Ironworker: metro pay ranking

At Skilled Trades Headhunters, this is what we do all day: recruit skilled trades professionals.

Skilled Trades Headhunters compares published medians for SOC 47-2221 Structural Iron and Steel Workers, not estimated offers for this particular title.

Which metros publish the highest and lowest medians?

This ranking uses the May 2025 annual median for Structural Iron and Steel Workers. It is not adjusted for living costs. A metro is a BLS statistical area, not just the city limits. Top-coded or suppressed medians are not ranked.

Highest and lowest published metro medians
Metro	Median	Employment	Location quotient	Trade median / all-occupations median
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$120,840	1,310	1.1	1.81
Trenton-Princeton, NJ	$116,360	70	0.62	1.83
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ	$114,570	30	0.45	2.41
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA	$111,500	40	0.73	1.80
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$111,440	450	0.49	1.53
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$109,440	330	0.67	1.30
Vallejo, CA	$106,900	150	2.36	1.82
Vineland, NJ	$105,370	40	1.46	2.19
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$103,330	800	0.62	1.90
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$102,350	2,120	1.07	1.87
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$102,060	2,300	0.55	1.66
Rockford, IL	$100,290	190	3.16	2.13
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN	$100,160	40	1.03	2.08
Urban Honolulu, HI	$99,860	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	1.75
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$98,320	640	2.04	1.83
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$98,120	410	0.78	1.62
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$97,810	750	0.87	1.65
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY	$97,150	150	1.27	1.91
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$95,730	240	0.66	1.87
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$94,120	30	0.19	1.53
Appleton, WI	$93,960	80	1.53	1.88
Eugene-Springfield, OR	$92,580	40	0.62	1.86
Madison, WI	$92,460	70	0.39	1.59
Chico, CA	$88,070	50	1.58	1.83
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$87,340	800	0.77	1.18
Bellingham, WA	$86,120	50	1.18	1.49
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$83,630	150	0.93	1.71
Fargo, ND-MN	$83,200	170	2.67	1.63
Pittsburgh, PA	$82,860	370	0.76	1.67
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	$82,660	120	1.09	1.51
Champaign-Urbana, IL	$82,480	30	0.71	1.63
Springfield, IL	$81,750	40	0.88	1.55
St. Louis, MO-IL	$81,640	670	1.14	1.63
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	$80,540	70	0.6	1.74
Fresno, CA	$80,110	180	0.84	1.71
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$80,080	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	1.55
Peoria, IL	$80,060	90	1.21	1.61
Columbia, MO	$79,100	40	0.9	1.67
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	$79,090	90	1.18	1.63
Iowa City, IA	$78,800	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	1.57
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$78,040	2,150	0.78	1.40
Boise City, ID	$77,940	200	1.14	1.59
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$77,760	450	0.95	1.30
Kansas City, MO-KS	$77,570	380	0.78	1.53
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$77,110	150	0.73	1.32
Anchorage, AK	$76,970	90	1.16	1.28
Columbus, OH	$76,920	370	0.75	1.50
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$76,420	210	0.89	1.50
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$76,400	740	1.09	1.30
Akron, OH	$76,330	210	1.49	1.56
Rochester, NY	$76,220	110	0.48	1.49
Evansville, IN	$76,090	180	2.99	1.63
Cleveland, OH	$76,060	380	0.84	1.52
Modesto, CA	$75,820	100	1.12	1.50
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$75,700	480	0.99	1.51
Cedar Rapids, IA	$75,380	80	1.36	1.53
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$75,380	60	0.66	1.33
Lancaster, PA	$74,950	140	1.22	1.55
Salem, OR	$74,920	40	0.52	1.35
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$74,890	170	1.33	1.53
Toledo, OH	$74,710	220	1.7	1.55
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	$74,650	90	0.55	1.49
Omaha, NE-IA	$74,430	380	1.73	1.50
Springfield, MO	$74,330	50	0.54	1.62
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	$73,640	50	0.92	1.58
Baton Rouge, LA	$73,470	390	2.17	1.51
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$72,790	1,120	1.49	1.50
Syracuse, NY	$71,810	80	0.63	1.36
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$71,200	300	0.5	1.21
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$70,400	120	0.8	1.48
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$70,140	1,110	2.29	1.42
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL	$69,530	60	2.6	1.75
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$69,280	310	1.03	1.43
Billings, MT	$69,030	60	1.54	1.41
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$68,320	1,060	0.77	0.96
Reading, PA	$67,550	40	0.55	1.37
Fort Wayne, IN	$67,530	190	1.93	1.42
