Ironworkers


Architecture and Construction > Ironworkers > Wages & Trends
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Ironworkers

Ironworkers - Wages & Trends

Apprentices usually start at about 50 to 60 percent of the rate paid to experienced journey workers. They receive pay increases throughout the course of the program.

Earnings can sometimes be reduced because of work time lost due to bad weather. Structural metal workers can also lose work during economic slowdowns, when jobs are not available.

Wages vary by area of specialization. Wages also vary by employer and area of the country. Workers in New York, Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, and other large cities receive higher wages. Wages also vary depending on the worker's experience. In addition, workers who are members of a union usually earn higher wages than non-union workers.

Benefits vary by employer. Full-time structural metal workers often receive typical benefits. These include paid vacation, sick leave, and health insurance.

Reinforcing iron and rebar workers (SOC 47-2171)
Location
Pay Period
25%
Median
75%
Illinois Hourly $36.76 $41.82 $52.41
Yearly $76,458 $86,983 $109,022
United States Hourly $22.00 $24.55 $30.62
Yearly $45,760 $51,070 $63,690

Structural iron and steel workers (SOC 47-2221)

Location
Pay Period
25%
Median
75%
Illinois Hourly $39.24 $46.64 $52.88
Yearly $81,619 $97,007 $109,980
    Champaign Area Hourly $35.25 $40.10 $53.86
Yearly $73,326 $83,403 $112,028
    Cook County Hourly $42.26 $48.56 $58.59
Yearly $87,886 $101,004 $121,881
    Edwardsville Area Hourly $39.99 $53.28 $57.92
Yearly $83,189 $110,821 $120,483
    Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area Hourly $41.66 $52.20 $54.32
Yearly $86,650 $108,566 $112,998
    Peoria-Bloomington Area Hourly $36.42 $38.03 $51.36
Yearly $75,755 $79,104 $106,833
    Rock Island-Moline Area Hourly $34.17 $36.55 $42.68
Yearly $71,065 $76,022 $88,772
    Springfield Area Hourly $25.40 $36.78 $36.78
Yearly $52,814 $76,505 $76,505
    Will County Hourly $40.89 $48.56 $54.72
Yearly $85,049 $101,004 $113,818
United States Hourly $22.56 $29.09 $38.04
Yearly $46,910 $60,500 $79,120

Structural metal fabricators and fitters (SOC 51-2041)

Location
Pay Period
25%
Median
75%
Illinois Hourly $19.52 $22.92 $28.28
Yearly $40,590 $47,662 $58,822
    Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area Hourly $20.30 $23.19 $26.98
Yearly $42,226 $48,236 $56,121
    Cook County Hourly $19.85 $22.94 $29.35
Yearly $41,302 $47,712 $61,046
    Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area Hourly $20.44 $22.73 $29.21
Yearly $42,502 $47,265 $60,767
    Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area Hourly $18.61 $22.65 $26.80
Yearly $38,719 $47,093 $55,755
    Mt. Vernon-Marion-Carbondale Area Hourly $18.63 $18.76 $22.18
Yearly $38,766 $39,023 $46,128
    Northwest Illinois Area Hourly $18.83 $23.35 $27.02
Yearly $39,174 $48,580 $56,201
    Peoria-Bloomington Area Hourly $18.53 $23.14 $24.89
Yearly $38,533 $48,132 $51,774
    Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area Hourly $18.74 $22.55 $23.90
Yearly $38,964 $46,914 $49,695
    Rockford Area Hourly $18.91 $23.47 $28.81
Yearly $39,341 $48,813 $59,931
    Springfield Area Hourly $17.88 $23.25 $23.95
Yearly $37,206 $48,352 $49,804
    St. Louis-Belleville Area Hourly $18.17 $23.22 $23.56
Yearly $37,804 $48,301 $49,002
    Will County Hourly $20.79 $24.73 $38.75
Yearly $43,254 $51,446 $80,582
United States Hourly $18.75 $22.69 $27.06
Yearly $39,000 $47,200 $56,270

Source: Illinois Career Information System (CIS) brought to you by Illinois Department of Employment Security.