Best Value Cities for Ironworkers — 2026
Worcester, Massachusetts ranks first with an average Ironworker salary of $113,290 per year ($54.47/hr). Full ranking of 100 cities below, updated August 2026.
Methodology: Wage figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 release data vintage (survey reference period May 2025), mapped from SOC occupation 47-2221 Structural Iron and Steel Workers to the job title "Ironworker". Values are measured survey estimates for the metropolitan metropolitan statistical area (MSA) — not modeled or interpolated. Year-over-year comparisons use the May 2024 OEWS release. The year shown in page titles is the publication and update year, not the data vintage.
Ranked Cities
| City | State | Average Annual Salary | Hourly Rate | Entry Level | Senior Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester | Massachusetts | $113,290 | $54.47/hr | $82,760 | $128,080 |
| Chicago | Illinois | $100,620 | $48.38/hr | $64,620 | $124,530 |
| York | Pennsylvania | $83,980 | $40.38/hr | $51,550 | $110,680 |
| Minneapolis | Minnesota | $94,280 | $45.33/hr | $81,780 | $99,150 |
| Harrisburg | Pennsylvania | $83,980 | $40.38/hr | $51,550 | $110,680 |
| Milwaukee | Wisconsin | $85,920 | $41.31/hr | $59,920 | $99,530 |
| Allentown | Pennsylvania | $91,160 | $43.83/hr | $72,080 | $109,770 |
| Scranton | Pennsylvania | $77,650 | $37.33/hr | $43,070 | $102,000 |
| Buffalo | New York | $77,150 | $37.09/hr | $48,000 | $108,340 |
| Rochester | New York | $78,250 | $37.62/hr | $50,810 | $107,600 |
| Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | $81,060 | $38.97/hr | $56,330 | $106,150 |
| Syracuse | New York | $76,430 | $36.75/hr | $45,510 | $92,900 |
| Providence | Rhode Island | $100,630 | $48.38/hr | $80,010 | $124,120 |
| Toledo | Ohio | $72,580 | $34.89/hr | $56,490 | $78,160 |
| Madison | Wisconsin | $86,060 | $41.37/hr | $59,170 | $105,040 |
| Akron | Ohio | $73,440 | $35.31/hr | $51,960 | $82,440 |
| St Louis | Missouri | $78,360 | $37.67/hr | $50,380 | $97,970 |
| Fresno | California | $81,010 | $38.95/hr | $46,800 | $117,110 |
| Columbus | Ohio | $80,030 | $38.48/hr | $50,960 | $132,650 |
| Boston | Massachusetts | $113,210 | $54.43/hr | $81,000 | $128,600 |
| Modesto | California | $84,580 | $40.67/hr | $47,850 | $129,460 |
| Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | $92,840 | $44.63/hr | $52,750 | $121,440 |
| Des Moines | Iowa | $75,420 | $36.26/hr | $63,280 | $82,410 |
| Spokane | Washington | $77,760 | $37.38/hr | $40,100 | $95,430 |
| Cleveland | Ohio | $71,760 | $34.50/hr | $47,840 | $86,870 |
| Dayton | Ohio | $69,890 | $33.60/hr | $46,590 | $85,670 |
| Louisville | Kentucky | $71,220 | $34.24/hr | $51,400 | $88,050 |
| Lancaster | Pennsylvania | $74,640 | $35.89/hr | $52,740 | $107,690 |
| Cincinnati | Ohio | $72,820 | $35.01/hr | $48,390 | $88,350 |
| Indianapolis | Indiana | $70,410 | $33.85/hr | $46,320 | $97,600 |
| Kansas City | Missouri | $71,330 | $34.29/hr | $48,450 | $86,500 |
| Fort Wayne | Indiana | $64,700 | $31.10/hr | $44,610 | $92,180 |
| Omaha | Nebraska | $68,420 | $32.89/hr | $52,620 | $79,230 |
| Baton Rouge | Louisiana | $65,640 | $31.56/hr | $44,780 | $78,670 |
| Portland | Oregon | $93,730 | $45.06/hr | $62,310 | $123,710 |
| Boise | Idaho | $73,680 | $35.42/hr | $48,540 | $102,690 |
| Bakersfield | California | $71,000 | $34.13/hr | $46,650 | $97,770 |
| Grand Rapids | Michigan | $63,990 | $30.76/hr | $47,060 | $75,980 |
| Knoxville | Tennessee | $62,190 | $29.90/hr | $44,720 | $99,220 |
| Detroit | Michigan | $63,340 | $30.45/hr | $41,260 | $79,150 |
| El Paso | Texas | $56,740 | $27.28/hr | $42,160 | $77,520 |
| Stockton | California | $78,850 | $37.91/hr | $48,290 | $127,800 |
| Wichita | Kansas | $55,810 | $26.83/hr | $45,370 | $72,300 |
| Las Vegas | Nevada | $73,350 | $35.26/hr | $43,320 | $102,140 |
