Ironworker Salary (2025)
Structural · SOC Code 47-2171 · 4-year apprenticeship
National Salary Range
Ironworker salaries range from $51,635 to $76,788 median across cities, depending on location, union membership, and experience level.
Ironworker Salary by City
| City | Median | Range (10th-90th) | COL-Adjusted | Grade | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $76,788 | $48,989 – $114,623 | $41,063 | D | 8,048 |
| San Francisco, CA | $76,392 | $47,949 – $110,039 | $40,206 | D | 8,983 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $73,852 | $43,733 – $106,357 | $44,489 | D | 10,312 |
| Seattle, WA | $73,744 | $45,072 – $107,971 | $49,493 | C | 3,841 |
| Boston, MA | $70,882 | $43,476 – $106,784 | $46,633 | C | 9,147 |
| Portland, OR | $67,774 | $43,621 – $104,061 | $52,134 | C | 5,088 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $67,403 | $40,699 – $100,925 | $58,611 | C | 5,897 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $66,649 | $40,997 – $98,163 | $62,876 | C | 5,137 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $66,286 | $42,768 – $99,084 | $63,737 | C | 3,567 |
| Detroit, MI | $64,916 | $40,969 – $99,984 | $72,939 | C | 3,495 |
| Houston, TX | $63,096 | $39,456 – $92,056 | $65,725 | C | 2,862 |
| Chicago, IL | $61,751 | $38,522 – $92,522 | $57,711 | C | 4,391 |
| St. Louis, MO | $61,615 | $38,016 – $94,897 | $68,461 | C | 3,896 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $60,483 | $35,855 – $93,892 | $58,157 | C | 3,601 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $60,368 | $36,934 – $85,968 | $62,883 | C | 3,033 |
| Denver, CO | $60,154 | $36,299 – $92,290 | $46,995 | C | 5,316 |
| Columbus, OH | $59,476 | $37,244 – $86,863 | $63,953 | C | 4,075 |
| Dallas, TX | $59,362 | $35,546 – $84,929 | $58,198 | C | 5,855 |
| Charlotte, NC | $59,148 | $37,174 – $83,791 | $60,355 | C | 3,646 |
| Atlanta, GA | $57,995 | $34,759 – $85,157 | $54,712 | C | 4,048 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $57,473 | $34,673 – $82,152 | $55,799 | C | 4,030 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $56,542 | $36,482 – $86,870 | $61,459 | C | 4,478 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $55,837 | $33,137 – $84,455 | $61,359 | C | 2,653 |
| Kansas City, MO | $55,496 | $35,164 – $79,976 | $59,038 | C | 4,656 |
| San Antonio, TX | $54,389 | $34,984 – $80,666 | $60,432 | C | 3,315 |
| Tampa, FL | $53,383 | $33,485 – $80,089 | $52,854 | C | 5,878 |
| Nashville, TN | $53,348 | $33,146 – $75,492 | $51,794 | C | 3,712 |
| Miami, FL | $53,124 | $34,144 – $76,570 | $43,544 | D | 5,972 |
| Raleigh, NC | $52,177 | $31,127 – $74,007 | $52,177 | C | 4,506 |
| New Orleans, LA | $51,635 | $31,173 – $79,627 | $54,353 | C | 3,445 |
About Ironworker Pay
Ironworkers earn a national median salary of $61,718 based on 2025 BLS occupational wage data. The highest-paying city for this trade is New York at $76,788 median, while New Orleans offers the lowest at $51,635.
Becoming a ironworker typically requires a 4-year apprenticeship program. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) can expect around $48,989, while master-level tradespeople (90th percentile) earn $114,623 or more. With 9% wage growth over the past 5 years, this trade is growing at a steady pace.
See how this compares to other trades on our highest paying trades ranking, or browse the best cities for trade workers.
Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for ironworkers is $61,718 based on 2025 BLS data. Pay ranges from $51,635 to $76,788 depending on city, experience, and union status.
New York offers the highest median pay for ironworkers at $76,788. However, cost of living matters — the COL-adjusted pay may tell a different story. Check our city-by-city breakdown above.
With a Trade Pay Score of C and 9% wage growth over 5 years, ironworker offers steady career prospects. There are approximately 146,883 jobs nationwide across 30 metro areas.
Becoming a ironworker typically requires a 4-year apprenticeship program combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Entry-level pay starts around $48,989 (10th percentile).
Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. Trade Pay Scores are a composite of median wage vs. metro income, wage growth, job demand, and COL-adjusted pay.