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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 21, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.
Salary Guides / California
Read California structural ironworker employee wage ranges alongside national sector comparisons, overtime rules and the duties behind each offer.
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.
What each rung of the trade is paid, before overtime and per diem.
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$28.00 is above roughly 46% of this market. The top quarter starts at $36.00, and the median sits at $29.00.
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An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.
Bridge erection, specialist steel contractors and nonresidential builders provide different settings for structural ironwork. These national figures give sector context for California offers.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 |
Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $36.72/hr.
Verified positions matching this trade and location.
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