Ironworker Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$63,000
national median salary
$49,000 to $83,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $62,780 for Structural Iron and Steel Workers (SOC 47-2221) across the United States, based on 68,380 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$44,580
25th percentile
$49,880
Median
$62,780
75th percentile
$82,660
90th percentile
$108,260
Workers surveyed
68,380
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$62,700
May 2025 release
$62,780
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Structural Iron and Steel Workers (SOC 47-2221) rather than Ironworkerspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 47-2221Highest Paying
$88,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$66,000
Arlington, VA
Lowest Paying
$49,000
Jackson, MS
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 47-2221. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Ironworker salary in the United States at $63,000 in 2026, within a range of $49,000 to $83,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Francisco is the highest of the 81 cities at $88,000, while Arlington offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Structural ironworkers on high-rise projects earn the most due to height premiums and physical risk factors.
Ironworker salary by city.
Skills that increase Ironworker pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Ironworkers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $8,820 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$8,820 per year
≈ +$8,190 per year
≈ +$7,560 per year
≈ +$6,930 per year
≈ +$6,930 per year
≈ +$6,300 per year
≈ +$6,300 per year
≈ +$5,670 per year
What you should know.
Structural ironworkers on high-rise projects earn the most due to height premiums and physical risk factors. Welding certifications combined with ironworking skills add 15 to 20% to base rates. Union ironworkers in major cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco see the strongest wage floors, with journeyman rates exceeding $45 per hour.
Ironworker apprentices start at $34,000 to $42,000 during their three to four year training period. Journeyman ironworkers earn $48,000 to $70,000, while foremen and superintendents reach $72,000 to $95,000. Project managers with ironworking backgrounds earn $90,000 to $125,000 at large structural contractors.
Union benefits add $18,000 to $28,000 annually including health insurance, pension, annuity, and training fund contributions. Hazard pay for bridge, high-rise, or demolition work can add $2 to $8 per hour on top of base journeyman rates.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Ironworkers typically earn $57,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Ironworker pay.
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