Ironworker Salary in California
$37/hr
Read California structural ironworker employee wage ranges alongside national sector comparisons, overtime rules and the duties behind each offer.
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Salary Guides / California
Ironworker Salary in California
Read California structural ironworker employee wage ranges alongside national sector comparisons, overtime rules and the duties behind each offer.
What Ironworkers Earn in California
California structural ironworker employee wages span $22.83–$56.75/hr, with published annual earnings of $47,480–$118,030 a year. These figures cover workers assembling structural steel for buildings, bridges and other structures. Reinforcing-steel workers belong to a separate occupation. Premium pay and benefits sit outside these wage figures. For an offer, connect the hourly range to expected hours, assigned connections and travel between projects. Ask how the employer records required setup and inspections.
Hourly rates by level in California
What each rung of the trade is paid, before overtime and per diem.
Find Ironworker jobs in California.
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You're right around the middle
$28.00 is above roughly 46% of this market. The top quarter starts at $36.00, and the median sits at $29.00.
Calculate pay with extra credentials
Pick your level, add certifications, select shift — the estimate updates live.
1Your level
2Certifications you hold
3Shift & work type
4Overtime & per diem
An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.
Who pays the most in California
Bridge erection, specialist steel contractors and nonresidential builders provide different settings for structural ironwork. These national figures give sector context for California offers.
Highway and Bridge Construction
Bridge steelwork brings lifting and connection tasks alongside traffic controls. Ask how closure windows affect reporting times, shifts and travel arrangements. Compare the full assignment with a building erection offer, including the expected workweek.
Foundation, Structure and Exterior Contractors
Specialist erection firms handle structural frames and related building components. Discuss the balance of connecting, decking and welding across successive sites. Ask whether your offer covers one project or movement with the erection crew.
Nonresidential Building Construction
Commercial building teams coordinate steel installation with other construction stages. Ask who directs erection sequencing and how transfers between projects affect hours. Clarify whether the position concentrates on installation or includes fabrication responsibilities as well.
Which states pay ironworkers the most
Median hourly across every state with a published guide for this trade. Cost of living is not netted out — compare take-home, not just the rate.
What each certification is worth
Sorted by payback speed.
| Certification | Rate bump | Extra / year | Cost | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Workers Local 433 Apprenticeship (journeyperson) | +$2.67 | $5,554 | $0 | 0 weeks |
| OSHA 30-Hour Construction | +$1.43 | $2,974 | $159 | 3 weeks |
| OSHA 10-Hour Construction | +$0.48 | $998 | $59 | 4 weeks |
| NCCCO Rigger Level I | +$0.76 | $1,581 | $200 | 7 weeks |
| Fall Protection Competent Person | +$0.38 | $790 | $149 | 10 weeks |
| AWS D1.1 Structural Steel Welder Qualification Test | +$0.24 | $499 | $450 | 47 weeks |
What overtime actually adds
Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $36.72/hr.
Questions workers ask
Do ironworker apprentice wages rise as I progress?▾
How does overtime affect an offer?▾
Do public bridge jobs pay ironworkers prevailing wage?▾
See Open Ironworker Jobs in California
Verified positions matching this trade and location.
Current BLS California employee wages for Structural Iron and Steel Workers, SOC 47-2221; excludes premium pay, benefits and the separate reinforcing-steel occupation.
Last updated October 23, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.