All careers › Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Ironworker: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $44,580lowest 10% earn less
- $49,88025th percentile
- $62,780median
- $82,66075th percentile
- $108,260top 10% earn more
An ironworker, which BLS calls a structural iron and steel worker, earned a median of $62,780 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 3.1% from 2025 to 2035[2].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +3.1%[2]
- Openings per year
- 5,900[5]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[6]
How much do ironworkers make?
The median pay for structural iron and steel workers was $62,780 a year, or $30.18 an hour[1]. The average was $70,280 a year, or $33.79 an hour[7]. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[4].
Pay varies a lot. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $44,580 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $108,260[3]. The 25th percentile was $49,880 and the 75th was $82,660[3]. By the hour, these boundaries were $21.43, $23.98, $39.74 and $52.05 for the 10th, 25th, 75th and 90th percentiles[8].
A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[10].
Pay by state and city
Massachusetts had the highest median pay at $120,840 a year, followed by New Jersey at $113,220 and Washington at $107,660[11]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Boston-Cambridge-Newton had the highest median at $120,840, then Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue at $111,440 and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara at $109,440[12].
The most jobs were in Texas (9,700), California (7,110) and Arizona (3,980)[13]. Texas had a median of $52,240 and California $76,370[11]. The metro areas with the most jobs were Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler with 3,470 and Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands with 3,000[14].
Show median pay in 49 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts[11] | $120,840 | 2,050 |
| New Jersey | $113,220 | 1,060 |
| Washington | $107,660 | 850 |
| Illinois | $101,850 | 2,740 |
| Hawaii | $99,860 | 290 |
| Rhode Island | $98,320 | 360 |
| Oregon | $96,050 | 570 |
| Minnesota | $95,320 | 910 |
| Wisconsin | $92,820 | 710 |
| New York | $92,610 | 2,700 |
| Pennsylvania | $82,970 | 1,610 |
| North Dakota | $82,120 | 270 |
| Missouri | $77,410 | 1,320 |
| Iowa | $77,400 | n/a |
| Alaska | $76,970 | 120 |
| California | $76,370 | 7,110 |
| Ohio | $74,710 | 2,290 |
| Idaho | $72,750 | 500 |
| West Virginia | $71,850 | 150 |
| Maryland | $71,730 | 710 |
| Indiana | $70,130 | 2,750 |
| Louisiana | $68,830 | 1,180 |
| Montana | $67,390 | 130 |
| Nebraska | $65,470 | 610 |
| Kentucky | $64,060 | 990 |
| Michigan | $62,830 | 1,750 |
| Nevada | $62,510 | 1,400 |
| Connecticut | $62,400 | 330 |
| Maine | $61,750 | 200 |
| District of Columbia | $61,240 | 210 |
| Virginia | $60,260 | 2,300 |
| New Hampshire | $59,920 | 220 |
| Delaware | $59,820 | 90 |
| Arizona | $59,390 | 3,980 |
| Colorado | $58,830 | 860 |
| Kansas | $58,560 | 260 |
| Utah | $58,250 | 1,630 |
| South Dakota | $57,050 | 440 |
| Tennessee | $56,750 | 1,240 |
| Alabama | $56,640 | 1,740 |
| Florida | $55,700 | 2,730 |
| Vermont | $55,640 | 50 |
| Texas | $52,240 | 9,700 |
| South Carolina | $50,750 | 660 |
| Mississippi | $50,690 | 480 |
| North Carolina | $48,740 | 2,000 |
| Georgia | $48,090 | 980 |
| Oklahoma | $47,660 | 1,140 |
| Wyoming | $47,480 | 80 |
| Arkansas | $45,510 | 1,080 |
How to become an ironworker
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education for entry, no work experience in a related job, and an apprenticeship as the typical training[6]. The details below come from a BLS profile that covers ironworkers as a wider group[15].
- First: get a high school diploma or equivalent. It is generally required to enter an apprenticeship, while on-the-job training may not require it[16].
- Next: learn through an apprenticeship or through training from an employer[17].
- Then: finish the apprenticeship. Many programs last 3 or 4 years, and each program year requires at least 144 hours of related technical instruction plus 2,000 paid hours of training on the job[18]. Training on the job varies in length when an employer provides it[19].
