What is the best state for ironworkers?

After cost of living, Massachusetts: the median of $120,840 a year buys about what $114,260 would at average U.S. prices.

Which state pays ironworkers the most?

Before adjusting for prices, Massachusetts has the highest median, $120,840. After cost of living it ranks 1st of 50.

What is the worst state for ironworkers after cost of living?

Georgia, where the median of $48,090 buys about what $49,940 would nationally.

How is cost of living adjusted?

We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.

Best states for ironworkers

Updated September 27, 2026

After adjusting for cost of living, Massachusetts is the best-paying state for ironworkers: its median of $120,840 a year buys what $114,260 would nationally, according to May 2025 BLS wages and BEA 2024 price levels. It also has the highest pay before adjusting.

Ironworker pay by state, after cost of living

#	State	After cost of living	Median pay	Price level
1	Massachusetts$120,840 median · prices 105.8	$114,260	$120,840	105.8
2	New Jersey$113,220 median · prices 108.8	$104,060	$113,220	108.8
3	Illinois$101,850 median · prices 100.0	$101,890	$101,850	100.0
4	Washington$107,660 median · prices 107.0	$100,600	$107,660	107.0
5	Wisconsin$92,820 median · prices 94.1	$98,640	$92,820	94.1
6	Minnesota$95,320 median · prices 98.6	$96,650	$95,320	98.6
7	Rhode Island$98,320 median · prices 102.3	$96,130	$98,320	102.3
8	Oregon$96,050 median · prices 103.4	$92,930	$96,050	103.4
9	North Dakota$82,120 median · prices 89.0	$92,310	$82,120	89.0
10	Hawaii$99,860 median · prices 110.0	$90,820	$99,860	110.0
11	Iowa$77,400 median · prices 87.8	$88,190	$77,400	87.8
12	New York$92,610 median · prices 107.9	$85,810	$92,610	107.9
13	Missouri$77,410 median · prices 90.8	$85,240	$77,410	90.8
14	Pennsylvania$82,970 median · prices 97.6	$85,030	$82,970	97.6
15	Ohio$74,710 median · prices 92.8	$80,530	$74,710	92.8
16	West Virginia$71,850 median · prices 89.5	$80,280	$71,850	89.5
17	Louisiana$68,830 median · prices 88.2	$78,030	$68,830	88.2
18	Idaho$72,750 median · prices 95.5	$76,180	$72,750	95.5
19	Alaska$76,970 median · prices 102.4	$75,200	$76,970	102.4
20	Indiana$70,130 median · prices 93.3	$75,140	$70,130	93.3
21	Nebraska$65,470 median · prices 90.1	$72,660	$65,470	90.1
22	Montana$67,390 median · prices 94.6	$71,200	$67,390	94.6
23	Kentucky$64,060 median · prices 90.2	$71,050	$64,060	90.2
24	California$76,370 median · prices 110.7	$68,980	$76,370	110.7
25	Maryland$71,730 median · prices 105.0	$68,340	$71,730	105.0
26	Michigan$62,830 median · prices 96.2	$65,300	$62,830	96.2
27	Kansas$58,560 median · prices 90.1	$65,020	$58,560	90.1
28	South Dakota$57,050 median · prices 88.6	$64,400	$57,050	88.6
29	Alabama$56,640 median · prices 88.8	$63,770	$56,640	88.8
30	Maine$61,750 median · prices 97.0	$63,630	$61,750	97.0
31	Nevada$62,510 median · prices 100.0	$62,520	$62,510	100.0
32	Tennessee$56,750 median · prices 91.9	$61,770	$56,750	91.9
33	Connecticut$62,400 median · prices 103.6	$60,230	$62,400	103.6
34	Delaware$59,820 median · prices 99.8	$59,940	$59,820	99.8
35	Virginia$60,260 median · prices 101.1	$59,600	$60,260	101.1
36	Arizona$59,390 median · prices 100.7	$58,990	$59,390	100.7
37	Utah$58,250 median · prices 98.9	$58,920	$58,250	98.9
38	Mississippi$50,690 median · prices 87.0	$58,300	$50,690	87.0
39	New Hampshire$59,920 median · prices 104.2	$57,520	$59,920	104.2
40	Colorado$58,830 median · prices 103.1	$57,090	$58,830	103.1
41	Vermont$55,640 median · prices 98.0	$56,800	$55,640	98.0
42	District of Columbia$61,240 median · prices 109.9	$55,720	$61,240	109.9
43	Oklahoma$47,660 median · prices 87.8	$54,260	$47,660	87.8
44	South Carolina$50,750 median · prices 93.7	$54,130	$50,750	93.7
45	Florida$55,700 median · prices 103.4	$53,860	$55,700	103.4
46	Texas$52,240 median · prices 97.1	$53,820	$52,240	97.1
47	Arkansas$45,510 median · prices 86.9	$52,350	$45,510	86.9
48	North Carolina$48,740 median · prices 94.3	$51,670	$48,740	94.3
49	Wyoming$47,480 median · prices 92.7	$51,220	$47,480	92.7
50	Georgia$48,090 median · prices 96.3	$49,940	$48,090	96.3

Price level: BEA Regional Price Parity, U.S. average = 100. Every state links to its full ironworker pay page, with pay in each metro. See also: best-paying cities for ironworkers.

How we ranked them

Each state's median annual wage for structural iron and steel workers (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2221) divided by its Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity for 2024 (all items, U.S. = 100), then ranked. Wages exclude self-employed ironworkers. Price levels are statewide averages; costs vary within a state. Methodology

Questions

What is the best state for ironworkers?: After cost of living, Massachusetts: the median of $120,840 a year buys about what $114,260 would at average U.S. prices.
Which state pays ironworkers the most?: Before adjusting for prices, Massachusetts has the highest median, $120,840. After cost of living it ranks 1st of 50.
What is the worst state for ironworkers after cost of living?: Georgia, where the median of $48,090 buys about what $49,940 would nationally.
How is cost of living adjusted?: We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.