Ironworker Salary.
Across 30 U.S. cities.
$63,000
national median salary
$48,000 to $82,000. Last updated April 2026.
Highest Paying
$88,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$66,000
Wilmington, DE
Lowest Paying
$49,000
Jackson, MS
Salary data sourced from SEC filings, H-1B Labor Condition Applications (DOL), Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and aggregated job postings across 50+ platforms. Ranges reflect 25th to 75th percentile for full-time positions. Cost-of-living adjustments use Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2025 index). Last updated April 2026.
The average Ironworker salary in the United States is $63,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $48,000 at the 25th percentile to $82,000 at the 75th. San Francisco pays the most at $88,000, while Wilmington offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Structural ironworkers on high-rise projects earn the most due to height premiums and physical risk factors.
Ironworker salary by city
What you should know
Structural ironworkers on high-rise projects earn the most due to height premiums and physical risk factors. Welding certifications combined with ironworking skills add 15 to 20% to base rates. Union ironworkers in major cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco see the strongest wage floors, with journeyman rates exceeding $45 per hour.
Ironworker apprentices start at $34,000 to $42,000 during their three to four year training period. Journeyman ironworkers earn $48,000 to $70,000, while foremen and superintendents reach $72,000 to $95,000. Project managers with ironworking backgrounds earn $90,000 to $125,000 at large structural contractors.
Union benefits add $18,000 to $28,000 annually including health insurance, pension, annuity, and training fund contributions. Hazard pay for bridge, high-rise, or demolition work can add $2 to $8 per hour on top of base journeyman rates.