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The average salary for an iron worker in the United States is approximately $41,422 per year, translating to about $20 per hour. Factors influencing these figures include geographic location, years of experience, and specific industry sectors.
Iron workers’ salaries can significantly vary based on their experience level. Entry-level positions may offer lower wages, while seasoned professionals often command higher salaries. This variance can be seen across different states and construction projects.
States like California and New York consistently report higher average salaries for iron workers. The demand for skilled labor in these regions often leads to competitive pay. Additionally, specialized roles in commercial or industrial construction tend to offer better compensation.
Multiple salary surveys and reports indicate that iron workers, especially those involved in high-risk construction, can expect increased earnings. Understanding these dynamics helps prospective employees gauge their earning potential effectively.
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The highest-paying states for iron workers are Alaska, Hawaii, and California. The lowest average iron worker salary states are New Mexico, Arkansas, and Colorado.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $44,838 | $21.56 |
| 2 | Utah | $45,888 | $22.06 |
| 3 | South Dakota | $44,949 | $21.61 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $50,989 | $24.51 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $48,090 | $23.12 |
| 6 | Iowa | $47,199 | $22.69 |
| 7 | Alaska | $51,283 | $24.66 |
| 8 | California | $48,679 | $23.40 |
| 9 | Montana | $45,972 | $22.10 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $46,033 | $22.13 |
| 11 | Louisiana | $41,556 | $19.98 |
| 12 | New York | $46,158 | $22.19 |
| 13 | South Carolina | $41,550 | $19.98 |
| 14 | Kansas | $45,055 | $21.66 |
| 15 | Illinois | $47,753 | $22.96 |
| 16 | Washington | $42,601 | $20.48 |
| 17 | Idaho | $41,306 | $19.86 |
| 18 | Indiana | $44,352 | $21.32 |
| 19 | Mississippi | $43,250 | $20.79 |
| 20 | Oregon | $40,324 | $19.39 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $39,555 | $19.02 |
| 22 | Alabama | $37,663 | $18.11 |
| 23 | Michigan | $39,538 | $19.01 |
| 24 | Nevada | $39,672 | $19.07 |
| 25 | Vermont | $37,194 | $17.88 |
| 26 | Connecticut | $38,384 | $18.45 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $36,596 | $17.59 |
| 28 | Ohio | $38,738 | $18.62 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $42,583 | $20.47 |
| 30 | Maine | $38,466 | $18.49 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| 32 | Delaware | $38,193 | $18.36 |
| 33 | Arizona | $39,249 | $18.87 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $35,593 | $17.11 |
| 35 | Georgia | $37,342 | $17.95 |
| 36 | Virginia | $37,685 | $18.12 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $38,041 | $18.29 |
| 38 | New Hampshire | $37,420 | $17.99 |
| 39 | Rhode Island | $38,161 | $18.35 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $37,051 | $17.81 |
| 41 | Texas | $36,063 | $17.34 |
| 42 | Maryland | $38,122 | $18.33 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $38,118 | $18.33 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $34,988 | $16.82 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $32,960 | $15.85 |
| 46 | Massachusetts | $37,874 | $18.21 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $34,792 | $16.73 |
| 48 | Florida | $31,241 | $15.02 |
| 49 | Colorado | $32,994 | $15.86 |
| 50 | Missouri | $32,093 | $15.43 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $33,250 | $15.99 |
The highest-paying cities for iron workers are Los Angeles, CA, Buffalo, NY, and Wichita, KS.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $48,571 | $23.35 |
| 2 | Buffalo, NY | $46,306 | $22.26 |
| 3 | Wichita, KS | $45,054 | $21.66 |
| 4 | Sioux Falls, SD | $44,848 | $21.56 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $44,187 | $21.24 |
| 6 | Reno, NV | $40,200 | $19.33 |
| 7 | Grand Rapids, MI | $39,600 | $19.04 |
