How much do rebar workers make in Michigan in 2026?

The median rebar worker in Michigan earns $91,220 a year, which works out to roughly $43.86 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That number sits in the middle of the range — half of rebar workers in the state earn more, half earn less. If you're just starting out or working in a lower-paying region of the state, the 25th percentile comes in at $77,570 annually, or about $37.29 an hour. Workers in the upper quarter of earners reach $94,470 a year, roughly $45.42 an hour. The spread between the bottom and top of that range is about $16,900 a year — meaningful money, and worth understanding what drives it.

These figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, released May 2025. BLS OEWS data is collected from employer payroll records across the state, so it reflects actual wages paid rather than self-reported estimates.

Rebar workers — formally classified as reinforcing iron and rebar workers — place and secure steel reinforcing bars inside concrete forms before concrete is poured. The work is physically demanding and requires reading structural blueprints, tying rebar to specification, and working safely at height or in confined formwork. Errors carry serious structural consequences, which is part of why skilled rebar workers command solid wages.

Michigan's construction market supports steady rebar demand. Major infrastructure spending on roads, bridges, and water systems, along with commercial and industrial construction concentrated in the Detroit metro area, southeast Michigan, and Grand Rapids, keeps crews busy across much of the year. That said, Michigan winters slow outdoor concrete work, and many rebar workers experience some seasonal variation in hours or employment. Workers who can move between projects, work for larger contractors with year-round pipelines, or pick up overtime during peak pours will see their annual totals climb above the median figures shown here.

Experience is the most direct lever on pay. A first-year apprentice handling grunt work on a crew earns less than a journeyman who can read prints, lead a tie crew, and troubleshoot placement problems on the fly. Specialty work — post-tensioning systems, complex curved or sloped structures, large precast operations — also tends to pay more than standard slab-on-grade or wall work.

No union scale data is currently available for rebar workers in Michigan on TradesPays. Where union collective bargaining agreements are in place, they typically set floor wages and benefit contributions separately from the BLS survey figures, so actual take-home for union members may differ from what's shown here.

For comparison purposes, the 25th-to-75th percentile range gives you a realistic window: most full-time rebar workers in Michigan are earning somewhere between $77,570 and $94,470 a year. If you're negotiating a wage or evaluating a job offer, those numbers are your benchmarks. A offer below $37.29 an hour for experienced work deserves a hard look. An offer at or above $45.42 an hour puts you in the top quarter of the state.

All figures on this page are sourced from BLS OEWS May 2025 and reflect wages for Michigan-based workers in this occupation. Hourly rates are derived by dividing annual figures by 2,080 hours.