Structural Iron and Steel Workers Salary
The median pay for a structural iron and steel workers in Abilene, TX is $45,680/year ($21.96/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.36), which stretches that salary to about $50,553 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,276/month, about 38.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $46K get you in Abilene?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Abilene’s Regional Price Parity (90.36). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About structural iron and steel workers
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What this looks like in Abilene
Pay for structural iron and steel workers in Abilene runs about 27% below the U.S. median of $63K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,276/month, which is 39.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for structural iron and steel workerss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for structural iron and steel workers in metros near Abilene, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $58K | $59K |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $54K | $52K |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $60K | $61K |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $50K | $53K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Abilene, TX
Entry-level structural iron and steel workers (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Structural Iron and Steel Workers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Structural Iron and Steel Workers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $121K | +92% | 2,050 |
| New Jersey | $113K | +80% | 1,060 |
| Washington | $108K | +71% | 850 |
| Illinois | $102K | +62% | 2,740 |
| Hawaii | $100K | +59% | 290 |
| Rhode Island | $98K | +57% | 360 |
| Oregon | $96K | +53% | 570 |
| Minnesota | $95K | +52% | 910 |
| Wisconsin | $93K | +48% | 710 |
| New York | $93K | +48% | 2,700 |
| Pennsylvania | $83K | +32% | 1,610 |
| North Dakota | $82K | +31% | 270 |
| Missouri | $77K | +23% | 1,320 |
| Iowa | $77K | +23% | N/A |
| Alaska | $77K | +23% | 120 |
| California | $76K | +22% | 7,110 |
| Ohio | $75K | +19% | 2,290 |
| Idaho | $73K | +16% | 500 |
| West Virginia | $72K | +14% | 150 |
| Maryland | $72K | +14% | 710 |
| Indiana | $70K | +12% | 2,750 |
| Louisiana | $69K | +10% | 1,180 |
| Montana | $67K | +7% | 130 |
| Nebraska | $65K | +4% | 610 |
| Kentucky | $64K | +2% | 990 |
| Michigan | $63K | +0% | 1,750 |
| Nevada | $63K | -0% | 1,400 |
| Connecticut | $62K | -1% | 330 |
| Maine | $62K | -2% | 200 |
| District of Columbia | $61K | -2% | 210 |
| Virginia | $60K | -4% | 2,300 |
| New Hampshire | $60K | -5% | 220 |
| Delaware | $60K | -5% | 90 |
| Arizona | $59K | -5% | 3,980 |
| Colorado | $59K | -6% | 860 |
| Kansas | $59K | -7% | 260 |
| Utah | $58K | -7% | 1,630 |
| South Dakota | $57K | -9% | 440 |
| Tennessee | $57K | -10% | 1,240 |
| Alabama | $57K | -10% | 1,740 |
| Florida | $56K | -11% | 2,730 |
| Vermont | $56K | -11% | 50 |
| Texas | $52K | -17% | 9,700 |
| South Carolina | $51K | -19% | 660 |
| Mississippi | $51K | -19% | 480 |
| North Carolina | $49K | -22% | 2,000 |
| Georgia | $48K | -23% | 980 |
| Oklahoma | $48K | -24% | 1,140 |
| Wyoming | $47K | -24% | 80 |
| Arkansas | $46K | -28% | 1,080 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track structural iron and steel workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Abilene numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a structural iron and steel worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Abilene?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 39.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,276/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for structural iron and steel workers in Abilene?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new structural iron and steel workers typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,254/month. At HUD’s $1,276/month FMR, rent would take 57% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is structural iron and steel worker a high-paying job in Abilene?
Local pay runs 27% below the national median — $46K here vs. $63K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Abilene compare to the national average for structural iron and steel workers?
Abilene pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — below the national median.
How much do structural iron and steel workers make in Abilene, TX?
The median is $45,680 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,570, and experienced structural iron and steel workers can clear $62,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Abilene?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,229/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 39.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a structural iron and steel workers salary go in Abilene?
Abilene has a Regional Price Parity of 90.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median structural iron and steel workers salary is worth about $50,553 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do structural iron and steel workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.