Best States for Structural Iron & Steel Workers

Ranked by median salary, with cost-of-living adjustments. Find where structural iron & steel workers earn the most and have the best purchasing power.

+4.5% projected growth

About average growth (national avg: +4%, +0.5pp)

State Rankings

Rank	State	Median	COL-Adjusted	Employment
1	MassachusettsMA	$116,630	$105,548	2,160
2	New JerseyNJ	$111,800	$98,851	1,250
3	WashingtonWA	$105,970	$98,760	1,140
4	IllinoisIL	$101,030	$102,051	3,250
5	HawaiiHI	$99,370	$83,294	80
6	Rhode IslandRI	$95,800	$95,134	390
7	New YorkNY	$95,370	$82,500	3,190
8	MinnesotaMN	$93,240	$94,372	850
9	WisconsinWI	$91,920	$98,627	710
10	OregonOR	$90,060	$89,080	560
11	PennsylvaniaPA	$81,420	$83,252	1,290
12	AlaskaAK	$81,290	$77,125	180
13	ConnecticutCT	$80,430	$74,888	260
14	North DakotaND	$79,480	$85,647	270
15	New MexicoNM	$76,240	$81,193	100
16	West VirginiaWV	$75,360	$86,027	80
17	IndianaIN	$74,210	$81,371	2,530
18	CaliforniaCA	$72,050	$63,648	6,970
19	OhioOH	$71,820	$79,097	1,920
20	KentuckyKY	$68,540	$77,011	870
21	MarylandMD	$67,700	$61,714	890
22	LouisianaLA	$67,010	$73,637	1,560
23	IowaIA	$66,170	$73,686	720
24	MichiganMI	$63,910	$68,647	2,010
25	NevadaNV	$62,990	$62,864	1,050
26	MaineME	$62,730	$63,300	780
27	IdahoID	$62,190	$64,312	400
28	NebraskaNE	$62,000	$68,132	540
29	District of ColumbiaDC	$61,920	$52,833	130
30	New HampshireNH	$61,280	$57,325	290
31	VermontVT	$61,220	$59,264	50
32	ColoradoCO	$61,020	$58,114	1,050
33	MissouriMO	$60,240	$67,534	910
34	ArizonaAZ	$60,030	$61,443	3,110
35	DelawareDE	$58,330	$57,299	100
36	VirginiaVA	$58,170	$56,203	1,190
37	GeorgiaGA	$57,110	$61,343	530
38	MontanaMT	$56,140	$58,176	150
39	TennesseeTN	$55,750	$60,929	1,320
40	FloridaFL	$53,780	$53,780	2,040
41	South DakotaSD	$51,930	$56,754	470
42	AlabamaAL	$51,410	$58,487	1,160
43	South CarolinaSC	$50,650	$55,659	670
44	North CarolinaNC	$50,040	$53,576	1,540
45	TexasTX	$49,410	$51,202	10,090
46	ArkansasAR	$49,110	$56,513	910
47	KansasKS	$48,680	$53,850	450
48	OklahomaOK	$47,840	$53,692	810
49	UtahUT	$47,840	$48,767	1,200
50	WyomingWY	$44,370	$46,315	70
51	MississippiMS	$39,370	$46,155	510

Analysis

The top three states for structural iron & steel workers by median salary are Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Washington. However, when adjusted for cost of living, the rankings may shift — states with lower living costs can offer greater real purchasing power even with lower nominal salaries.

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