Skilled Wages

Ironworker salary in Wisconsin

Median $44.63 an hour for 710 structural iron and steel workers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$44.63/hrMedian hourly wageWisconsin, May data
$92,820/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$27.96 – $48.1610th to 90th percentilehourly range
710Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Ironworker pay in Wisconsin: the full range

Wage percentiles, WisconsinMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrWisconsin: 10th $27.96 · 25th $36.00 · median $44.63 · 75th $46.08 · 90th $48.16Wisconsin$44.63$27.96$48.16United 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: Wisconsin vs United States, May 2025.

Wisconsin ranks 9th of 50 states for median ironworker pay, and 5th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $47.43). 710 structural iron and steel workers work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$27.96 – $36.00$58,150 – $74,880roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$36.00 – $46.08$74,880 – $95,840the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$46.08 – $48.16$95,840 – $100,160the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Ironworker pay by metro in Wisconsin

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrLa Crosse: $48.16La Crosse$48.16Minneapolis: $47.03Minneapolis$47.03Milwaukee: $46.02Milwaukee$46.02Appleton: $45.17Appleton$45.17Madison: $44.45Madison$44.45
Median hourly wage for structural iron and steel workers by metro area in Wisconsin, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
La Crosse$42.00$48.16$48.16408% above
Minneapolis$39.32$47.03$47.677505% above
Milwaukee$28.81$46.02$47.852403% above
Appleton$29.18$45.17$45.17801% above
Madison$28.45$44.45$50.5070about the same as

Ironworker wages in Wisconsin over time

Wisconsin, 1999-2025WisconsinUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40$50200020052010201520202025$44.63Wisconsin$30.18United States
Median hourly wage for structural iron and steel workers, Wisconsin vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearWisconsin $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$15.66$30.26$17.192,120
2000$24.74$46.25$17.921,450
2001$24.10$43.81$18.721,640
2002$25.15$45.01$19.551,300
2003$22.86$40.00$19.581,310
2004$23.82$40.60$20.401,550
2005$22.66$37.35$19.511,760
2006$23.95$38.25$19.461,360
2007$27.04$41.99$20.261,370
2008$27.48$41.09$20.68940
2009$28.98$43.49$21.40980
2010$24.82$36.64$21.42720
2011$27.86$39.87$21.97640
2012$29.20$40.95$22.18710
2013$29.35$40.56$22.36570
2014$31.73$43.15$23.17670
2015$32.50$44.15$24.281,070
2016$32.72$43.89$24.911,330
2017$32.79$43.07$25.301,410
2018$29.06$37.26$25.951,160
2019$31.06$39.11$26.461,020
2020$33.00$41.05$26.36940
2021$36.11$42.90$28.151,160
2022$38.51$42.36$29.09970
2023$40.86$43.17$30.17610
2024$44.19$45.35$30.14710
2025$44.63$44.63$30.18710

In today's dollars, the median ironworker wage in Wisconsin changed by +1.1% over the last ten years of data.

