Ironworker Salary - Southeast
Large employment base across twelve right-to-work states
Wage figures on this page reflect all ironworkers counted by the BLS, across union and non-union work, residential and commercial, apprentice through master. The BLS does not publish a separate journey-level tier. State figures are medians: half of workers earn more, half earn less.
The Southeast has a large ironworker workforce by headcount driven by Florida's commercial and industrial construction activity, but wages across the region cluster well below the national median of $62,780. Right-to-work laws are common and non-union structural steel erection is widespread across most Southeast markets. The exception is industrial work: refineries, petrochemical plants, and power generation facilities, where ironworker union contractors are more prevalent.
Iron Workers union density is low across most of the Southeast. Non-union structural steel contractors handle most commercial construction. Iron Workers locals exist in major metros, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, and Miami, but market share is limited compared to Northeast and Midwest markets. Industrial work along the Gulf Coast and in major industrial corridors is the exception, where union contractors are more common on heavy industrial projects.
The Southeast has a low cost of living for ironworkers. Tennessee at 88.9, Georgia at 90.6, and most Southeast states are well below the national average. Wages across the Southeast are below the national median.
- →Commercial and industrial construction across the region is driven by energy sector and population growth
- →Bridge and highway infrastructure construction across the region
- →Logistic hubs and data centers along with Gulf Coast refineries and petrochemical plants
- →High-rise commercial construction in Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, and Miami
- →Stadium and arena construction across major Southeast metros
Louisiana's Gulf Coast industrial ironwork includes refineries and petrochemical plants. Gulf Coast industrial projects have drawn ironworkers from across the country. Check RoadDog Jobs and Where2Bro for current Louisiana industrial openings.
Effective wage adjusts the BLS median for cost of living: what a paycheck buys relative to the national median.
| State | Median Annual | COL Index | Effective Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | $71,850 +$9,070 vs. national | 87.9 | $81,741 +$18,961 vs. national |
| Louisiana | $68,830 +$6,050 vs. national | 91.1 | $75,554 +$12,774 vs. national |
| Kentucky | $64,060 +$1,280 vs. national | 92.5 | $69,254 +$6,474 vs. national |
| Virginia | $60,260 -$2,520 vs. national | 99.1 | $60,807 -$1,973 vs. national |
| Tennessee | $56,750 -$6,030 vs. national | 88.9 | $63,836 +$1,056 vs. national |
| Alabama | $56,640 -$6,140 vs. national | 85.0 | $66,635 +$3,855 vs. national |
| Florida | $55,700 -$7,080 vs. national | 100.7 | $55,313 -$7,467 vs. national |
| South Carolina | $50,750 -$12,030 vs. national | 91.9 | $55,223 -$7,557 vs. national |
| Mississippi | $50,690 -$12,090 vs. national | 86.2 | $58,805 -$3,975 vs. national |
| North Carolina | $48,740 -$14,040 vs. national | 96.6 | $50,455 -$12,325 vs. national |
| Georgia | $48,090 -$14,690 vs. national | 90.6 | $53,079 -$9,701 vs. national |
| Arkansas | $45,510 -$17,270 vs. national | 89.1 | $51,077 -$11,703 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.