworkers work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.7× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$27.60 – $29.72$57,410 – $61,820roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$29.72 – $40.38$61,820 – $83,990the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$40.38 – $48.00$83,990 – $99,840the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Ironworker pay by metro in North Dakota

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrFargo: $40.00Fargo$40.00
Median hourly wage for ironworkers by metro area in North Dakota, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Fargo$27.60$40.00$43.741701% above

Ironworker wages in North Dakota over time

North Dakota, 1999-2025North DakotaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40$50200020052010201520202025$39.48North Dakota$30.18United States
Median hourly wage for ironworkers, North Dakota vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNorth Dakota $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$14.56$28.14$17.19—
2000$15.78$29.50$17.92—
2001$16.61$30.19$18.72480
2002$16.64$29.78$19.55360
2003$16.83$29.45$19.58200
2004$14.11$24.05$20.40140
2005$14.28$23.54$19.51160
2006$17.93$28.63$19.46220
2007$18.28$28.38$20.26170
2008$18.46$27.60$20.68250
2009$16.59$24.90$21.40260
2010$16.91$24.97$21.42270
2011$17.31$24.77$21.97440
2012$17.50$24.54$22.18360
2013$20.31$28.07$22.36370
2014$21.63$29.42$23.17—
2015$24.71$33.56$24.28330
2016$25.02$33.56$24.91220
2017$26.73$35.11$25.30190
2018$22.99$29.48$25.95140
2019$23.44$29.52$26.46230
2020$24.69$30.71$26.36220
2021$23.77$28.24$28.15170
2022$22.83$25.11$29.09130
2023$29.38$31.04$30.17270
2024$38.21$39.22$30.14270
2025$39.48$39.48$30.18270

In today's dollars, the median ironworker wage in North Dakota changed by +17.6% over the last ten years of data and by +33.8% since 2019.

Are there more ironworker jobs in North Dakota?

0.6Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.4× the US share, 11th of 49 states

BLS counted 270 ironworkers in North Dakota in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 10%. 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 Dakota

+9.2%Projected growth in North Dakota2024–2034, state agency
20Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
270Jobs in 2024300 projected for 2034
+3.1%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

North Dakota's labor market agency projects the number of ironworkers in the state to change by +9.2% between 2024 and 2034, from 270 to 300, with about 20 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 270 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for ironworkers in North Dakota

On federally funded construction in North Dakota, contractors must pay ironworkers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 28 of the 53 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $69.06 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $43.23). 25 of the 53 counties still use a survey rate dated 2014 or earlier (for example Barnes County at $43.23). The market median for the state is $39.48.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, NDAdams: $69.06 (union)Barnes: $43.23 (survey)Benson: $43.23 (survey)Billings: $69.06 (union)Bottineau: $69.06 (union)Bowman: $69.06 (union)Burke: $69.06 (union)Burleigh: $69.06 (union)Cass: $69.06 (union)Cavalier: $43.23 (survey)Dickey: $43.23 (survey)Divide: $69.06 (union)Dunn: $69.06 (union)Eddy: $43.23 (survey)Emmons: $43.23 (survey)Foster: $43.23 (survey)Golden Valley: $69.06 (union)Grand Forks: $69.06 (union)Grant: $43.23 (survey)Griggs: $43.23 (survey)Hettinger: $69.06 (union)Kidder: $43.23 (survey)LaMoure: $43.23 (survey)Logan: $43.23 (survey)McHenry: $69.06 (union)McIntosh: $43.23 (survey)McKenzie: $69.06 (union)McLean: $69.06 (union)Mercer: $69.06 (union)Morton: $69.06 (union)Mountrail: $69.06 (union)Nelson: $43.23 (survey)Oliver: $69.06 (union)Pembina: $43.23 (survey)Pierce: $69.06 (union)Ramsey: $69.06 (union)Ransom: $43.23 (survey)Renville: $69.06 (union)Richland: $43.23 (survey)Rolette: $43.23 (survey)Sargent: $43.23 (survey)Sheridan: $69.06 (union)Sioux: $69.06 (union)Slope: $69.06 (union)Stark: $69.06 (union)Steele: $43.23 (survey)Stutsman: $43.23 (survey)Towner: $43.23 (survey)Traill: $43.23 (survey)Walsh: $43.23 (survey)Ward: $69.06 (union)Wells: $43.23 (survey)Williams: $69.06 (union)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.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AdamsUnion IRON0512-014 2022-05-01$35.95$33.11$69.06ND20260018
BillingsUnion IRON0512-014 2022-05-01$35.95$33.11$69.06ND20260020
BottineauUnion IRON0512-014 2022-05-01$35.95$33.11$69.06ND20260021
BowmanUnion IRON0512-014 2022-05-01$35.95$33.11$69.06ND20260034
BurkeUnion IRON0512-014 2022-05-01$35.95$33.11$69.06ND20260035
BurleighUnion IRON0512-006 2022-05-01$35.95$33.11$69.06ND20260012
CassUnion IRON0512-006 2022-05-01$35.95$33.11$69.06ND20260013
DivideUnion IRON0512-014 2022-05-01$35.95$33.11$69.06ND20260034
DunnUnion IRON0512-014 2022-05-01$35.95$33.11$69.06ND20260034
Golden ValleyUnion IRON0512-014 2022-05-01$35.95$33.11$69.06ND20260034
Grand ForksUnion IRON0512-006 2022-05-01$35.95$33.11$69.06ND20260014
HettingerUnion IRON0512-014 2022-05-01$35.95$33.11$69.06ND20260034
McHenryUnion IRON0512-014 2022-05-01$35.95$33.11$69.06ND20260035
McKenzieUnion IRON0512-014 2022-05-01$35.95$33.11$69.06ND20260022
McLeanUnion IRON0512-014 2022-05-01$35.95$33.11$69.06ND20260023

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

Is construction work growing in North Dakota?

33.7kConstruction jobsNorth Dakota, 2026-09
-0.3%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k10k20k30k40k50k1990199520002005201020152020202534kSep 2026
Construction employment in North Dakota (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Ironworker pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in North Dakota

More on North Dakota

Questions this page answers

How much do ironworkers make in North Dakota?

The median ironworker in North Dakota earned $39.48 an hour ($82,120 a year) in May 2025, 31% above the national median of $30.18. The middle half earn $29.72–$40.38; the top 10% earn more than $48.00.

Where does North Dakota rank for ironworker pay?

North Dakota ranks 12th of 50 states for ironworker pay, with a median of $39.48 an hour, and 9th after adjusting for North Dakota's cost of living (BEA price parity 89.0, US = 100).

What is the union ironworker rate in North Dakota?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for ironworkers in 28 counties, with a typical package of $69.06 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many ironworkers work in North Dakota?

BLS counted 270 ironworkers in North Dakota in May 2025, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.42; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is ironworker work growing in North Dakota?

North Dakota's labor market agency projects +9.2% growth for ironworkers between 2024 and 2034, from 270 to 300 jobs.

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

North Dakota projects about 20 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 Dakota 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 Dakota labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.