Structural Iron and Steel Workers Salary
The median pay for a structural iron and steel workers in Baton Rouge, LA is $73,470/year ($35.32/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.78), which stretches that salary to about $80,932 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,204/month, or 24.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $73K get you in Baton Rouge?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Baton Rouge’s Regional Price Parity (90.78). 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 Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge sits well above the national pay line for structural iron and steel workers, local pay runs about 17% higher than the U.S. median of $63K. Rent runs $1,204/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for structural iron and steel workers in metros near Baton Rouge, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | $48K | $51K |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux | $47K | $55K |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $58K | $59K |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $54K | $52K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Baton Rouge, LA
Entry-level structural iron and steel workers (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $34K 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 with published data
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 Baton Rouge numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a structural iron and steel worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Baton Rouge?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 25.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,204/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for structural iron and steel workers in Baton Rouge?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new structural iron and steel workers typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,687/month. At HUD’s $1,204/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Baton Rouge?
Local pay is 17% above the national median — $73K here vs. $63K nationally.
How does Baton Rouge compare to the national average for structural iron and steel workers?
Baton Rouge pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s +17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do structural iron and steel workers make in Baton Rouge, LA?
The median is $73,470 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,780, and experienced structural iron and steel workers can clear $78,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Baton Rouge?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,794/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,204/month, which eats 25.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a structural iron and steel workers salary go in Baton Rouge?
Baton Rouge has a Regional Price Parity of 90.78 (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 $80,932 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.