Reinforcing iron and rebar workers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $43,310 | $20.82 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $58,970 | $28.35 |
| Mean (average) | $66,060 | $31.76 |
| 90th percentile | $104,540 | $50.26 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Reinforcing iron and rebar workers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 35 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $43,640 | $38,510 | $57,540 | 390 | 2.07 |
| Alaska | $61,480 | $51,190 | $74,410 | ||
| Arizona | $58,230 | $43,970 | $66,140 | 60 | 0.2 |
| Arkansas | $45,700 | $38,010 | $61,400 | ||
| California | $63,110 | $44,240 | $108,040 | 2,390 | 1.48 |
| Colorado | $56,160 | $48,800 | $75,440 | 260 | 1 |
| Florida | $50,500 | $44,790 | $64,400 | 1,150 | 1.31 |
| Georgia | $47,480 | $32,900 | $97,080 | 80 | 0.18 |
| Guam | $36,830 | $35,680 | $38,510 | 400 | 67.8 |
| Illinois | $105,580 | $93,150 | $118,070 | ||
| Indiana | $64,650 | $62,250 | $93,310 | 70 | 0.25 |
| Kentucky | $66,830 | $51,290 | $71,350 | 40 | 0.24 |
| Louisiana | $70,700 | $52,370 | $108,010 | 130 | 0.77 |
| Maryland | $61,640 | $57,360 | $73,140 | ||
| Michigan | $91,220 | $62,490 | $97,930 | ||
| Mississippi | $39,860 | $35,360 | $67,030 | 40 | 0.37 |
| Missouri | $59,410 | $47,320 | $90,270 | 320 | 1.21 |
| Nebraska | $62,920 | $54,540 | $77,420 | 230 | 2.52 |
| Nevada | $102,130 | $49,590 | $105,950 | 460 | 3.37 |
| New Jersey | $116,110 | $69,310 | $130,270 | ||
| New Mexico | $54,080 | $46,540 | $92,090 | 260 | 3.31 |
| New York | $98,040 | $65,910 | $134,310 | 1,110 | 1.29 |
| North Carolina | $51,690 | $48,780 | $61,340 | 90 | 0.2 |
| Oklahoma | $50,370 | $42,320 | $56,030 | 130 | 0.83 |
| Oregon | $93,490 | $77,630 | $112,630 | 240 | 1.4 |
| Pennsylvania | $74,670 | $59,630 | $96,070 | ||
| Puerto Rico | $27,120 | $26,120 | $33,780 | 80 | 1.01 |
| South Carolina | $41,020 | $36,610 | $72,430 | 80 | 0.39 |
| Tennessee | $57,920 | $44,100 | $81,820 | 500 | 1.73 |
| Texas | $50,650 | $39,960 | $61,860 | 3,640 | 2.92 |
| Utah | $49,040 | $44,260 | $58,910 | 100 | 0.62 |
| Virgin Islands | $45,510 | $32,000 | $58,310 | 40 | 15.77 |
| Virginia | $55,120 | $46,970 | $72,800 | ||
| Washington | $108,970 | $46,950 | $121,420 | 130 | 0.41 |
| Wisconsin | $121,620 | $59,770 | $125,550 | 50 | 0.2 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for reinforcing iron and rebar workers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 17.6%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for reinforcing iron and rebar workers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Apprenticeship
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Position and secure steel bars, rods, cables, or mesh in concrete forms, using fasteners, rod-bending machines, blowtorches, or hand tools.
- Determine quantities, sizes, shapes, and locations of reinforcing rods from blueprints, sketches, or oral instructions.
- Space and fasten together rods in forms according to blueprints, using wire and pliers.
- Use forklifts or cranes to move construction material, such as rebar.
- Cut rods to required lengths, using metal shears, hacksaws, bar cutters, or acetylene torches.
- Unload rebar from trucks.
- Place blocks under rebar to hold the bars off the deck when reinforcing floors.
- Cut and fit wire mesh or fabric, using hooked rods, and position fabric or mesh in concrete to reinforce concrete.
Technology skills
- Application Software SHEAR
- Applied Systems Associates aSa Rebar
- OTP ArmaCAD
- RebarWin
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Operation and Control, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Operations Monitoring, Time Management.
Common job titles: Field Ironworker, Iron Installer, Iron Worker, Ironworker, Ironworker Journeyman, Ironworker Laborer, Reinforced Ironworker, Rod Buster, Rodbuster, Steel Tier.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do reinforcing iron and rebar workers make?
The national median annual wage for reinforcing iron and rebar workers was $58,970 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $43,310 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $104,540. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do reinforcing iron and rebar workers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and apprenticeship on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is reinforcing iron and rebar workers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of reinforcing iron and rebar workers to change -5.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay reinforcing iron and rebar workers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Wisconsin ($121,620), New Jersey ($116,110), Washington ($108,970). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.