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	$65,250	230	0.86	1.37
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$64,850	140	0.55	1.08
Decatur, IL	$64,830	40	2.12	1.26
Lexington-Fayette, KY	$64,000	40	0.32	1.32
Portland-South Portland, ME	$63,730	80	0.64	1.12
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$63,150	50	0.32	1.20
commercial-vehicle manufacturers-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$62,870	930	1.11	1.21
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO	$62,670	60	0.76	1.13
Joplin, MO-KS	$62,600	90	2.26	1.39
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$62,510	910	1.81	1.34
New Haven, CT	$62,400	80	0.61	1.04
Elkhart-Goshen, IN	$62,390	80	1.44	1.30
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$61,890	400	0.83	1.23
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$61,880	150	1.28	1.33
Knoxville, TN	$61,250	130	0.7	1.30
Port St. Lucie, FL	$61,120	50	0.61	1.31
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	$60,740	50	0.47	1.35
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$60,580	780	2.14	1.10
Winchester, VA-WV	$60,420	30	1.03	1.28
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$60,270	890	0.72	1.24
Richmond, VA	$60,260	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	1.17
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$60,080	480	0.68	0.96
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$60,080	40	0.76	1.18
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$59,980	710	1.25	1.05
Manchester-Nashua, NH	$59,920	120	1.42	1.06
Reno, NV	$59,880	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	1.21
Amarillo, TX	$59,610	60	1.07	1.34
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$59,540	3,470	3.32	1.16
Tuscaloosa, AL	$59,230	100	2	1.31
Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$59,200	200	2.61	1.23
Birmingham, AL	$59,180	550	2.41	1.24
Greeley, CO	$59,100	80	1.53	1.07
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$58,630	700	2.09	1.19
Wichita, KS	$58,100	90	0.64	1.22
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$58,030	3,000	2.07	1.17
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	$57,960	320	2.37	1.21
Lincoln, NE	$57,900	130	1.64	1.16
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$57,810	100	0.67	0.95
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$57,780	100	0.57	1.18
Harrisonburg, VA	$57,720	50	1.66	1.25
Sherman-Denison, TX	$57,720	60	2.56	1.29
Corpus Christi, TX	$57,440	330	3.94	1.27
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	$57,220	310	4.29	1.18
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	$56,900	80	0.74	1.24
Lynchburg, VA	$56,440	70	1.64	1.22
Ogden, UT	$56,420	260	2.2	1.15
Saginaw, MI	$56,300	100	2.81	1.22
Decatur, AL	$56,220	70	2.67	1.21
Colorado Springs, CO	$55,690	70	0.5	1.06
Tucson, AZ	$54,770	230	1.32	1.15
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$53,600	2,850	1.6	1.04
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	$53,600	40	0.6	1.23
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	$53,450	150	0.8	1.15
Tulsa, OK	$53,190	270	1.36	1.14
Terre Haute, IN	$52,140	30	1.13	1.16
Columbia, SC	$50,510	100	0.58	1.09
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$50,390	240	0.88	1.07
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$50,120	510	1.03	1.07
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$49,490	170	1.06	1.06
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ	$49,490	40	2.77	1.05
Rapid City, SD	$49,100	170	5.15	1.06
St. George, UT	$48,970	70	1.7	1.08
Jacksonville, FL	$48,870	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	1.00
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$48,720	320	0.51	1.00
Logan, UT-ID	$48,510	50	1.65	1.05
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$48,400	310	0.49	1.04
Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ	$48,350	70	2.82	1.09
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$48,290	550	0.93	0.97
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$48,090	620	0.49	0.94
Winston-Salem, NC	$47,730	160	1.32	1.03
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	$47,530	100	0.51	1.01
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	$47,390	200	1.69	1.02
Oklahoma City, OK	$47,330	470	1.59	1.00
Cheyenne, WY	$47,150	40	1.88	0.91
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA	$46,800	90	2.39	1.03
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	$46,660	310	1.94	1.02
Abilene, TX	$45,680	80	2.36	1.03
Waco, TX	$45,590	50	0.79	0.99
Fort Smith, AR-OK	$45,220	40	0.88	1.14
Tyler, TX	$45,030	80	1.49	1.06
College Station-Bryan, TX	$44,760	40	0.75	1.01
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	$42,710	60	0.49	1.19
Ocala, FL	$33,770	90	1.69	0.77
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	$31,480	120	0.4	1.07

The wage ratio is simple arithmetic: this occupation's median divided by the all-occupations median in the same area and unit. It is not a cost-of-living measure. Location quotient describes the concentration of employment, not relative pay. Neither predicts what a particular candidate will accept.

