How much do rebar workers make in Missouri in 2026?

The median rebar worker in Missouri earns $59,410 a year, which works out to about $28.56 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That's the midpoint — half of all rebar workers in the state earn more, half earn less. These figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025.

The 25th percentile sits at $52,000 a year, or roughly $25.00 an hour. Workers at this level are typically newer to the trade or working in areas with less construction activity. The 75th percentile reaches $79,650 annually — about $38.29 an hour. Getting from the bottom of that range to the top represents a pay increase of more than $27,000 a year, so the decisions you make early in your career have a real dollar impact over time.

Rebar work — also called ironworking in the reinforcing category — involves placing, tying, and securing steel reinforcing bars in concrete structures. The work is physically demanding and carries real safety responsibility. Bridges, highway overpasses, parking structures, commercial foundations, and large residential projects all depend on proper rebar placement. Workers who read structural drawings, understand placement tolerances, and can direct a crew command more pay than those who follow direction on a single task.

Missouri's construction activity is concentrated in the St. Louis metro, Kansas City metro, and along major highway corridors. Rebar workers in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas will generally find more consistent work and higher wages than workers in rural counties, where projects are fewer and employers have less competition for labor. If you're willing to travel or commute to major project sites, that flexibility alone can move you from the 25th to the median or above.

Experience is the most direct driver of pay progression in this trade. Entry-level workers spend their first one to three years learning tying techniques, reading plans, and working safely around cranes and concrete pours. After three to five years of consistent work, most rebar workers have the skills to hit or exceed the median. Workers at the 75th percentile typically have five or more years on the job, can read complex structural drawings without help, and often supervise small crews or lead specific phases of a pour.

Overtime is a meaningful part of total compensation on large commercial and infrastructure jobs. Missouri highway and bridge work in particular often runs extended schedules during warmer months when concrete can be poured reliably. A rebar worker earning $28.56 an hour at straight time earns $42.84 an hour for every overtime hour at the standard 1.5x rate. On a project running 50-hour weeks for 20 weeks, that adds roughly $5,700 in overtime pay on top of base earnings — a significant bump that the annual median figure alone doesn't capture.

Apprenticeship is the standard path into the trade. Formal apprenticeship programs combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction covering blueprint reading, rigging, and safety. Completing an apprenticeship — typically three to four years — puts workers on a structured wage ladder and makes them more attractive to larger general contractors who require demonstrated credentials. Some workers may be covered by a collective bargaining agreement — check with your local for current rates.

To move toward the 75th percentile, focus on skills that reduce a contractor's risk: OSHA 30 certification, crane signaling, experience with post-tensioning systems, and the ability to supervise a tying crew. Workers who hold a foreman or general foreman role on large pours are typically well above the median. Traveling to large infrastructure projects — bridge replacements, stadium work, data center construction — also pushes wages higher because contractors on tight schedules pay for reliability and skill.

The BLS OEWS figures are a useful baseline, but they are a snapshot. They don't capture shift differentials, per diem on travel jobs, employer contributions to health and retirement, or the value of steady year-round work versus seasonal employment. When comparing job offers, look at total compensation, not just the hourly rate printed on the offer letter.