Structural Iron and Steel Workers Salary
The median pay for a structural iron and steel workers in West Virginia is $71,850/year ($34.54/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $80,703 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 21.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of West Virginia. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $72K get you in West Virginia?
About structural iron and steel workers
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What this looks like in West Virginia
West Virginia sits well above the national pay line for structural iron and steel workers, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $63K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,008/month, 21.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, West Virginia offers a genuinely strong financial position for structural iron and steel workerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level structural iron and steel workers (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track structural iron and steel workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when West Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a structural iron and steel worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 21.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for structural iron and steel workers in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new structural iron and steel workers typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,037/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 West Virginia?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $72K here vs. $63K nationally.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for structural iron and steel workers?
West Virginia pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do structural iron and steel workers make in West Virginia?
The median is $71,850 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,620, and experienced structural iron and steel workers can clear $80,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,679/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 21.5% 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $80,703 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.