Skilled Wages

Ironworker salary in Virginia

Median $28.97 an hour for 2,300 ironworkers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$28.97/hrMedian hourly wageVirginia, May data
$60,260/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$22.61 – $35.5310th to 90th percentilehourly range
2,300Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-06

Ironworker pay in Virginia: the full range

Wage percentiles, VirginiaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrVirginia: 10th $22.61 · 25th $24.66 · median $28.97 · 75th $31.24 · 90th $35.53Virginia$28.97$22.61$35.53United States: 10th $21.43 · 25th $23.98 · median $30.18 · 75th $39.74 · 90th $52.05United States$30.18
Hourly wage percentiles for ironworkers: Virginia vs United States, May 2025.

Virginia ranks 31st of 50 states for median ironworker pay, and 35th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $28.65). 2,300 ironworkers work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.6× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$22.61 – $24.66$47,040 – $51,280roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$24.66 – $31.24$51,280 – $64,980the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$31.24 – $35.53$64,980 – $73,890the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Ironworker pay by metro in Virginia

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrWashington DC: $32.85Washington DC$32.85Winchester: $29.05Winchester$29.05Richmond: $28.97Richmond$28.97Virginia Beach: $28.19Virginia Beach$28.19Harrisonburg: $27.75Harrisonburg$27.75Lynchburg: $27.14Lynchburg$27.14
Median hourly wage for ironworkers by metro area in Virginia, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Washington DC$24.39$32.85$30.17$41.041,06013% above
Winchester$23.03$29.05$30.10$42.8530about the same as
Richmond$22.67$28.97$29.59$33.83—about the same as
Virginia Beach$22.87$28.19$28.79$35.707003% below
Harrisonburg$23.81$27.75$29.24$35.68504% below
Lynchburg$20.73$27.14$30.36$29.62706% below

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

Ironworker wages in Virginia over time

Virginia, 1999-2025VirginiaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$30.18United States$28.97Virginia
Median hourly wage for ironworkers, Virginia vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearVirginia $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$14.74$28.48$17.191,590
2000$15.75$29.45$17.922,550
2001$16.07$29.21$18.722,560
2002$16.74$29.96$19.552,140
2003$16.89$29.55$19.582,420
2004$16.76$28.56$20.402,390
2005$17.01$28.04$19.511,970
2006$16.45$26.27$19.462,190
2007$17.44$27.08$20.261,970
2008$17.85$26.69$20.681,660
2009$19.14$28.72$21.401,460
2010$19.07$28.16$21.421,660
2011$18.95$27.12$21.971,790
2012$17.93$25.14$22.181,950
2013$18.99$26.24$22.361,670
2014$20.56$27.96$23.171,420
2015$21.54$29.26$24.281,490
2016$21.97$29.47$24.911,310
2017$22.85$30.01$25.301,500
2018$24.05$30.83$25.951,450
2019$24.50$30.85$26.461,550
2020$24.48$30.45$26.361,700
2021$22.71$26.98$28.151,400
2022$23.17$25.49$29.091,350
2023$24.70$26.10$30.17920
2024$27.97$28.71$30.141,190
2025$28.97$28.97$30.182,300

In today's dollars, the median ironworker wage in Virginia changed by -1.0% over the last ten years of data and by -6.1% since 2019.

Are there more ironworker jobs in Virginia?

0.6Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.3× the US share, 16th of 49 states

BLS counted 2,300 ironworkers in Virginia in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 25%. 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 Virginia

+4.0%Projected growth in Virginia2024–2034, state agency
100Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
1,080Jobs in 20241,120 projected for 2034
+3.1%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Virginia's labor market agency projects the number of ironworkers in the state to change by +4.0% between 2024 and 2034, from 1,080 to 1,120, with about 100 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 2,300 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for ironworkers in Virginia

