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Salary comparison

Structural Iron and Steel Workers vs. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers out-earn Structural Iron and Steel Workers by $17K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Structural Iron and Steel Workers land at $62,780 and First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers at $79,920. The education gap is real: structural iron and steel worker programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Structural Iron and Steel Workers is Massachusetts ($120,840); for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers it's Washington ($109,570).

Structural Iron and Steel Workers
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Median salary
$62,780
$79,920
Hourly rate
$30.18/hr
$38.42/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$44,580
$53,280
Senior level (90th %)
$108,260
$128,260
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
68,380
812,210
Job growth (10-year)
4.4%
5.3%
Category
Construction & Trades
Construction & Trades
Top-paying state
Massachusetts
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Structural Iron and Steel Workers median pay.

State
Structural Iron and Steel Workers
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Massachusetts
$120,840
$97,850
New Jersey
$113,220
$105,510
Washington
$107,660
$109,570
Illinois
$101,850
$105,750
Hawaii
$99,860
$102,630
Rhode Island
$98,320
$98,590
Oregon
$96,050
$103,070
Minnesota
$95,320
$97,610
Wisconsin
$92,820
$85,350
New York
$92,610
$95,700
Missouri
$77,410
$87,520
Alaska
$76,970
$102,140
California
$76,370
$97,680
Connecticut
$62,400
$92,260
District of Columbia
$61,240
$86,520

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Structural Iron and Steel Workers or First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers earn more nationally. The median is $62,780 for Structural Iron and Steel Workers versus $79,920 for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers, a difference of $17K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Structural Iron and Steel Workers or First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers has the better 10-year outlook at 5.3% projected growth, compared to 4.4% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Structural Iron and Steel Workers or First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers?

Structural Iron and Steel Workers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Structural Iron and Steel Workers get paid the most?

Massachusetts is the top-paying state for Structural Iron and Steel Workers at $120,840/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Structural Iron and Steel Workers vs. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Massachusetts, Structural Iron and Steel Workers earn $120,840 vs. $97,850 for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Structural Iron and Steel Workers salary breakdownView →Full First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Structural Iron and Steel Workers by take-home payExplore →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers by take-home payExplore →How to become a structural iron and steel workersGuide →How to become a first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workersGuide →