Structural Iron and Steel Workers Salary
The median pay for a structural iron and steel workers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is $120,840/year ($58.1/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $129K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.27), so that salary is closer to $111,610 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,941/month, about 40.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $121K get you in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Boston-Cambridge-Newton’s Regional Price Parity (108.27). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Boston-Cambridge-Newton sits well above the national pay line for structural iron and steel workers, local pay runs about 92% higher than the U.S. median of $63K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,941/month, which is 40.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 8% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.27), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for structural iron and steel workers in metros near Boston-Cambridge-Newton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $102K | $91K |
| Providence-Warwick | $98K | $97K |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $76K | $80K |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | $97K | $89K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Entry-level structural iron and steel workers (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $121K. Top earners bring in $129K or more, a $48K 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton numbers change.
Related careers in Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
Can a structural iron and steel worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $121K, rent takes 40.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,941/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,200/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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new structural iron and steel workers typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,860/month. At HUD’s $2,941/month FMR, rent would take 61% 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Local pay is 92% above the national median — $121K here vs. $63K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 8% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Boston-Cambridge-Newton compare to the national average for structural iron and steel workers?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton pays $121K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s +92%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.27), the purchasing-power equivalent is $112K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do structural iron and steel workers make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median is $120,840 a year, that works out to about $58 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,000, and experienced structural iron and steel workers can clear $128,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $121K enough to live in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,275/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,941/month, which eats 40.4% 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton has a Regional Price Parity of 108.27 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median structural iron and steel workers salary is worth about $111,610 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.