Structural Iron and Steel Workers salary in the U.S.
Structural Iron and Steel Workers in the U.S. earn a median of $62,780 a year ($30.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 68,380 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $108,260 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $70,280, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for structural iron and steel workers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,580 | $21.43 |
| 25th percentile | $49,880 | $23.98 |
| Median | $62,780 | $30.18 |
| 75th percentile | $82,660 | $39.74 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $108,260 | $52.05 |
| Average (mean) | $70,280 | $33.79 |
Half of structural iron and steel workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,231.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,615.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,414.62 |
| Weekly | $1,207.31 |
| Hourly | $30.18 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Structural Iron and Steel Workers salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $120,840 | 2,050 |
| New Jersey | $113,220 | 1,060 |
| Washington | $107,660 | 850 |
| Illinois | $101,850 | 2,740 |
| Hawaii | $99,860 | 290 |
| Rhode Island | $98,320 | 360 |
| Oregon | $96,050 | 570 |
| Minnesota | $95,320 | 910 |
| Wisconsin | $92,820 | 710 |
| New York | $92,610 | 2,700 |
| Pennsylvania | $82,970 | 1,610 |
| North Dakota | $82,120 | 270 |
| Missouri | $77,410 | 1,320 |
| Iowa | $77,400 | n/a |
| Alaska | $76,970 | 120 |
| California | $76,370 | 7,110 |
| Ohio | $74,710 | 2,290 |
| Idaho | $72,750 | 500 |
| West Virginia | $71,850 | 150 |
| Maryland | $71,730 | 710 |
| Indiana | $70,130 | 2,750 |
| Louisiana | $68,830 | 1,180 |
| Montana | $67,390 | 130 |
| Nebraska | $65,470 | 610 |
| Kentucky | $64,060 | 990 |
| Michigan | $62,830 | 1,750 |
| Nevada | $62,510 | 1,400 |
| Connecticut | $62,400 | 330 |
| Maine | $61,750 | 200 |
| District of Columbia | $61,240 | 210 |
| Virginia | $60,260 | 2,300 |
| New Hampshire | $59,920 | 220 |
| Delaware | $59,820 | 90 |
| Arizona | $59,390 | 3,980 |
| Colorado | $58,830 | 860 |
| Kansas | $58,560 | 260 |
| Utah | $58,250 | 1,630 |
| South Dakota | $57,050 | 440 |
| Tennessee | $56,750 | 1,240 |
| Alabama | $56,640 | 1,740 |
| Florida | $55,700 | 2,730 |
| Vermont | $55,640 | 50 |
| Texas | $52,240 | 9,700 |
| South Carolina | $50,750 | 660 |
| Mississippi | $50,690 | 480 |
| North Carolina | $48,740 | 2,000 |
| Georgia | $48,090 | 980 |
| Oklahoma | $47,660 | 1,140 |
| Wyoming | $47,480 | 80 |
| Arkansas | $45,510 | 1,080 |
| Guam | $33,660 | 150 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,620 | 160 |
Best-paying metro areas for structural iron and steel workers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $120,840 | 1,310 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $116,360 | 70 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $114,570 | 30 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $111,500 | 40 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $111,440 | 450 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $109,440 | 330 |
| Vallejo, CA | $106,900 | 150 |
| Vineland, NJ | $105,370 | 40 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $103,330 | 800 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $102,350 | 2,120 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $102,060 | 2,300 |
| Rockford, IL | $100,290 | 190 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $100,160 | 40 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $99,860 | n/a |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $98,320 | 640 |
Metro areas with the most structural iron and steel workers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 3,470 | $59,540 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 3,000 | $58,030 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,850 | $53,600 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,300 | $102,060 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,150 | $78,040 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,120 | $102,350 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,310 | $120,840 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,120 | $72,790 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 1,110 | $70,140 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,060 | $68,320 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 930 | $62,870 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 910 | $62,510 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 890 | $60,270 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 800 | $103,330 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 800 | $87,340 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| Electrician | $63,190 | $30.38 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $59,850 | $28.78 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,800 | $30.67 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $57,020 | $27.41 |
| Roofer | $55,440 | $26.65 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 | $29.71 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $58,930 | $28.33 |
| Glazier | $57,080 | $27.44 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $62,120 | $29.87 |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | $49,120 | $23.62 |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $53,340 | $25.64 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2221. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a structural iron and steel workers make in the U.S.?
The median salary for structural iron and steel workers in the U.S. is $62,780 a year, or $30.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $108,260 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid structural iron and steel workers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of structural iron and steel workers in the U.S. earn at least $108,260 a year. The top 25% earn $82,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for structural iron and steel workers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,580 a year, and a quarter of structural iron and steel workers earn $49,880 or less.
How many structural iron and steel workers work in the U.S.?
About 68,380 structural iron and steel workers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.