Structural iron and steel workers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,580 | $21.43 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $62,780 | $30.18 |
| Mean (average) | $70,280 | $33.79 |
| 90th percentile | $108,260 | $52.05 |
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
Structural iron and steel workers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $56,640 | $40,660 | $67,700 | 1,740 | 1.87 |
| Alaska | $76,970 | $65,990 | $99,980 | 120 | 0.82 |
| Arizona | $59,390 | $46,470 | $92,270 | 3,980 | 2.8 |
| Arkansas | $45,510 | $32,430 | $61,460 | 1,080 | 1.88 |
| California | $76,370 | $47,480 | $118,030 | 7,110 | 0.89 |
| Colorado | $58,830 | $44,870 | $83,150 | 860 | 0.68 |
| Connecticut | $62,400 | $47,810 | $97,760 | 330 | 0.44 |
| Delaware | $59,820 | $50,000 | $72,370 | 90 | 0.41 |
| District of Columbia | $61,240 | $58,130 | $93,070 | 210 | 0.7 |
| Florida | $55,700 | $37,950 | $73,280 | 2,730 | 0.63 |
| Georgia | $48,090 | $38,370 | $70,680 | 980 | 0.46 |
| Guam | $33,660 | $33,590 | $42,670 | 150 | 5.27 |
| Hawaii | $99,860 | $53,970 | $121,680 | 290 | 1.05 |
| Idaho | $72,750 | $49,780 | $80,140 | 500 | 1.32 |
| Illinois | $101,850 | $64,830 | $124,450 | 2,740 | 1.02 |
| Indiana | $70,130 | $45,720 | $98,840 | 2,750 | 1.95 |
| Iowa | $77,400 | $59,120 | $81,240 | ||
| Kansas | $58,560 | $44,770 | $79,820 | 260 | 0.42 |
| Kentucky | $64,060 | $48,240 | $98,360 | 990 | 1.13 |
| Louisiana | $68,830 | $39,130 | $80,560 | 1,180 | 1.39 |
| Maine | $61,750 | $45,660 | $86,840 | 200 | 0.7 |
| Maryland | $71,730 | $47,790 | $82,160 | 710 | 0.59 |
| Massachusetts | $120,840 | $82,760 | $128,080 | 2,050 | 1.28 |
| Michigan | $62,830 | $41,260 | $79,150 | 1,750 | 0.9 |
| Minnesota | $95,320 | $80,030 | $99,010 | 910 | 0.7 |
| Mississippi | $50,690 | $30,700 | $74,520 | 480 | 0.94 |
| Missouri | $77,410 | $48,650 | $89,350 | 1,320 | 1.02 |
| Montana | $67,390 | $47,880 | $75,690 | 130 | 0.57 |
| Nebraska | $65,470 | $48,160 | $79,040 | 610 | 1.36 |
| Nevada | $62,510 | $46,560 | $103,770 | 1,400 | 2.05 |
| New Hampshire | $59,920 | $48,500 | $73,480 | 220 | 0.72 |
| New Jersey | $113,220 | $94,000 | $130,710 | 1,060 | 0.56 |
| New York | $92,610 | $59,140 | $129,180 | 2,700 | 0.63 |
| North Carolina | $48,740 | $36,780 | $79,130 | 2,000 | 0.92 |
| North Dakota | $82,120 | $57,410 | $99,840 | 270 | 1.42 |
| Ohio | $74,710 | $47,840 | $88,860 | 2,290 | 0.94 |
| Oklahoma | $47,660 | $37,790 | $63,670 | 1,140 | 1.51 |
| Oregon | $96,050 | $52,630 | $120,860 | 570 | 0.65 |
| Pennsylvania | $82,970 | $51,550 | $110,680 | 1,610 | 0.6 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,620 | $24,500 | $35,860 | 160 | 0.39 |
| Rhode Island | $98,320 | $65,500 | $98,330 | 360 | 1.62 |
| South Carolina | $50,750 | $34,890 | $66,750 | 660 | 0.66 |
| South Dakota | $57,050 | $45,380 | $74,800 | 440 | 2.18 |
| Tennessee | $56,750 | $44,500 | $74,700 | 1,240 | 0.86 |
| Texas | $52,240 | $42,160 | $77,520 | 9,700 | 1.57 |
| Utah | $58,250 | $40,190 | $75,200 | 1,630 | 2.14 |
| Vermont | $55,640 | $46,450 | $83,630 | 50 | 0.34 |
| Virginia | $60,260 | $47,040 | $73,890 | 2,300 | 1.27 |
| Washington | $107,660 | $53,210 | $128,970 | 850 | 0.54 |
| West Virginia | $71,850 | $50,620 | $80,200 | 150 | 0.47 |
| Wisconsin | $92,820 | $58,150 | $100,160 | 710 | 0.55 |
| Wyoming | $47,480 | $39,960 | $60,820 | 80 | 0.64 |
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 structural iron and steel workers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 5,900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- 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 structural iron and steel 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
- Metal Building Assembly/Assembler CIP 46.0411
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Read specifications or blueprints to determine the locations, quantities, or sizes of materials required.
- Verify vertical and horizontal alignment of structural steel members, using plumb bobs, laser equipment, transits, or levels.
- Erect metal or precast concrete components for structures, such as buildings, bridges, dams, towers, storage tanks, fences, or highway guard rails.
- Bolt aligned structural steel members in position for permanent riveting, bolting, or welding into place.
- Assemble or inspect hoisting equipment or rigging, such as cables, pulleys, or hooks, to move heavy equipment or materials.
- Lift steel beams, girders, or columns using cranes or forklifts, or by signaling hoisting equipment operators to lift or position structural steel members.
- Fabricate metal parts, such as steel frames, columns, beams, or girders, according to blueprints or instructions from supervisors.
- Connect columns, beams, and girders with bolts, following blueprints and instructions from supervisors.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Cost estimating software
- Inventory tracking software
- Project scheduling software
- Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Field Iron Worker, Iron Worker, Ironworker, Steel Erector, Steel Fabricator, Steel Worker, Structural Erector, Structural Steel Erector, Tower Hand, Union Ironworker.
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 structural iron and steel workers make?
The national median annual wage for structural iron and steel workers was $62,780 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $44,580 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $108,260. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do structural iron and steel 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 structural iron and steel workers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of structural iron and steel workers to change +3.1% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 5,900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay structural iron and steel workers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Massachusetts ($120,840), New Jersey ($113,220), Washington ($107,660). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.