How Much Do Structural Ironworkers Make?
Structural Ironworkers raise, place, and join the steel girders and columns that form building and bridge frames. Official pay data from the BLS May 2025 wage survey.
The median structural ironworker salary is $62,780 per year — 23% above the $50,980 median for all U.S. occupations. About 68,380 people work in this trade nationwide.
Pay by percentile
| Percentile | Annual wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,580 | Entry level / lowest-paid areas |
| 25th | $49,880 | Early career |
| 50th — median | $62,780 | The typical worker |
| 75th | $82,660 | Experienced |
| 90th | $108,260 | Top earners / highest-paid areas |
Lifetime earnings potential
At today's median wage, here is what a career as a structural ironworker adds up to (in constant 2025 dollars, before raises or promotions — a conservative floor, not a projection):
| Career length | At the median ($62,780/yr) | In the top 10% ($108,260/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 years | $627,800 | $1,082,600 |
| 20 years | $1,255,600 | $2,165,200 |
| 30 years | $1,883,400 | $3,247,800 |
Reaching the top 10% instead of the median is worth $1,364,400 over a 30-year career — usually the gap between entry-level work and specialization, licenses, or high-paying states. Compare this trade against any other with the trade comparison tool.
Frequently asked questions
- How much do structural ironworkers make?
- The median annual wage for structural iron and steel workers is $62,780 (BLS OES, May 2025). The middle 50% earn between $49,880 and $82,660.
- What do the top structural ironworkers earn?
- The top 10% of structural ironworkers earn $108,260 or more per year, while the bottom 10% earn $44,580 or less.
- Is $62,780 good pay?
- It is 23% above the median for all U.S. occupations ($50,980, BLS May 2025).