Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks
SOC 47-2171 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data
Median Annual Salary
$58,968
$28.35/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers is $58,968 per year ($28.35/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $47,986 and $77,314 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $104,541 per year. There are approximately 13,800 reinforcing iron and rebar workers employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
Position and secure steel bars or mesh in concrete forms in order to reinforce concrete. Use a variety of fasteners, rod-bending machines, blowtorches, and hand tools. Includes rod busters.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+4.6%
Faster than average
Annual openings
2K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
19K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
6% from new growth94% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Apprenticeship
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors
NAICS 238100
9K
$57,880
Nonresidential Building Construction
NAICS 236200
1K
$64,010
Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction
NAICS 237300
880
$60,390
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only)
NAICS 3320A2
530
$100,560
Other Specialty Trade Contractors
NAICS 238900
410
$55,120
Wage range across top 5 industries: $55,120 to $100,560 (82% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$20.82
$43,306
P25
$23.07
$47,986
P50MEDIAN
$28.35
$58,968
P75
$37.17
$77,314
P90
$50.26
$104,541
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · manufacturing sector
Stable
Openings Rate
3.5%
Quits Rate
1.4%
Manufacturing openings ticked up to 462K (+19K) in March, with the rate at 3.5%. Hires rose to 310K. The sector has stabilized after late-2025 softening.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average reinforcing iron and rebar workers salary?
The national median salary for Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers is $58,968 per year ($28.35/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $47,986 and $77,314 annually.
How much do top-earning reinforcing iron and rebar workers make?
The 90th percentile salary for Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers is $104,541 per year ($50.26/hr). The 75th percentile is $77,314 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for reinforcing iron and rebar workers?
Entry-level Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers (10th percentile) earn approximately $43,306 per year ($20.82/hr). The 25th percentile is $47,986 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
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