How much do ironworkers make in 2026?
Ironworkers are counted in the BLS structural iron and steel workers series: OEWS May 2025 gives the SOC 47-2221 national median as $62,780 a year ($30.18 an hour), with the bottom 10% near $44,580 and the top 10% at $108,260. The series is a close match but covers several branches of the trade whose pay differs. Structural erection — connecting steel at height on high-rise, industrial and bridge work — sits high in the band and carries the trade's characteristic hazard premium and travel. Reinforcing work, tying rebar for concrete structures, is physically brutal and generally pays lower. Ornamental and rigging specialisms sit between them. Two things lift an ironworker toward the top decile: welding qualification, which makes you useful for both connection and repair scopes, and willingness to travel for industrial projects and bridge work where per-diem and overtime apply. Employment is projected to grow 4.4% through 2034 with roughly 5,500 openings a year. → Full ironworker career guide, career path, credentials & placement →
Note: $62,780 blends every experience level and every setting in this occupation. For pay by level alone, see Pay by Level below.
- Ironworkers earn a national median $62,780/yr ($30.18/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-2221); the P10 to P90 range is $44,580 to $108,260.
- BLS reports the structural iron and steel series, which pools structural erection, reinforcing and ornamental work — pay differs materially between them inside the $44,580 to $108,260 band.
- Structural connecting at height sits high in the band; rebar tying generally sits low despite being the most physically punishing branch.
- Welding qualification and willingness to travel for industrial and bridge projects are the two levers that carry an ironworker toward the $82,660 P75 and above.
US Ironworker Pay Distribution · BLS OEWS May 2025
Pay by Level · BLS OEWS May 2025
How much do ironworkers earn at each level?
BLS OEWS publishes one blended wage for the whole occupation and does not break pay out by credential or practice level. The levels below distribute the published percentile range across the credential tiers this role actually hires at.
Level medians are aligned to the BLS OEWS May 2025 percentile distribution for SOC 47-2221; GlobalCybers does not yet publish a verified placement sample for this role, so no verified median is shown.
Methodology & Sources
How the numbers on this page are built
Published (BLS): BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-2221, United States national estimate. Public, methodologically rigorous, but sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection — so it reflects wages that are already 1–2 years old by the time you read them.
Level and certification medians: distributed across the published BLS percentile range for this SOC code (P10 through P90) according to the credential tiers this occupation actually hires at. They are modeled reference points, not separately surveyed wages.
State and metro figures: modeled — the BLS national median multiplied by the GlobalCybers state wage index, and for metros by the published metro index for that state. They are estimates of local pay, not BLS state or metropolitan-area observations, and are labelled as modeled in the tables below.
No verified placement sample:GlobalCybers does not yet publish a placement median for this role, so no "verified" figure appears anywhere on this page.
Pay by Career Level
How much does an ironworker earn at each career stage?
Ironworking pay follows branch of the trade, welding qualification and travel. Each median is anchored to the BLS OEWS distribution for SOC 47-2221.
By State
Which states pay ironworkers the most in 2026?
These are modeled state estimates — the BLS national median scaled by the GlobalCybers state wage index — not BLS state observations. Ironworking pay is heavily shaped by prevailing-wage rules, since bridges, schools and public infrastructure are a large share of the work, and by where heavy construction is concentrated. There is no state trade licence, so ironworkers are among the most mobile trades, which is why travel and per-diem feature so strongly in annual earnings.
6 of 51 state guides shown, ranked by median. Bar is relative to California ($72,200), the highest-paying state shown. See all 51 state salary guides →
By Metro
Which cities pay ironworkers the most?
Modeled metro estimates: the national median scaled by the state wage index and then by that state's published metro index. They estimate local wage levels and are not BLS metropolitan-area observations.
BLS OEWS MSA estimates, May 2025. Nominal pay — weigh each metro against its cost of living before relocating.
Certification Impact
Which certifications raise an ironworker’s pay the most?
Median annual pay before and after each credential, based on GlobalCybers placement data cross-referenced with BLS. License upgrades move the needle most; stackable certs add on top.
Impacts are not additive, the licensing rows share the same career ladder. Browse all 167 certifications →
Trade Comparison
How does ironworker pay compare to related roles?
BLS OEWS national median across the closest trades. Ironworkers sit mid-pack on median but carry one of the widest P10–P90 spreads, licensing and specialization drive the upside.
BLS OEWS May 2025. Verify ironworker wages on BLS.gov →
Take-Home Pay
What does an ironworker actually take home after taxes?
The medians above are gross base wage.
Estimates use 2026 federal brackets, standard deduction, and 7.65% FICA. Actual take-home varies with filing status, deductions, and local tax.
FAQ
Ironworker Salary, Frequently Asked Questions
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