Where does this trade pay most relative to local wages?

Occupation median divided by the same area's all-occupations median
Area	Wage ratio	Median	Location quotient
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ	2.41	$114,570	0.45
Vineland, NJ	2.19	$105,370	1.46
Rockford, IL	2.13	$100,290	3.16
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN	2.08	$100,160	1.03
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY	1.91	$97,150	1.27
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	1.90	$103,330	0.62
Appleton, WI	1.88	$93,960	1.53
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	1.87	$95,730	0.66
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	1.87	$102,350	1.07
Eugene-Springfield, OR	1.86	$92,580	0.62
Chico, CA	1.83	$88,070	1.58
Trenton-Princeton, NJ	1.83	$116,360	0.62
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	1.83	$98,320	2.04
Vallejo, CA	1.82	$106,900	2.36
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	1.81	$120,840	1.1
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA	1.80	$111,500	0.73
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL	1.75	$69,530	2.6
Urban Honolulu, HI	1.75	$99,860	Not published by BLS
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	1.74	$80,540	0.6
Fresno, CA	1.71	$80,110	0.84
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	1.71	$83,630	0.93
Columbia, MO	1.67	$79,100	0.9
Pittsburgh, PA	1.67	$82,860	0.76
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	1.66	$102,060	0.55
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	1.65	$97,810	0.87
Evansville, IN	1.63	$76,090	2.99
St. Louis, MO-IL	1.63	$81,640	1.14
Fargo, ND-MN	1.63	$83,200	2.67
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	1.63	$79,090	1.18
Champaign-Urbana, IL	1.63	$82,480	0.71
Springfield, MO	1.62	$74,330	0.54
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	1.62	$98,120	0.78
Peoria, IL	1.61	$80,060	1.21
Madison, WI	1.59	$92,460	0.39
Boise City, ID	1.59	$77,940	1.14
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	1.58	$73,640	0.92
Iowa City, IA	1.57	$78,800	Not published by BLS
Akron, OH	1.56	$76,330	1.49
Lancaster, PA	1.55	$74,950	1.22
Springfield, IL	1.55	$81,750	0.88
Toledo, OH	1.55	$74,710	1.7
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	1.55	$80,080	Not published by BLS
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	1.53	$111,440	0.49
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	1.53	$94,120	0.19
Stockton-Lodi, CA	1.53	$74,890	1.33
Cedar Rapids, IA	1.53	$75,380	1.36
Kansas City, MO-KS	1.53	$77,570	0.78
Cleveland, OH	1.52	$76,060	0.84
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	1.51	$82,660	1.09
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	1.51	$75,700	0.99
Baton Rouge, LA	1.51	$73,470	2.17
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	1.50	$76,420	0.89
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	1.50	$72,790	1.49
Omaha, NE-IA	1.50	$74,430	1.73
Columbus, OH	1.50	$76,920	0.75
Modesto, CA	1.50	$75,820	1.12
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	1.49	$74,650	0.55
Bellingham, WA	1.49	$86,120	1.18
Rochester, NY	1.49	$76,220	0.48
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	1.48	$70,400	0.8
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	1.43	$69,280	1.03
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	1.42	$70,140	2.29
Fort Wayne, IN	1.42	$67,530	1.93
Billings, MT	1.41	$69,030	1.54
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	1.40	$78,040	0.78
Joplin, MO-KS	1.39	$62,600	2.26
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	1.37	$65,250	0.86
Reading, PA	1.37	$67,550	0.55
Syracuse, NY	1.36	$71,810	0.63
Salem, OR	1.35	$74,920	0.52
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	1.35	$60,740	0.47
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	1.34	$62,510	1.81
Amarillo, TX	1.34	$59,610	1.07
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	1.33	$75,380	0.66
Chattanooga, TN-GA	1.33	$61,880	1.28
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	1.32	$77,110	0.73
Lexington-Fayette, KY	1.32	$64,000	0.32
Port St. Lucie, FL	1.31	$61,120	0.61
Tuscaloosa, AL	1.31	$59,230	2
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	1.30	$109,440	0.67
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	1.30	$76,400	1.09
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	1.30	$77,760	0.95
Knoxville, TN	1.30	$61,250	0.7