On federally funded construction in Virginia, contractors must pay ironworkers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 80 of the 80 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $63.72 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $28.97.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, VAAccomack: n/aAlbemarle: $63.72 (union)Alleghany: n/aAmelia: $49.28 (union)Amherst: $63.72 (union)Appomattox: $63.72 (union)Arlington: $63.72 (union)Augusta: $63.72 (union)Bath: n/aBedford: $63.72 (union)Bland: n/aBotetourt: $63.72 (union)Brunswick: n/aBuchanan: n/aBuckingham: $63.72 (union)Campbell: $63.72 (union)Caroline: $49.28 (union)Carroll: n/aCharles City: $49.28 (union)Charlotte: n/aChesterfield: $49.28 (union)Clarke: $63.72 (union)Craig: $63.72 (union)Culpeper: $63.72 (union)Cumberland: n/aDickenson: n/aDinwiddie: $49.28 (union)Essex: n/aFairfax: $63.72 (union)Fauquier: $63.72 (union)Floyd: $63.72 (union)Fluvanna: $63.72 (union)Franklin: $63.72 (union)Frederick: $63.72 (union)Giles: $63.72 (union)Gloucester: $49.28 (union)Goochland: $49.28 (union)Grayson: n/aGreene: $63.72 (union)Greensville: n/aHalifax: n/aHanover: $49.28 (union)Henrico: $49.28 (union)Henry: n/aHighland: n/aIsle of Wight: $49.28 (union)James City: $49.28 (union)King and Queen: n/aKing George: n/aKing William: $49.28 (union)Lancaster: n/aLee: n/aLoudoun: $63.72 (union)Louisa: n/aLunenburg: n/aMadison: n/aMathews: $49.28 (union)Mecklenburg: n/aMiddlesex: n/aMontgomery: $63.72 (union)Nelson: $63.72 (union)New Kent: $49.28 (union)Northampton: n/aNorthumberland: n/aNottoway: n/aOrange: n/aPage: n/aPatrick: n/aPittsylvania: n/aPowhatan: $49.28 (union)Prince Edward: n/aPrince George: $49.28 (union)Prince William: $63.72 (union)Pulaski: $63.72 (union)Rappahannock: $63.72 (union)Richmond: n/aRoanoke: $63.72 (union)Rockbridge: n/aRockingham: $63.72 (union)Russell: n/aScott: $63.72 (union)Shenandoah: n/aSmyth: n/aSouthampton: n/aSpotsylvania: $63.72 (union)Stafford: $63.72 (union)Surry: n/aSussex: $49.28 (union)Tazewell: n/aWarren: $63.72 (union)Washington: $63.72 (union)Westmoreland: n/aWise: n/aWythe: n/aYork: $49.28 (union)Alexandria: $63.72 (union)Bristol: $63.72 (union)Buena Vista: n/aCharlottesville: $63.72 (union)Chesapeake: $49.28 (union)Colonial Heights: $49.28 (union)Covington: n/aDanville: n/aEmporia: n/aFairfax: $63.72 (union)Falls Church: $63.72 (union)Franklin: n/aFredericksburg: $63.72 (union)Galax: n/aHampton: $49.28 (union)Harrisonburg: $63.72 (union)Hopewell: $49.28 (union)Lexington: n/aLynchburg: $63.72 (union)Manassas: $63.72 (union)Manassas Park: $63.72 (union)Martinsville: n/aNewport News: $49.28 (union)Norfolk: $49.28 (union)Norton: n/aPetersburg: $49.28 (union)Poquoson: $49.28 (union)Portsmouth: $49.28 (union)Radford: $63.72 (union)Richmond: $49.28 (union)Roanoke: $63.72 (union)Salem: $63.72 (union)Staunton: $63.72 (union)Suffolk: $49.28 (union)Virginia Beach: $49.28 (union)Waynesboro: $63.72 (union)Williamsburg: $49.28 (union)Winchester: $63.72 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hrn/a
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/hrAmherst (Lynchburg): market median $27.14, prevailing (union) $63.72, gap +$36.58Amherst (Lynchburg)+$36.58Rockingham (Harrisonburg): market median $27.75, prevailing (union) $63.72, gap +$35.97Rockingham (Harrisonburg)+$35.97Albemarle (Virginia): market median $28.97, prevailing (union) $63.72, gap +$34.75Albemarle (Virginia)+$34.75Frederick (Winchester): market median $29.05, prevailing (union) $63.72, gap +$34.67Frederick (Winchester)+$34.67Arlington (Washington DC): market median $32.85, prevailing (union) $63.72, gap +$30.87Arlington (Washington DC)+$30.87Gloucester (Virginia Beach): market median $28.19, prevailing (union) $49.28, gap +$21.09Gloucester (Virginia Beach)+$21.09Amelia (Richmond): market median $28.97, prevailing (union) $49.28, gap +$20.31Amelia (Richmond)+$20.31
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for ironworkers, metro counties in Virginia.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AlbemarleUnion IRON0005-023 2024-06-01$37.86$25.86$63.72VA20260011
AmherstUnion IRON0005-023 2024-06-01$37.86$25.86$63.72VA20260171
AppomattoxUnion IRON0005-023 2024-06-01$37.86$25.86$63.72VA20260012
ArlingtonUnion IRON0005-023 2024-06-01$37.86$25.86$63.72VA20260013
AugustaUnion IRON0005-023 2024-06-01$37.86$25.86$63.72VA20260014
BedfordUnion IRON0005-023 2024-06-01$37.86$25.86$63.72VA20260171
BotetourtUnion IRON0005-023 2024-06-01$37.86$25.86$63.72VA20260172
BuckinghamUnion IRON0005-023 2024-06-01$37.86$25.86$63.72VA20260173
CampbellUnion IRON0005-023 2024-06-01$37.86$25.86$63.72VA20260171
ClarkeUnion IRON0005-023 2024-06-01$37.86$25.86$63.72VA20260018
CraigUnion IRON0005-023 2024-06-01$37.86$25.86$63.72VA20260172
CulpeperUnion IRON0005-023 2024-06-01$37.86$25.86$63.72VA20260174
FairfaxUnion IRON0005-022 2024-06-01$37.86$25.86$63.72VA20260178
FauquierUnion IRON0005-023 2024-06-01$37.86$25.86$63.72VA20260020
FloydUnion IRON0005-023 2024-06-01$37.86$25.86$63.72VA20260175

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Virginia prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Virginia?

230.8kConstruction jobsVirginia, 2026-09
-1.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025231kSep 2026
Construction employment in Virginia (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Ironworker pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Virginia

More on Virginia

Questions this page answers

How much do ironworkers make in Virginia?

The median ironworker in Virginia earned $28.97 an hour ($60,260 a year) in May 2025, 4% below the national median of $30.18. The middle half earn $24.66–$31.24; the top 10% earn more than $35.53.

Where does Virginia rank for ironworker pay?

Virginia ranks 31st of 50 states for ironworker pay, with a median of $28.97 an hour, and 35th after adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (BEA price parity 101.1, US = 100).

What is the union ironworker rate in Virginia?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for ironworkers in 80 counties, with a typical package of $63.72 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many ironworkers work in Virginia?

BLS counted 2,300 ironworkers in Virginia in May 2025, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.27; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is ironworker work growing in Virginia?

Virginia's labor market agency projects +4.0% growth for ironworkers between 2024 and 2034, from 1,080 to 1,120 jobs.

How many ironworker openings a year are there in Virginia?

Virginia projects about 100 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, Virginia 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 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Virginia labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.