Ironworker Salary - Midwest
Industrial stronghold with Chicago driving significant wage premiums
Wage figures reflect all ironworkers across all employment types -- union and non-union, residential and commercial, apprentice through master. Union journeymen typically earn above the state median. Non-union residential work typically falls below it. State figures are averages -- wages vary significantly between metro and rural markets within the same state. City-level data coming soon.
The Midwest is defined by Chicago's ironworker dominance and a strong industrial middle tier. Illinois leads the nation alongside Massachusetts with a median of $101,850 -- driven by Chicago's AIAW locals which are among the most powerful in North America. Minnesota at $95,320, North Dakota at $82,120, and Missouri at $77,410 round out a consistently strong performing region. The region's industrial infrastructure -- bridges, refineries, power plants -- creates consistent demand beyond commercial construction.
AIAW locals have dominant market presence across the Midwest's major commercial markets. Chicago's ironworker locals -- particularly for structural and ornamental work -- are legendary in the trade and among the highest-paying in the country. Minneapolis, Detroit, St. Louis, and Kansas City all have active ironworker locals with strong commercial and industrial presence. The bridge and highway construction market across the region employs significant numbers of reinforcing ironworkers. Outside the major metros union density drops but industrial markets remain active.
The Midwest offers exceptional purchasing power for ironworkers. Illinois at 95.1 COL with $101,850 median is among the best combinations in the country. Minnesota at 93.4 with $95,320 median is outstanding value. Wisconsin at 97.4 and Indiana at 88.3 offer solid wages at below-average cost of living. The Midwest consistently provides the best combination of ironworker wages and affordable living outside the highest-paying coastal markets.
- →Commercial high-rise and mixed-use construction in the Chicago metro -- consistent large-scale structural steel demand
- →Bridge and infrastructure construction and rehabilitation across the region's transportation network
- →Industrial facility construction and maintenance across Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan
- →Wind energy tower erection across Iowa, Kansas, and the Dakotas
- →EV battery and advanced manufacturing facility structural steel across the industrial corridor
Chicago is the premier destination for traveling ironworkers in the Midwest. AIAW local scale rates are among the highest in the country and major commercial projects run consistently. Minnesota and Wisconsin offer strong wages with lower cost of living than the coastal markets. The bridge and infrastructure market creates consistent demand for traveling reinforcing ironworkers across the region. Check RoadDog Jobs and Where2Bro for current Chicago and Midwest openings.
Effective wage adjusts the BLS median for cost of living -- what your paycheck actually buys relative to the national average.
| State | Median Annual | COL Index | Effective Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $101,850 +$39,070 vs. national | 95.1 | $107,098 +$44,318 vs. national |
| Minnesota | $95,320 +$32,540 vs. national | 93.4 | $102,056 +$39,276 vs. national |
| Wisconsin | $92,820 +$30,040 vs. national | 97.4 | $95,298 +$32,518 vs. national |
| North Dakota | $82,120 +$19,340 vs. national | 90.7 | $90,540 +$27,760 vs. national |
| Missouri | $77,410 +$14,630 vs. national | 88.6 | $87,370 +$24,590 vs. national |
| Iowa | $77,400 +$14,620 vs. national | 88.6 | $87,359 +$24,579 vs. national |
| Ohio | $74,710 +$11,930 vs. national | 93.7 | $79,733 +$16,953 vs. national |
| Indiana | $70,130 +$7,350 vs. national | 88.3 | $79,422 +$16,642 vs. national |
| Nebraska | $65,470 +$2,690 vs. national | 91.3 | $71,709 +$8,929 vs. national |
| Michigan | $62,830 +$50 vs. national | 93.9 | $66,912 +$4,132 vs. national |
| Kansas | $58,560 $-4,220 vs. national | 87.6 | $66,849 +$4,069 vs. national |
| South Dakota | $57,050 $-5,730 vs. national | 94.1 | $60,627 $-2,153 vs. national |
Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 - Ironworkers - Cross-Industry, All Ownership
Cost of living data provided by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC). The data has been modified for use from its original source, which is the State of Missouri. THE STATE OF MISSOURI MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTY AS TO THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, OR CONTENT OF ANY DATA MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS SITE. THE STATE OF MISSOURI EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Data is subject to change as modifications and updates are complete. Use at your own risk.