Ironworker Salary - Northeast
High union density, strong wages, competitive apprenticeship programs
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 Northeast is the highest-paying region in the country for structural ironworkers. Massachusetts leads the nation with a median of $120,840 -- by far the highest state-level figure nationally -- driven by Boston's powerful AIAW locals and dense commercial high-rise construction. Rhode Island at $98,320 also ranks among the top in the country. The region's commercial construction density and strong union presence produce some of the most competitive ironworker wages in North America.
AIAW locals dominate structural steel erection across the Northeast. Boston's ironworker locals are among the most powerful and highest-paying in the country. Providence, Hartford, and Portland all have active ironworker locals with strong commercial market presence. The region's ironworker culture is deeply rooted in union tradition going back generations. Massachusetts and Rhode Island in particular have some of the most active ironworker apprenticeship programs in the country.
Cost of living in the Northeast is the highest in the country. Massachusetts at 147.8 COL is extreme -- but the ironworker wages at $120,840 median are so far above the national median that net purchasing power remains strong for travelers on major projects. Rhode Island at 111.2 and Connecticut at 114.2 are also above average. The Massachusetts wage premium is large enough to justify the high cost of living for travelers on major commercial projects.
- →High-rise commercial and residential tower construction in Boston -- consistent demand for structural ironworkers
- →Life sciences and research facility construction requiring structural steel in the Boston metro
- →Bridge and infrastructure rehabilitation across the region's aging transportation network
- →Stadium and arena construction and renovation across major Northeast metros
- →Wind energy tower erection along the New England coast
The Northeast is a top destination for traveling ironworkers. Boston pays the highest ironworker scale rates in the country outside of a handful of Mid-Atlantic locals. Massachusetts AIAW locals actively recruit travelers for major commercial projects. The work is demanding but the pay is unmatched. Rhode Island and Connecticut are more accessible markets for travelers. Check RoadDog Jobs and Where2Bro for current openings in Boston.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $120,840 +$58,060 vs. national | 147.8 | $81,759 +$18,979 vs. national |
| Rhode Island | $98,320 +$35,540 vs. national | 111.2 | $88,417 +$25,637 vs. national |
| Connecticut | $62,400 $-380 vs. national | 114.2 | $54,641 $-8,139 vs. national |
| Maine | $61,750 $-1,030 vs. national | 114.6 | $53,883 $-8,897 vs. national |
| New Hampshire | $59,920 $-2,860 vs. national | 110.1 | $54,423 $-8,357 vs. national |
| Vermont | $55,640 $-7,140 vs. national | 113.0 | $49,239 $-13,541 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.