Entry-Level Opportunities 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 |
| Minneapolis | Minnesota | $94,280 | $45.33/hr | $81,780 | $99,150 |
| Boston | Massachusetts | $113,210 | $54.43/hr | $81,000 | $128,600 |
| Providence | Rhode Island | $100,630 | $48.38/hr | $80,010 | $124,120 |
| Allentown | Pennsylvania | $91,160 | $43.83/hr | $72,080 | $109,770 |
| Anchorage | Alaska | $81,010 | $38.95/hr | $65,080 | $99,790 |
| Chicago | Illinois | $100,620 | $48.38/hr | $64,620 | $124,530 |
| New York | New York | $101,920 | $49.00/hr | $63,520 | $130,640 |
| Des Moines | Iowa | $75,420 | $36.26/hr | $63,280 | $82,410 |
| Portland | Oregon | $93,730 | $45.06/hr | $62,310 | $123,710 |
| Milwaukee | Wisconsin | $85,920 | $41.31/hr | $59,920 | $99,530 |
| Madison | Wisconsin | $86,060 | $41.37/hr | $59,170 | $105,040 |
| San Francisco | California | $91,760 | $44.12/hr | $56,880 | $124,470 |
| Toledo | Ohio | $72,580 | $34.89/hr | $56,490 | $78,160 |
| Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | $81,060 | $38.97/hr | $56,330 | $106,150 |
| Seattle | Washington | $102,820 | $49.43/hr | $54,720 | $129,500 |
| Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | $92,840 | $44.63/hr | $52,750 | $121,440 |
| Lancaster | Pennsylvania | $74,640 | $35.89/hr | $52,740 | $107,690 |
| Omaha | Nebraska | $68,420 | $32.89/hr | $52,620 | $79,230 |
| Sacramento | California | $81,790 | $39.32/hr | $52,040 | $111,630 |
| Akron | Ohio | $73,440 | $35.31/hr | $51,960 | $82,440 |
| Harrisburg | Pennsylvania | $83,980 | $40.38/hr | $51,550 | $110,680 |
| York | Pennsylvania | $83,980 | $40.38/hr | $51,550 | $110,680 |
| Louisville | Kentucky | $71,220 | $34.24/hr | $51,400 | $88,050 |
| Urban Honolulu | Hawaii | $95,790 | $46.05/hr | $51,060 | $121,350 |
| Columbus | Ohio | $80,030 | $38.48/hr | $50,960 | $132,650 |
| Rochester | New York | $78,250 | $37.62/hr | $50,810 | $107,600 |
| Washington | District of Columbia | $67,480 | $32.44/hr | $50,720 | $85,370 |
| St Louis | Missouri | $78,360 | $37.67/hr | $50,380 | $97,970 |
| Hartford | Connecticut | $69,620 | $33.47/hr | $50,210 | $95,480 |
| Denver | Colorado | $63,290 | $30.43/hr | $49,850 | $83,430 |
| San Diego | California | $79,480 | $38.21/hr | $49,340 | $110,350 |
| Boise | Idaho | $73,680 | $35.42/hr | $48,540 | $102,690 |
| Kansas City | Missouri | $71,330 | $34.29/hr | $48,450 | $86,500 |
| Cincinnati | Ohio | $72,820 | $35.01/hr | $48,390 | $88,350 |
| Stockton | California | $78,850 | $37.91/hr | $48,290 | $127,800 |
| Buffalo | New York | $77,150 | $37.09/hr | $48,000 | $108,340 |
| Phoenix | Arizona | $62,830 | $30.21/hr | $47,980 | $92,270 |
| Nashville | Tennessee | $61,410 | $29.52/hr | $47,960 | $75,640 |
| Modesto | California | $84,580 | $40.67/hr | $47,850 | $129,460 |
| Cleveland | Ohio | $71,760 | $34.50/hr | $47,840 | $86,870 |
| Baltimore | Maryland | $68,180 | $32.78/hr | $47,720 | $79,290 |
| Virginia Beach | Virginia | $58,700 | $28.22/hr | $47,560 | $74,250 |
| Riverside | California | $74,480 | $35.81/hr | $47,280 | $105,570 |
| Bridgeport | Connecticut | $80,600 | $38.75/hr | $47,180 | $102,240 |
| Richmond | Virginia | $58,260 | $28.01/hr | $47,160 | $70,360 |
| Grand Rapids | Michigan | $63,990 | $30.76/hr | $47,060 | $75,980 |
| Los Angeles | California | $81,100 | $38.99/hr | $47,000 | $110,200 |
| Fresno | California | $81,010 | $38.95/hr | $46,800 | $117,110 |
