Ironworker Salary - Southwest
Sustained construction growth across four states
These figures exclude New Mexico, where BLS did not publish wage data for this occupation.
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 Southwest is a volume market for ironworkers with Texas employing nearly 10,000 structural ironworkers. However wages across the region cluster below the national median. Texas carries a median of $52,240, and Oklahoma carries a median of $47,660, both below the national median of $62,780. Industrial work along the Gulf Coast, including refinery and petrochemical projects, is the exception.
Iron Workers union density is low across the Southwest. Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Mexico are right-to-work states with limited ironworker union market share outside industrial projects. Non-union structural steel contractors handle most commercial construction. Industrial ironwork on Gulf Coast refineries, LNG facilities, and petrochemical plants is more likely to involve Iron Workers jurisdiction.
The Southwest offers below-average cost of living. Oklahoma at 83.5 and Texas at 90.7 are well below the national average. New Mexico sits at 89.9. Arizona at 107.6 has appreciated significantly.
- →Industrial ironwork on Texas Gulf Coast refineries, LNG facilities, and petrochemical plants
- →Commercial and industrial construction across Texas's major metros
- →Bridge and highway infrastructure construction across the region
- →Semiconductor and manufacturing facility structural steel in Arizona
- →Wind energy tower erection across Texas and Oklahoma
The Gulf Coast industrial market is a destination for traveling ironworkers in the Southwest. Texas and Louisiana have refinery and petrochemical projects, including remote and turnaround work. Commercial construction in Dallas, Houston, and Phoenix offers steady work. Check RoadDog Jobs and Where2Bro for current Gulf Coast industrial ironworker openings.
Effective wage adjusts the BLS median for cost of living: what a paycheck buys relative to the national median.
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.