Iron Worker Salary Guide
Real salary ranges for Iron Workers in the US market — what you should expect, and what you can negotiate.
Salary Ranges
25TH PERCENTILE
$52,000
Entry-level or lower cost-of-living markets
50TH PERCENTILE
$68,000
Median — most roles fall here
75TH PERCENTILE
$92,000
Experienced, larger market or company
90TH PERCENTILE
$128,000
Top earners, premium markets
Union iron workers (IABSW locals) earn 25-40% premiums over non-union counterparts, with prevailing wage on public projects often exceeding $65-75/hour fully loaded. Overtime and project-based work create significant annual variance, particularly for structural specialists on high-rise construction.
Top-Paying Cities
New York, NY$125,000
San Francisco, CA$118,000
Boston, MA$115,000
Seattle, WA$108,000
Chicago, IL$102,000
Top-Paying Industries
Public Infrastructure/Prevailing Wage$125,000
High-Rise Structural Steel$118,000
Utility/Power Generation$108,000
Commercial Construction$92,000
Residential/Ornamental$68,000
Negotiation Tip for Iron Workers
Negotiate prevailing wage classification and overtime guarantees upfront—structural work on public projects qualifies for time-and-a-half or double-time, which can add $15-30k+ annually compared to straight-time commercial work.
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