How much do ironworkers make in New York in 2026?

Ironworkers in New York earn a median wage of $92,610 per year, which works out to roughly $44.52 per hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That puts New York ironworkers well above the national median for the trade, reflecting the density of major construction projects, high-rise steel erection, and infrastructure work concentrated in the state.

The bottom quarter of ironworkers in New York — those at the 25th percentile — earn around $75,690 annually, or about $36.39 per hour. Workers in this range are typically early in their careers, still completing apprenticeship hours, or working in less-active regional markets outside the major metro areas. These aren't low wages by any national standard, but they represent the floor of what fully employed ironworkers in this state take home.

The top quarter of earners clear $113,260 per year or more, which is approximately $54.45 per hour. Ironworkers at this level tend to have extensive experience in specialized work — structural steel, ornamental iron, reinforcing rod (rebar), or rigging — and often take on lead or foreman responsibilities on large projects. The spread between the 25th and 75th percentile is nearly $37,600 annually, which tells you how much experience, specialization, and hours worked actually matter in this trade.

Geography within New York plays a real role in where you land on that range. New York City and the surrounding metro area drive the highest demand and the highest wages, particularly for structural and ornamental ironworkers working on commercial towers, bridges, and transit infrastructure. Workers based in Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, or other upstate markets may see pay closer to the 25th percentile, especially during slower construction seasons. The construction cycle upstate tends to compress significantly in winter months, which affects annual totals even if hourly rates are comparable.

Overtime is a significant factor in this trade. Ironwork is physically demanding and deadline-driven — project schedules don't pause easily, and when steel needs to be placed on time, overtime hours get logged. An ironworker earning $44.52 per hour at straight time would earn $66.78 per hour at time-and-a-half. Ironworkers who consistently pick up 10–15 hours of overtime per week can push annual earnings well past the 75th percentile figure, even without a promotion or pay raise.

The path into ironwork in New York typically runs through a multi-year apprenticeship combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Apprentices progress through pay steps — usually expressed as a percentage of journeyworker scale — so wages rise predictably as hours accumulate. By the time an apprentice reaches journeyworker status, they're typically earning at or near the median. Some workers may be covered by a collective bargaining agreement — check with your local for current rates.

To move up the pay scale, the clearest levers are specialization and certification. Ironworkers who add certified welding credentials (AWS certifications, for example) are more valuable on structural projects and can command higher rates. Rigging and signalperson certifications open doors on crane-intensive job sites. Foreman or general foreman roles add a pay differential on top of base scale. These aren't guarantees of a raise, but they expand the range of projects you qualify for and reduce the risk of downtime between jobs.

All figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. BLS data captures base wages and does not include overtime pay, bonuses, or the value of benefits like health insurance and pension contributions. Actual total compensation for many New York ironworkers is higher than what these annual figures reflect.