Elkhart-Goshen, IN	1.30	$62,390	1.44
Sherman-Denison, TX	1.29	$57,720	2.56
Winchester, VA-WV	1.28	$60,420	1.03
Anchorage, AK	1.28	$76,970	1.16
Corpus Christi, TX	1.27	$57,440	3.94
Decatur, IL	1.26	$64,830	2.12
Harrisonburg, VA	1.25	$57,720	1.66
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	1.24	$60,270	0.72
Birmingham, AL	1.24	$59,180	2.41
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	1.24	$56,900	0.74
Sioux Falls, SD-MN	1.23	$59,200	2.61
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	1.23	$53,600	0.6
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	1.23	$61,890	0.83
Lynchburg, VA	1.22	$56,440	1.64
Wichita, KS	1.22	$58,100	0.64
Saginaw, MI	1.22	$56,300	2.81
Decatur, AL	1.21	$56,220	2.67
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	1.21	$57,960	2.37
commercial-vehicle manufacturers-Warren-Dearborn, MI	1.21	$62,870	1.11
Reno, NV	1.21	$59,880	Not published by BLS
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	1.21	$71,200	0.5
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	1.20	$63,150	0.32
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	1.19	$42,710	0.49
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	1.19	$58,630	2.09
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	1.18	$60,080	0.76
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	1.18	$57,220	4.29
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	1.18	$87,340	0.77
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	1.18	$57,780	0.57
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	1.17	$58,030	2.07
Richmond, VA	1.17	$60,260	Not published by BLS
Lincoln, NE	1.16	$57,900	1.64
Terre Haute, IN	1.16	$52,140	1.13
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	1.16	$59,540	3.32
Ogden, UT	1.15	$56,420	2.2
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	1.15	$53,450	0.8
Tucson, AZ	1.15	$54,770	1.32
Fort Smith, AR-OK	1.14	$45,220	0.88
Tulsa, OK	1.14	$53,190	1.36
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO	1.13	$62,670	0.76
Portland-South Portland, ME	1.12	$63,730	0.64
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	1.10	$60,580	2.14
Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ	1.09	$48,350	2.82
Columbia, SC	1.09	$50,510	0.58
St. George, UT	1.08	$48,970	1.7
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	1.08	$64,850	0.55
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	1.07	$50,390	0.88
Greeley, CO	1.07	$59,100	1.53
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	1.07	$31,480	0.4
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	1.07	$50,120	1.03
Greensboro-High Point, NC	1.06	$49,490	1.06
Rapid City, SD	1.06	$49,100	5.15
Manchester-Nashua, NH	1.06	$59,920	1.42
Colorado Springs, CO	1.06	$55,690	0.5
Tyler, TX	1.06	$45,030	1.49
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	1.05	$59,980	1.25
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ	1.05	$49,490	2.77
Logan, UT-ID	1.05	$48,510	1.65
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	1.04	$53,600	1.6
New Haven, CT	1.04	$62,400	0.61
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	1.04	$48,400	0.49
Abilene, TX	1.03	$45,680	2.36
Winston-Salem, NC	1.03	$47,730	1.32
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA	1.03	$46,800	2.39
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	1.02	$46,660	1.94
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	1.02	$47,390	1.69
College Station-Bryan, TX	1.01	$44,760	0.75
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	1.01	$47,530	0.51
Oklahoma City, OK	1.00	$47,330	1.59
Jacksonville, FL	1.00	$48,870	Not published by BLS
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	1.00	$48,720	0.51
Waco, TX	0.99	$45,590	0.79
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	0.97	$48,290	0.93
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	0.96	$60,080	0.68
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	0.96	$68,320	0.77
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	0.95	$57,810	0.67
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	0.94	$48,090	0.49
Cheyenne, WY	0.91	$47,150	1.88
Ocala, FL	0.77	$33,770	1.69

Broader occupation Our title "Ironworker" is reported by BLS as SOC 47-2221 Structural Iron and Steel Workers. BLS groups Ironworker within Structural Iron and Steel Workers; it does not publish this niche title or credential level separately.

National percentile table Methodology