| 8 | Broken Arrow, OK | $39,405 | $18.94 |
| 9 | Chandler, AZ | $39,271 | $18.88 |
| 10 | Akron, OH | $39,178 | $18.84 |
| 11 | Windsor, CT | $38,312 | $18.42 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $38,166 | $18.35 |
| 13 | Cranston, RI | $38,152 | $18.34 |
| 14 | Huntsville, AL | $37,593 | $18.07 |
| 15 | Virginia Beach, VA | $37,525 | $18.04 |
| 16 | Rochester, NH | $37,153 | $17.86 |
| 17 | Corpus Christi, TX | $36,284 | $17.44 |
| 18 | Kingsport, TN | $36,031 | $17.32 |
| 19 | Pueblo, CO | $32,826 | $15.78 |
| 20 | Jacksonville, FL | $31,306 | $15.05 |
An iron worker's salary ranges from $32,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $53,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| 75th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| Average | $41,422 | $3,452 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
The highest paying types of iron workers are iron worker apprentice, ironworker/welder, and structural rigger.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steel Erector | $36,280 | $3,023 | $17.44 | 294 |
| Billboard Installer | $37,096 | $3,091 | $17.83 | 17,367 |
Top companies hiring iron workers now:
Iron worker salaries at EMCOR Group and MVP Group Int are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average iron worker salary at companies like Middlesex School and Structural Group are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EMCOR Group | $45,444 | $21.85 |
| 2 | MVP Group Int | $44,666 | $21.47 |
| 3 | Middlesex School | $42,590 | $20.48 |
| 4 | Structural Group | $42,239 | $20.31 |
| 5 | MasTec | $41,989 | $20.19 |
| 6 | Woods Services | $40,914 | $19.67 |
| 7 | Koch Industries | $40,816 | $19.62 |
| 8 | Harrison Steel | $40,602 | $19.52 |
| 9 | Tradesmen International | $40,529 | $19.49 |
| 10 | Baldwin & Sons | $40,297 | $19.37 |
| 11 | CMI | $40,083 | $19.27 |
| 12 | Grp Inc | $40,083 | $19.27 |
| 13 | PRECISION INDUSTRIAL CONTRACTORS INC. | $40,083 | $19.27 |
| 14 | Amec Foster Wheeler | $40,083 | $19.27 |
| 15 | Structural Preservation Systems LLC | $40,041 | $19.25 |
| 16 | Skilled Trades | $39,976 | $19.22 |
| 17 | Jans | $39,876 | $19.17 |
| 18 | State Bar of Michigan | $39,860 | $19.16 |
| 19 | Michigan Co | $39,162 | $18.83 |
| 20 | Conservation Legacy | $39,086 | $18.79 |
The average iron worker salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction | $44,272 | $21.28 |
| 2 | Energy | $41,391 | $19.90 |
| 3 | Technology | $40,931 | $19.68 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $40,680 | $19.56 |
The average iron worker salary has risen by $6,905 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average iron worker earned $34,517 annually, but today, they earn $41,422 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for iron workers over the last decade.
Compare iron worker salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare iron worker salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $41,400 | $19.91 | -0.4% |
| 2024 | $41,600 | $19.99 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $40,800 | $19.60 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $39,700 | $19.11 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $39,100 | $18.81 | +2.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tradesmen International | Iron Worker | Rexburg, ID | 06/25/2025 | $68,871 |
| Peopleready | Iron Worker | North Charleston, SC | 06/17/2025 | $58,436 |
| Tradesmen International | Iron Worker | Phoenix, AZ | 06/13/2025 | $68,871 |
| Stand-By Personnel | Red Iron Worker/Installer | Tulsa, OK | 06/13/2025 | $52,175 |
| Tradesmen International | Iron Worker | Cedar Rapids, IA | 06/09/2025 | $52,175 |
| Stand-By Personnel | Red Iron Worker/Installer | Tulsa, OK | 05/23/2025 | $52,175 |
| Tradesmen International, LLC | Iron Worker | Midland, MI | 04/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Aerotek | Iron Worker | Midland, MI | 04/22/2025 | $41,740 |
| Aerotek | Iron Worker | Lincoln, NE | 04/15/2025 | $29,218 |
| Tradesmen International | Iron Worker | Oregon City, OR | 04/02/2025 | $83,480 |
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