Union scale and prevailing wage for ironworkers in Wisconsin

On federally funded construction in Wisconsin, contractors must pay ironworkers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 72 of the 72 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $98.39 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $44.63.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, WIAdams: $98.39 (union)Ashland: $98.39 (union)Barron: $98.39 (union)Bayfield: $98.39 (union)Brown: $78.33 (union)Buffalo: $98.39 (union)Burnett: $98.39 (union)Calumet: $78.33 (union)Chippewa: $83.21 (union)Clark: $98.39 (union)Columbia: $98.39 (union)Crawford: $98.39 (union)Dane: $76.66 (union)Dodge: $98.39 (union)Door: $98.39 (union)Douglas: $79.75 (union)Dunn: $98.39 (union)Eau Claire: $83.21 (union)Florence: $98.39 (union)Fond du Lac: $98.39 (union)Forest: $98.39 (union)Grant: $98.39 (union)Green: $98.39 (union)Green Lake: $98.39 (union)Iowa: $98.39 (union)Iron: $98.39 (union)Jackson: $98.39 (union)Jefferson: $98.39 (union)Juneau: $98.39 (union)Kenosha: $81.19 (union)Kewaunee: $98.39 (union)La Crosse: $76.66 (union)Lafayette: $98.39 (union)Langlade: $98.39 (union)Lincoln: $98.39 (union)Manitowoc: $98.39 (union)Marathon: $76.66 (union)Marinette: $98.39 (union)Marquette: $98.39 (union)Menominee: $98.39 (union)Milwaukee: $81.19 (union)Monroe: $98.39 (union)Oconto: $98.39 (union)Oneida: $98.39 (union)Outagamie: $78.33 (union)Ozaukee: $81.19 (union)Pepin: $98.39 (union)Pierce: $83.21 (union)Polk: $98.39 (union)Portage: $98.39 (union)Price: $98.39 (union)Racine: $81.19 (union)Richland: $98.39 (union)Rock: $98.39 (union)Rusk: $98.39 (union)St. Croix: $83.21 (union)Sauk: $98.39 (union)Sawyer: $98.39 (union)Shawano: $98.39 (union)Sheboygan: $78.33 (union)Taylor: $98.39 (union)Trempealeau: $98.39 (union)Vernon: $98.39 (union)Vilas: $98.39 (union)Walworth: $98.39 (union)Washburn: $98.39 (union)Washington: $81.19 (union)Waukesha: $81.19 (union)Waupaca: $98.39 (union)Waushara: $98.39 (union)Winnebago: $78.33 (union)Wood: $98.39 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$81.59
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)$40$60$80$100$120/hrColumbia (Madison): market median $44.45, prevailing (union) $98.39, gap +$53.94Columbia (Madison)+$53.94Fond du Lac (Wisconsin): market median $44.63, prevailing (union) $98.39, gap +$53.76Fond du Lac (Wisconsin)+$53.76Vernon (La Crosse): market median $48.16, prevailing (union) $98.39, gap +$50.23Vernon (La Crosse)+$50.23Pierce (Minneapolis): market median $47.03, prevailing (union) $83.21, gap +$36.18Pierce (Minneapolis)+$36.18Milwaukee (Milwaukee): market median $46.02, prevailing (union) $81.19, gap +$35.17Milwaukee (Milwaukee)+$35.17Calumet (Appleton): market median $45.17, prevailing (union) $78.33, gap +$33.16Calumet (Appleton)+$33.16
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for ironworkers, metro counties in Wisconsin.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AdamsUnion IRON0498-007 2025-06-01$48.74$49.65$98.39WI20260011
AshlandUnion IRON0498-007 2025-06-01$48.74$49.65$98.39WI20260011
BarronUnion IRON0498-007 2025-06-01$48.74$49.65$98.39WI20260011
BayfieldUnion IRON0498-007 2025-06-01$48.74$49.65$98.39WI20260011
BuffaloUnion IRON0498-007 2025-06-01$48.74$49.65$98.39WI20260011
BurnettUnion IRON0498-007 2025-06-01$48.74$49.65$98.39WI20260011
ClarkUnion IRON0498-007 2025-06-01$48.74$49.65$98.39WI20260011
ColumbiaUnion IRON0498-007 2025-06-01$48.74$49.65$98.39WI20260011
CrawfordUnion IRON0498-007 2025-06-01$48.74$49.65$98.39WI20260011
DodgeUnion IRON0498-007 2025-06-01$48.74$49.65$98.39WI20260011
DoorUnion IRON0498-007 2025-06-01$48.74$49.65$98.39WI20260011
DunnUnion IRON0498-007 2025-06-01$48.74$49.65$98.39WI20260011
FlorenceUnion IRON0498-007 2025-06-01$48.74$49.65$98.39WI20260011
Fond du LacUnion IRON0498-007 2025-06-01$48.74$49.65$98.39WI20260011
ForestUnion IRON0498-007 2025-06-01$48.74$49.65$98.39WI20260011

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Wisconsin prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Wisconsin?

167.3kConstruction jobsWisconsin, 2026-08
+7.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025167kAug 2026
Construction employment in Wisconsin (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Ironworker pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Wisconsin

Questions this page answers

How much do ironworkers make in Wisconsin?

The median ironworker in Wisconsin earned $44.63 an hour ($92,820 a year) in May 2025, 48% above the national median of $30.18. The middle half earn $36.00–$46.08; the top 10% earn more than $48.16.

Where does Wisconsin rank for ironworker pay?

Wisconsin ranks 9th of 50 states for ironworker pay, with a median of $44.63 an hour, and 5th after adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.1, US = 100).

What is the union ironworker rate in Wisconsin?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for ironworkers in 72 counties, with a typical package of $98.39 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many ironworkers work in Wisconsin?

BLS counted 710 structural iron and steel workers in Wisconsin in May 2025, 0.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.55; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Wisconsin 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.