---
title: "Ironworker Salary: Pay Range and Hourly Rates"
description: "How much ironworkers make: BLS May 2025 pay for structural iron and steel workers from the bottom 10 percent to the top, plus rebar worker pay."
url: https://shapemycareer.com/salary/ironworker/
updated: 2026-10-10
site: ShapeMyCareer
---

Trade pay · Ironworker

# Ironworker salary

High steel, high pay ceiling.

BLS wage data, May 2025

Here is the full pay spread for this trade, not just the middle number, along with the factors that push people toward the top.

In short

Structural iron and steel workers earned a median $62,780 a year in May 2025, about $30 an hour, according to BLS. The bottom 10 percent earned under $44,580 and the top 10 percent over $108,260. Rebar workers, a related ironworker trade, had a median of $58,970. Union ironworkers on large projects tend to reach the top of the range.

**Sources checked October 10, 2026** Pay, training and outlook come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay is the middle (median) figure nationally; your first paycheck in the trade will usually be lower.

Bottom 10% earn under**$44,580** about $21.43 an hour

Bottom quarter under**$49,880** about $23.98 an hour

Middle (median)**$62,780** about $30.18 an hour

Top quarter over**$82,660** about $39.74 an hour

Top 10% over**$108,260** about $52.05 an hour

Yearly wages for structural iron and steel workers across the U.S., [BLS OEWS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/), May 2025. Hourly figures divide by 2,080 hours, so overtime is not counted. New apprentices usually sit near or below the bottom-quarter line.

| Middle pay | $62,780 a year, roughly $30.18 an hour (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| How most people start | High school or GED to start, then apprenticeship |
| People in the trade | About 68,300 nationwide (2025) |
| Growth to 2035 | BLS expects 3.1% growth |
| Openings a year | Around 5,900, counting retirements |

From the [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm) Employment Projections table (2025 to 2035) and May 2025 wage survey. These are U.S. numbers. Local shops may pay above or below them, and apprentices start well under the middle figure.

## What moves ironworker pay

- **Union scale:** ironworkers locals negotiate wages and benefits.
- **Specialty:** connecting, welding and rigging skills raise pay.
- **Project size:** bridges, stadiums and high-rises often pay more.
- **Overtime and travel:** big jobs can run long.

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## Straight answers

### How much do ironworkers make an hour?

The median works out to about $30 an hour.

### Do ironworkers make more than welders?

At the median, yes: $62,780 versus $53,750 for welders in May 2025.

### Is ironwork dangerous?

It involves heights and heavy steel, so fall protection and training are critical.

## Where this comes from

- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/)
- [Structural iron and steel workers in the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/structural-iron-and-steel-workers.htm)
- [BLS OOH: Ironworkers](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/ironworkers.htm)
- [BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025 to 2035)](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm)

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