Iron workers work in a variety of industry sectors, including structural and reinforcing ironwork. While each sector requires unique skills, they have one thing in common — the work is difficult, challenging and sometimes dangerous. Iron workers have one of the highest rates of injuries of all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wages for iron workers vary significantly based on geographic location and industry sector.
Structural Iron Workers
Structural iron workers place and unite iron girders and columns to form completed structural frameworks.The median annual income for structural iron workers was $45,690 as of May 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bottom 10 percent earned less than $26,490 per year, while the top 10 percent earned annual wages of more than $83,020. The mean hourly wage for structural iron workers was $24.11.
Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers
Iron workers in the reinforcing sector secure steel bars or mesh in concrete forms to reinforce concrete. The median annual salary for reinforcing iron workers was $37,990 as of May 2010, according to the BLS. The top 25 percent of reinforcing ironworkers earned more than $59,960 per year, while the bottom 25 percent received annual wages of less than $29,300
Foundation, structure and building exterior contractors offered the greatest number of employment opportunities for structural iron workers, according to the BLS. Iron workers in this industry earned mean annual wages of $51,700 as of May 2010. Iron workers in the electric power generation, transmission and distribution industry earned the highest mean annual wages for their occupation at $68,300.
There were more jobs for reinforcing iron workers in Texas than in any other state as of May 2010, according to the BLS. Texas-based reinforcing iron workers earned mean annual wages of $30,510. There were few jobs for reinforcing iron workers in Connecticut, but those who worked in the state earned the highest mean annual wages in the country at $73,110.