Structural Iron and Steel Workers Salary
The median pay for a structural iron and steel workers in Texas is $52,240/year ($25.12/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $57,099 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,415/month, about 39% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $52K get you in Texas?
About structural iron and steel workers
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What this looks like in Texas
Pay for structural iron and steel workers in Texas runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $63K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,415/month, which is 38.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level structural iron and steel workers (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Structural Iron and Steel Workers salary by metro in Texas
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $60K | +15% | 710 |
| Amarillo | $60K | +14% | 60 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $58K | +11% | 3,000 |
| Sherman-Denison | $58K | +10% | 60 |
| Corpus Christi | $57K | +10% | 330 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $57K | +10% | 310 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $54K | +3% | 2,850 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $50K | -4% | 510 |
| Abilene | $46K | -13% | 80 |
| Waco | $46K | -13% | 50 |
| Tyler | $45K | -14% | 80 |
| College Station-Bryan | $45K | -14% | 40 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $43K | -18% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a structural iron and steel worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 38.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new structural iron and steel workers typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,530/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Texas?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $52K here vs. $63K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Texas compare to the national average for structural iron and steel workers?
Texas pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — below the national median.
How much do structural iron and steel workers make in Texas?
The median is $52,240 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,160, and experienced structural iron and steel workers can clear $77,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,668/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 38.6% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $57,099 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.