Structural Iron and Steel Workers Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks
SOC 47-2221 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data
Median Annual Salary
$62,774
$30.18/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 Structural Iron and Steel Workers is $62,774 per year ($30.18/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $49,878 and $82,659 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $108,264 per year. There are approximately 68,380 structural iron and steel workers employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
Raise, place, and unite iron or steel girders, columns, and other structural members to form completed structures or structural frameworks. May erect metal storage tanks and assemble prefabricated metal buildings.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+4.4%
Faster than average
Annual openings
6K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
66K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
5% from new growth95% 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
32K
$63,340
Nonresidential Building Construction
NAICS 236200
13K
$61,930
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only)
NAICS 3320A2
5K
$63,100
Building Equipment Contractors
NAICS 238200
3K
$68,330
Utility System Construction
NAICS 237100
3K
$62,510
Wage range across top 5 industries: $61,930 to $68,330 (10% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$21.43
$44,574
P25
$23.98
$49,878
P50MEDIAN
$30.18
$62,774
P75
$39.74
$82,659
P90
$52.05
$108,264
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 structural iron and steel workers salary?
The national median salary for Structural Iron and Steel Workers is $62,774 per year ($30.18/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $49,878 and $82,659 annually.
How much do top-earning structural iron and steel workers make?
The 90th percentile salary for Structural Iron and Steel Workers is $108,264 per year ($52.05/hr). The 75th percentile is $82,659 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for structural iron and steel workers?
Entry-level Structural Iron and Steel Workers (10th percentile) earn approximately $44,574 per year ($21.43/hr). The 25th percentile is $49,878 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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