Ironworker Salary in Chicago
Metro area wage data from the BLS OEWS program (May 2025), with Davis-Bacon journey-level scale from Ironworkers Local 1, effective June 2025.
Wage figures reflect all ironworkers across all employment types, union and non-union, residential and commercial, apprentice through master.
Ironworkers Local 1 and Illinois prevailing wage anchor Chicago's structural ironworker market.
The Chicago metro ironworker market is covered by Local 1, with a long history in commercial and infrastructure construction across the metro. Illinois prevailing wage law applies to public construction, and the region's density of high-rise commercial, healthcare, and infrastructure projects sustains above-average demand. The Forest Park training center is the primary apprenticeship entry point.
- →Ironworkers Local 1 — structural, ornamental, and reinforcing coverage
- →Illinois Prevailing Wage Act covers public construction
- →Commercial high-rise and infrastructure construction sustaining demand
Ironworkers Local 1 journeyman ironworker Journey-Level Rate
Union scale reflects the Ironworkers Local 1 journeyman ironworker journey-level rate from the applicable Davis-Bacon wage determination. The BLS area median reflects all ironworkers across all employment types and experience levels.
| Training Center | Iron Workers Local 1 Joint Apprenticeship Training Center |
| Address | 7720 Industrial Drive, Forest Park, IL 60130 |
| Phone | (708) 366-6695 |
| Website | iwlocal1.com |
| Minimum Score | No minimum |
All ironworkers, union and non-union, all experience levels
All ironworkers, union and non-union, all experience levels. Wage figures only, employer-paid benefits, pension contributions, and health and welfare are not included.
| Annual Median Wage | $102,350 |
| Annual Mean Wage | $100,620 |
| Hourly Median Wage | $49.21 |
| Hourly Mean Wage | $48.38 |
| Total Employed | 2,120 |
| Area Type | Metropolitan Area |
Journey-level rates below are sourced from Davis-Bacon wage determinations, state prevailing wage determinations, or, where a local publishes one directly, its own collective bargaining agreement. Union density and market conditions vary significantly by region.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 - SOC 47-2221 (Structural Iron and Steel Workers) - Cross-Industry, All Ownership
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