Structural Iron and Steel Workers Salary
The median pay for a structural iron and steel workers in Pennsylvania is $82,970/year ($39.89/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $111K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $87,364 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 25.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $83K get you in Pennsylvania?
About structural iron and steel workers
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania sits well above the national pay line for structural iron and steel workers, local pay runs about 32% higher than the U.S. median of $63K. Rent runs $1,351/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level structural iron and steel workers (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $111K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.
Structural Iron and Steel Workers salary by metro in Pennsylvania
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $103K | +25% | 800 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $84K | +1% | 150 |
| Pittsburgh | $83K | -0% | 370 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $81K | -3% | 70 |
| Lancaster | $75K | -10% | 140 |
| Reading | $68K | -19% | 40 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a structural iron and steel worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 25.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for structural iron and steel workers in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new structural iron and steel workers typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,093/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Pennsylvania?
Local pay is 32% above the national median — $83K here vs. $63K nationally.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for structural iron and steel workers?
Pennsylvania pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s +32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do structural iron and steel workers make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $82,970 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,550, and experienced structural iron and steel workers can clear $110,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,351/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 25.2% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $87,364 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.