| Chattanooga | Tennessee | $58,280 | $28.02/hr | $43,870 | $71,920 |
| Tulsa | Oklahoma | $55,600 | $26.73/hr | $46,070 | $68,690 |
| Seattle | Washington | $102,820 | $49.43/hr | $54,720 | $129,500 |
| Mobile | Alabama | $53,970 | $25.95/hr | $40,660 | $67,700 |
| Birmingham | Alabama | $55,630 | $26.75/hr | $44,500 | $63,700 |
| Sacramento | California | $81,790 | $39.32/hr | $52,040 | $111,630 |
| Riverside | California | $74,480 | $35.81/hr | $47,280 | $105,570 |
| Bridgeport | Connecticut | $80,600 | $38.75/hr | $47,180 | $102,240 |
| Memphis | Tennessee | $55,320 | $26.60/hr | $36,340 | $71,140 |
| Victoria | Texas | $56,740 | $27.28/hr | $42,160 | $77,520 |
| Augusta | Georgia | $55,390 | $26.63/hr | $40,540 | $71,750 |
| Jackson | Mississippi | $51,580 | $24.80/hr | $30,700 | $74,520 |
| Nashville | Tennessee | $61,410 | $29.52/hr | $47,960 | $75,640 |
| Richmond | Virginia | $58,260 | $28.01/hr | $47,160 | $70,360 |
| Tucson | Arizona | $58,260 | $28.01/hr | $45,320 | $73,470 |
| Pensacola | Florida | $55,720 | $26.79/hr | $37,950 | $73,280 |
| Anchorage | Alaska | $81,010 | $38.95/hr | $65,080 | $99,790 |
| Hartford | Connecticut | $69,620 | $33.47/hr | $50,210 | $95,480 |
| Phoenix | Arizona | $62,830 | $30.21/hr | $47,980 | $92,270 |
| Austin | Texas | $60,360 | $29.02/hr | $46,600 | $77,550 |
| Houston | Texas | $58,380 | $28.07/hr | $45,110 | $78,180 |
| Charleston | South Carolina | $56,780 | $27.30/hr | $46,600 | $71,230 |
| Greenville | South Carolina | $54,330 | $26.12/hr | $37,840 | $67,610 |
| San Antonio | Texas | $54,570 | $26.24/hr | $40,580 | $71,290 |
| Lakeland | Florida | $55,720 | $26.79/hr | $37,950 | $73,280 |
| Albuquerque | New Mexico | $54,984 | $26.00/hr | $41,238 | $71,479 |
| Dallas | Texas | $58,000 | $27.88/hr | $45,620 | $77,520 |
| McAllen | Texas | $46,970 | $22.58/hr | $31,370 | $68,780 |
| Greensboro | North Carolina | $53,190 | $25.57/hr | $38,910 | $81,640 |
| Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | $51,310 | $24.67/hr | $40,110 | $65,690 |
| Jacksonville | Florida | $54,170 | $26.05/hr | $39,890 | $67,020 |
| Colorado Springs | Colorado | $59,240 | $28.48/hr | $46,570 | $78,610 |
| Palm Bay | Florida | $55,720 | $26.79/hr | $37,950 | $73,280 |
| Denver | Colorado | $63,290 | $30.43/hr | $49,850 | $83,430 |
| Columbia | South Carolina | $53,090 | $25.52/hr | $35,640 | $60,970 |
| Virginia Beach | Virginia | $58,700 | $28.22/hr | $47,560 | $74,250 |
| Baltimore | Maryland | $68,180 | $32.78/hr | $47,720 | $79,290 |
| Salt Lake City | Utah | $59,310 | $28.51/hr | $44,570 | $76,410 |
| Cape Coral | Florida | $55,720 | $26.79/hr | $37,950 | $73,280 |
| Provo | Utah | $56,610 | $27.21/hr | $40,290 | $74,300 |
| Urban Honolulu | Hawaii | $95,790 | $46.05/hr | $51,060 | $121,350 |
| Durham | North Carolina | $53,220 | $25.59/hr | $38,810 | $60,530 |
| Little Rock | Arkansas | $46,740 | $22.47/hr | $35,850 | $59,030 |
| Ogden | Utah | $53,760 | $25.84/hr | $38,710 | $72,890 |
| New York | New York | $101,920 | $49.00/hr | $63,520 | $130,640 |
| Raleigh | North Carolina | $53,250 | $25.60/hr | $36,780 | $79,130 |
| Atlanta | Georgia | $53,100 | $25.53/hr | $38,800 | $74,340 |
| Charlotte | North Carolina | $53,000 | $25.48/hr | $39,320 | $63,530 |
| New Orleans | Louisiana | $49,210 | $23.66/hr | $27,790 | $63,630 |
| Orlando | Florida | $53,390 | $25.67/hr | $36,650 | $73,270 |
| Miami | Florida | $59,130 | $28.43/hr | $40,890 | $77,060 |
| Tampa | Florida | $51,960 | $24.98/hr | $39,670 | $68,530 |
| San Diego | California | $79,480 | $38.21/hr | $49,340 | $110,350 |
| Washington | District of Columbia | $67,480 | $32.44/hr | $50,720 | $85,370 |
| Los Angeles | California | $81,100 | $38.99/hr | $47,000 | $110,200 |
| San Francisco | California | $91,760 | $44.12/hr | $56,880 | $124,470 |