| Bakersfield | California | $71,000 | $34.13/hr | $46,650 | $97,770 |
| Austin | Texas | $60,360 | $29.02/hr | $46,600 | $77,550 |
| Charleston | South Carolina | $56,780 | $27.30/hr | $46,600 | $71,230 |
| Dayton | Ohio | $69,890 | $33.60/hr | $46,590 | $85,670 |
| Colorado Springs | Colorado | $59,240 | $28.48/hr | $46,570 | $78,610 |
| Indianapolis | Indiana | $70,410 | $33.85/hr | $46,320 | $97,600 |
| Tulsa | Oklahoma | $55,600 | $26.73/hr | $46,070 | $68,690 |
| Dallas | Texas | $58,000 | $27.88/hr | $45,620 | $77,520 |
| Syracuse | New York | $76,430 | $36.75/hr | $45,510 | $92,900 |
| Wichita | Kansas | $55,810 | $26.83/hr | $45,370 | $72,300 |
| Tucson | Arizona | $58,260 | $28.01/hr | $45,320 | $73,470 |
| Houston | Texas | $58,380 | $28.07/hr | $45,110 | $78,180 |
| Baton Rouge | Louisiana | $65,640 | $31.56/hr | $44,780 | $78,670 |
| Knoxville | Tennessee | $62,190 | $29.90/hr | $44,720 | $99,220 |
| Fort Wayne | Indiana | $64,700 | $31.10/hr | $44,610 | $92,180 |
| Salt Lake City | Utah | $59,310 | $28.51/hr | $44,570 | $76,410 |
| Birmingham | Alabama | $55,630 | $26.75/hr | $44,500 | $63,700 |
| Chattanooga | Tennessee | $58,280 | $28.02/hr | $43,870 | $71,920 |
| Las Vegas | Nevada | $73,350 | $35.26/hr | $43,320 | $102,140 |
| Scranton | Pennsylvania | $77,650 | $37.33/hr | $43,070 | $102,000 |
| El Paso | Texas | $56,740 | $27.28/hr | $42,160 | $77,520 |
| Victoria | Texas | $56,740 | $27.28/hr | $42,160 | $77,520 |
| Detroit | Michigan | $63,340 | $30.45/hr | $41,260 | $79,150 |
| Albuquerque | New Mexico | $54,984 | $26.00/hr | $41,238 | $71,479 |
| Miami | Florida | $59,130 | $28.43/hr | $40,890 | $77,060 |
| Mobile | Alabama | $53,970 | $25.95/hr | $40,660 | $67,700 |
| San Antonio | Texas | $54,570 | $26.24/hr | $40,580 | $71,290 |
| Augusta | Georgia | $55,390 | $26.63/hr | $40,540 | $71,750 |
| Provo | Utah | $56,610 | $27.21/hr | $40,290 | $74,300 |
| Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | $51,310 | $24.67/hr | $40,110 | $65,690 |
| Spokane | Washington | $77,760 | $37.38/hr | $40,100 | $95,430 |
| Jacksonville | Florida | $54,170 | $26.05/hr | $39,890 | $67,020 |
| Tampa | Florida | $51,960 | $24.98/hr | $39,670 | $68,530 |
| Charlotte | North Carolina | $53,000 | $25.48/hr | $39,320 | $63,530 |
| Greensboro | North Carolina | $53,190 | $25.57/hr | $38,910 | $81,640 |
| Durham | North Carolina | $53,220 | $25.59/hr | $38,810 | $60,530 |
| Atlanta | Georgia | $53,100 | $25.53/hr | $38,800 | $74,340 |
| Ogden | Utah | $53,760 | $25.84/hr | $38,710 | $72,890 |
| Cape Coral | Florida | $55,720 | $26.79/hr | $37,950 | $73,280 |
| Lakeland | Florida | $55,720 | $26.79/hr | $37,950 | $73,280 |
| Palm Bay | Florida | $55,720 | $26.79/hr | $37,950 | $73,280 |
| Pensacola | Florida | $55,720 | $26.79/hr | $37,950 | $73,280 |
| Greenville | South Carolina | $54,330 | $26.12/hr | $37,840 | $67,610 |
| Raleigh | North Carolina | $53,250 | $25.60/hr | $36,780 | $79,130 |
| Orlando | Florida | $53,390 | $25.67/hr | $36,650 | $73,270 |
| Memphis | Tennessee | $55,320 | $26.60/hr | $36,340 | $71,140 |
| Little Rock | Arkansas | $46,740 | $22.47/hr | $35,850 | $59,030 |
| Columbia | South Carolina | $53,090 | $25.52/hr | $35,640 | $60,970 |
| McAllen | Texas | $46,970 | $22.58/hr | $31,370 | $68,780 |
| Jackson | Mississippi | $51,580 | $24.80/hr | $30,700 | $74,520 |
| New Orleans | Louisiana | $49,210 | $23.66/hr | $27,790 | $63,630 |