How much do rebar workers make in New York in 2026?

Rebar workers in New York earn a median $98,040 per year, which works out to roughly $47.13 per hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That number puts New York well above the national median for this trade, reflecting the state's heavy concentration of large-scale concrete construction — high-rises, bridges, transit infrastructure, and commercial foundations that keep ironworkers and rebar crews busy year-round.

The full pay picture looks like this: workers at the 25th percentile bring home $82,180 annually (~$39.51/hr), the median sits at $98,040 (~$47.13/hr), and those at the 75th percentile reach $121,660 per year (~$58.49/hr). That spread of nearly $40,000 between the bottom quarter and the top quarter tells you that experience, project type, and the employer you land with all move the needle significantly. A newer hand on a smaller commercial job in upstate New York will land closer to that $39–$40/hr range. A seasoned ironworker tying rebar on a major infrastructure project in New York City can push well past $58/hr and beyond, especially when overtime is factored in.

New York City is where the highest pay concentrates. The density of union-affiliated concrete contractors, the complexity of deep-foundation and high-rise work, and the sheer volume of active projects drive wages up. Outside the five boroughs — in Buffalo, Albany, Rochester, or on Long Island — pay is still strong but tends to track closer to the statewide median than the upper percentile.

What separates a $40/hr rebar worker from a $58/hr one? A few things are consistent across the trade. Workers who can read structural drawings and place rebar accurately to engineer specs with minimal supervision earn more. Those who are certified in fall protection and can rig and signal for crane picks are more valuable on large sites. Familiarity with post-tensioning systems, epoxy-coated rebar placement, or prefabricated cage assembly also opens doors to higher-paying specialty concrete contractors.

Hours matter as much as rate. Infrastructure and heavy civil projects often run extended schedules, and overtime at time-and-a-half can push a worker earning $47/hr straight time to an effective annual income well above the reported median. A rebar worker putting in 10-hour days five days a week on a public works project is looking at 520 hours of overtime annually — that alone adds roughly $36,660 on top of base earnings at $47.13/hr straight time.

The figures on this page come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. No union scale data was available for rebar workers in New York for this reporting period; where a collective bargaining agreement applies to your job, your actual rate may differ from these survey figures. Always verify current scale with your local union hall or contractor if that applies to your situation.

These numbers reflect base wages only and do not include fringe benefits such as employer contributions to health insurance, pension or annuity funds, or paid leave. On union jobsites especially, total compensation packages can add $15–$25/hr in benefit value on top of the wage rate, which changes the full picture considerably when comparing jobs.