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Rodbuster: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$58,970median pay per year, or $28.35 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $43,310lowest 10% earn less
  2. $47,99025th percentile
  3. $58,970median
  4. $77,32075th percentile
  5. $104,540top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Reinforcing iron and rebar workers, often called rodbusters, had a median pay of $58,970 a year[1]. Employment is projected to shrink over the next decade while all occupations grow[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-5.3%[2]
Openings per year
1,000[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do rodbusters make?

In May 2025 the median wage for reinforcing iron and rebar workers was $58,970 a year, or $28.35 an hour[1]. The average was $66,060 a year, or $31.76 an hour[8].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $43,310 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $104,540[4]. Hourly, the 10th percentile was $20.82 and the 90th percentile was $50.26[9]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].

Measure Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[4][9] $43,310 $20.82
25th percentile[4][9] $47,990 $23.07
Median[1] $58,970 $28.35
75th percentile[4][9] $77,320 $37.17
90th percentile[4][9] $104,540 $50.26

The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[5]. The data covers about 13,800 wage and salary jobs[11]. It leaves out the self-employed and does not count bonuses or the cost of benefits[12]. BLS Employment Projections say 17.6% of these workers were self-employed in 2025[13].

Pay by state and city

Wisconsin was listed first at $121,620, but that figure rests on 50 jobs[14]. New Jersey followed at $116,110 and Washington at $108,970[14]. Mississippi was listed last at $39,860[14]. Only 32 states have published data[14].

The most jobs were in Texas (3,640), California (2,390), Florida (1,150), New York (1,110) and Tennessee (500)[15].

Among metro areas, Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV had the highest median at $102,080, then New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $101,890 and Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA at $95,670[16]. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX had the most jobs at 1,500, with a median of $51,860[17].

Show median pay in 32 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Wisconsin[14]$121,62050
New Jersey$116,110n/a
Washington$108,970130
Illinois$105,580n/a
Nevada$102,130460
New York$98,0401,110
Oregon$93,490240
Michigan$91,220n/a
Pennsylvania$74,670n/a
Louisiana$70,700130
Kentucky$66,83040
Indiana$64,65070
California$63,1102,390
Nebraska$62,920230
Maryland$61,640n/a
Alaska$61,480n/a
Missouri$59,410320
Arizona$58,23060
Tennessee$57,920500
Colorado$56,160260
Virginia$55,120n/a
New Mexico$54,080260
North Carolina$51,69090
Texas$50,6503,640
Florida$50,5001,150
Oklahoma$50,370130
Utah$49,040100
Georgia$47,48080
Arkansas$45,700n/a
Alabama$43,640390
South Carolina$41,02080
Mississippi$39,86040

How to become a rodbuster

The training details come from a BLS profile on ironworkers, which covers a wider group than rebar workers alone[18].

Certifications in welding, rigging and crane signaling may help job seekers[24]. Helpful traits include comfort at heights, balance, depth perception and hand-eye coordination for tying rebar[25][26][27][28].

What rodbusters do

O*NET describes the job as placing and securing steel bars or mesh in concrete forms to reinforce concrete[29]. Common tasks include:

Workers report titles such as rod buster, ironworker and reinforced ironworker[31].

Where they work

In the wider ironworker group, 55% of jobs in 2025 were with foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors[32]. The work is usually outdoors in many types of weather, and it is physically demanding[33]. It can be dangerous, with cuts, sprains, overexertion and falls among the common injuries[34]. Workers wear safety gear such as harnesses and hard hats[34].

Full-time work is typical, and workers may travel to jobsites[35]. Precipitation may limit reinforcing ironworkers[36].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to decline 5.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 16,600 to 15,700 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[3]. One factor BLS lists is that prefabrication and precast concrete products move some reinforcement work to offsite facilities[37].

About 1,000 openings are projected each year, on average[6]. Openings count jobs left by workers who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year 2.6% of workers leave the labor force and 3.9% move to a different occupation[38].

Is it a good fit?

The facts suggest this job suits people who can enter through a high school diploma and a multi-year apprenticeship or employer training[7][22][21]. Median pay is above the all-occupation median[1][5]. The work is physical and can be dangerous[33][34]. Employment is projected to decline, so openings come from workers leaving rather than growth[2][6].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[39].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a rodbuster make an hour?
The median wage was $28.35 an hour in May 2025[1].
What education do you need to be a rebar worker?
A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry education[7].
How long is an ironworker apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship runs 3 or 4 years[22].
Is rebar work in demand?
Employment is projected to decline 5.3% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[2][3].
What is the highest paying state for rebar workers?
Wisconsin was listed first at $121,620, based on 50 jobs[14].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers in the US was $58,970 per year and $28.35 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers is projected to decline 5.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 16,600 to 15,700 jobs (a change of -900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers: 10th percentile $43,310, 25th percentile $47,990, 75th percentile $77,320, 90th percentile $104,540. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,000 openings for Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Apprenticeship. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers was $66,060 per year and $31.76 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers: 10th percentile $20.82, 25th percentile $23.07, 75th percentile $37.17, 90th percentile $50.26. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 13,800 people were employed as Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS Employment Projections: 17.6% of Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  14. Median annual wage for Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers jobs: Texas 3,640; California 2,390; Florida 1,150; New York 1,110; Tennessee 500. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $102,080; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $101,890; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $95,670; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $73,110; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $62,990; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $61,130; Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $60,450; Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $60,320. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers jobs: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 1,500 (median $51,860); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 960 (median $101,890); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 760 (median $50,910); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 640 (median $62,990); Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 520 (median $59,820); Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX 330 (median $50,270). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  18. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Ironworkers" covers Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. O*NET description of Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers. O*NET OnLine
  30. O*NET task list for Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers. O*NET OnLine
  31. O*NET 47-2171.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Field Ironworker, Iron Installer, Iron Worker, Ironworker, Ironworker Journeyman, Ironworker Laborer, Reinforced Ironworker, Rod Buster. O*NET OnLine
  32. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of ironworkers in 2025: Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors 55%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers: Sourcing change, productivity change - share decreases as the use of prefabrication and precast concrete products shifts reinforcement to offsite facilities. BLS Employment Projections
  38. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers: 2.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  39. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.