Math courses and vocational training in blueprint reading and welding are useful[16]. Certifications in welding, rigging and crane signaling may make a worker more attractive to employers[20]. With experience, an ironworker may move up to supervisor or manager[21].
In an O*NET description, the job is rated Job Zone 1-2, which means very little to some preparation is needed[22].
What ironworkers do
Ironworkers raise, place and join steel girders, columns and other structural pieces to build frameworks[23]. Common tasks include:
- Reading blueprints to work out where materials go and how much is needed[24].
- Checking that steel pieces are lined up straight and level with tools such as plumb bobs, lasers or levels[24].
- Putting up metal or precast concrete parts for buildings, bridges, dams and towers[24].
- Bolting aligned pieces in place before they are welded, riveted or bolted for good[24].
- Setting up or checking rigging and hoisting gear[24].
- Signaling crane operators or using cranes and forklifts to lift beams[24].
- Making metal parts from blueprints or supervisor instructions[24].
O*NET sample job titles include iron worker, steel erector and structural steel erector[25].
Where they work
Ironworkers usually work outside in many kinds of weather, and some work at great heights. The work is physically demanding[26]. It can also be dangerous. Cuts, sprains, overexertion and falls are common injuries, and falls from height can be deadly. Workers wear safety gear such as harnesses and hard hats[27].
Most ironworkers work full time, and they may travel to jobsites[28]. Structural ironworkers at heights do not work when conditions are wet, icy or very windy[29]. The largest employer group in 2025 was foundation, structure and building exterior contractors, at 47%[30].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of structural iron and steel workers to grow 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 68,300 to 70,400 jobs[2]. That is slightly below the 3.5% projected for all occupations[31]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].
BLS expects about 5,900 openings a year on average[5]. Openings include jobs left when workers retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 2.9% of workers leave the labor force and 5.2% move to a different occupation[32].
Is it a good fit?
The pay is above the all-occupations median, and entry does not require a college degree or related experience[1][4][6]. Training usually means an apprenticeship that can take 3 or 4 years[18]. The work is outdoors, physical and carries injury risks, and some of it is at great heights[26][27]. Job growth is close to the average, and openings include jobs left by workers who retire or change occupations[2][31][5].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an ironworker make an hour?
- The median was $30.18 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $33.79[1][7].
- How long does it take to become an ironworker?
- Many ironworkers learn through a 3- or 4-year apprenticeship[18]. Others get on-the-job training from an employer that varies in length[18][19].
- What education do you need to be an ironworker?
- BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education[6].
- Is ironworker in demand?
- Employment is projected to grow 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, with about 5,900 openings a year[2][5].
- What is the highest paying state for ironworkers?
- Massachusetts, with a median of $120,840 a year[11].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Structural Iron and Steel Workers in the US was $62,780 per year and $30.18 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Structural Iron and Steel Workers is projected to grow 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 68,300 to 70,400 jobs (a change of +2,100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Structural Iron and Steel Workers: 10th percentile $44,580, 25th percentile $49,880, 75th percentile $82,660, 90th percentile $108,260. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 5,900 openings for Structural Iron and Steel 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
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Structural Iron and Steel 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
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Structural Iron and Steel Workers was $70,280 per year and $33.79 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Structural Iron and Steel Workers: 10th percentile $21.43, 25th percentile $23.98, 75th percentile $39.74, 90th percentile $52.05. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- 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
- 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
- Median annual wage for Structural Iron and Steel Workers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Structural Iron and Steel Workers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $120,840; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $111,440; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $109,440; Vallejo, CA $106,900; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $103,330; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $102,350; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $102,060; Rockford, IL $100,290. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Structural Iron and Steel Workers jobs: Texas 9,700; California 7,110; Arizona 3,980; Indiana 2,750; Illinois 2,740. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Structural Iron and Steel Workers jobs: Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 3,470 (median $59,540); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 3,000 (median $58,030); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,850 (median $53,600); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 2,300 (median $102,060); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,150 (median $78,040); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 2,120 (median $102,350). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Ironworkers" covers Structural Iron and Steel Workers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 47-2221.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Structural Iron and Steel Workers. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Structural Iron and Steel Workers. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 47-2221.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Field Iron Worker, Iron Worker, Ironworker, Steel Erector, Steel Fabricator, Steel Worker, Structural Erector, Structural Steel Erector. O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of ironworkers in 2025: Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors 47%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Structural Iron and Steel Workers: 2.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
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.