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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Same job title, wildly different paychecks. Here's why. The national median salary for Ironworkers in 2026 is $61,686, with entry-level positions averaging $44,414 and senior roles reaching $87,594. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $112,360, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Ironworker falls within the Construction & Trades sector, specifically in Construction. The typical education path involves Apprenticeship. The career outlook? Growing. Work style is job-site — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
$68,370 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Ironworker in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $112,360 — $68,370 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($43,990). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Ironworkers average $44,414, the median sits at $61,686, and senior earners pull in $87,594. That $43,180 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $18,681 below the national median household income of $80,367 — which tells you location and cost of living are critical factors in making this salary work.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $104,940 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $44,343 (average of the bottom 3). That $60,597 delta is real money — $5,050/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Ironworker in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $112,360 — $68,370 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($43,990). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Ironworker is $44,414, while senior-level (P90) earners average $87,594. That $43,180 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $44,414 | $61,686 | $87,594 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £24,412 | £33,905 | £48,146 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$38,582 | CA$53,586 | CA$76,092 |
| Australia | 13 | A$47,842 | A$66,447 | A$94,354 |
| Sweden | 24 | 264,238 kr | 366,997 kr | 521,136 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $53,605 | $74,452 | $105,722 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $51,802 | $71,948 | $102,166 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $51,516 | $71,550 | $101,601 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $47,700 | $66,250 | $94,075 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $47,128 | $65,455 | $92,946 |
| Washington | 8 | $46,221 | $64,196 | $91,159 |
| New York | 5 | $43,503 | $60,420 | $85,797 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $43,502 | $60,420 | $85,796 |
| Florida | 22 | $43,173 | $59,962 | $85,146 |
| Colorado | 11 | $42,427 | $58,926 | $83,675 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $42,358 | $58,830 | $83,539 |
| Nevada | 5 | $42,281 | $58,724 | $83,388 |
| Arizona | 12 | $42,071 | $58,433 | $82,974 |
| Oregon | 5 | $41,976 | $58,300 | $82,786 |
| Idaho | 3 | $41,849 | $58,123 | $82,535 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $41,518 | $57,664 | $81,883 |
| Utah | 4 | $41,404 | $57,505 | $81,657 |
| Virginia | 7 | $40,722 | $56,559 | $80,313 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $40,195 | $55,827 | $79,274 |
| Alaska | 1 | $40,068 | $55,650 | $79,023 |
| Illinois | 5 | $39,610 | $55,014 | $78,120 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $38,626 | $53,648 | $76,180 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $38,160 | $53,000 | $75,260 |
| Montana | 1 | $38,160 | $53,000 | $75,260 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $38,033 | $52,823 | $75,009 |
| Texas | 40 | $37,845 | $52,563 | $74,639 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $37,779 | $52,470 | $74,508 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $37,588 | $52,205 | $74,131 |
| Georgia | 6 | $37,460 | $52,028 | $73,880 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $37,397 | $51,940 | $73,755 |
| Kansas | 4 | $37,206 | $51,675 | $73,379 |
| Michigan | 6 | $37,079 | $51,498 | $73,128 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $36,634 | $50,880 | $72,250 |
| Maryland | 1 | $36,634 | $50,880 | $72,250 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $36,252 | $50,350 | $71,497 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $36,252 | $50,350 | $71,497 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $35,298 | $49,025 | $69,615 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $35,107 | $48,760 | $69,239 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $34,630 | $48,098 | $68,299 |
| Missouri | 4 | $34,630 | $48,098 | $68,298 |
| Alabama | 5 | $34,496 | $47,912 | $68,035 |
| Indiana | 3 | $33,962 | $47,170 | $66,981 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $33,962 | $47,170 | $66,981 |
| Iowa | 2 | $33,581 | $46,640 | $66,229 |
| Ohio | 6 | $33,517 | $46,552 | $66,103 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $32,054 | $44,520 | $63,218 |
Geography shapes Ironworker pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $74,452 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($112,360 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $53,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $112,360 | 212 | $53,000 | $68,812 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $104,940 | 198 | $53,000 | $64,727 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $97,520 | 184 | $53,000 | $60,582 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $95,930 | 181 | $53,000 | $59,675 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $94,340 | 178 | $53,000 | $58,768 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $93,810 | 177 | $53,000 | $58,466 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $93,810 | 177 | $53,000 | $58,466 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $91,690 | 173 | $53,000 | $57,256 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $91,690 | 173 | $53,000 | $57,256 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $89,570 | 169 | $53,000 | $56,047 |
The $43,180 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Ironworker career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Construction & Trades sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Ironworkers is $61,686 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $44,414, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $87,594.
The highest-paying city for Ironworkers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $112,360. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($112,360), Santa Clara ($104,940), Irvine ($97,520). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Ironworker salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $43,990. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Ironworkers (10th percentile) average $44,414 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $80,899. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Ironworkers average $87,594 nationally — $43,180 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Ironworkers can earn up to $159,551.
The top-paying states for Ironworkers are California ($74,452 median), Massachusetts ($71,948 median), Hawaii ($71,550 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Ironworker involves Apprenticeship. The field is in the Construction & Trades sector (Construction), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically job-site.
With a national median of $61,686 and representation across 288 metro areas, Ironworker offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $43,180 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.