--- title: "Ironworker Salary in California: Pay & Jobs" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/ironworker/california/ description: "Ironworker pay in California: BLS average $80,920 (all experience levels), median $76,370, bottom 10% $47,480; 7,110 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025)." updated: 2026-11-04 wage_source: "BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15" --- 1. [Home](https://highpayingtrades.com/) 2. [Trades](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/) 3. [Ironworker](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/ironworker/) 4. California California # Ironworker pay in *California* What ironworkers earn in California: pay for the state and 15 metro areas, plus job counts and 11 listed training programs. - **$80,920** Average across all experience levels (state) - **$47,480** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$76,370** Median pay (state) - **$118,030** Top 10% earn over 7,110 jobs in California. Trade Elevator MechanicLineworkerIndustrial Automation TechnicianCrane OperatorOperating EngineerPipefitter & SteamfitterPlumberRefinery & Process OperatorAircraft MechanicElectrical & Electronic Engineering TechnicianIndustrial Electronics TechnicianElectricianHVAC/R TechnicianDiesel MechanicWelderIronworkerMillwrightConstruction InspectorZIP code Pay by percentile ## Ironworker pay in California Annual wages. | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | California | $47,480 | $59,220 | $76,370 | $103,980 | $118,030 | $80,920 | 7,110 | | United States | $44,580 | $49,880 | $62,780 | $82,660 | $108,260 | $70,280 | 68,380 | Annual wages by percentile. ### Metro areas | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $56,360 | $71,040 | $109,440 | $113,670 | $130,590 | $96,410 | 330 | | Vallejo, CA | $61,140 | $81,600 | $106,900 | $121,820 | $142,550 | $103,370 | 150 | | Chico, CA | $48,500 | $68,900 | $88,070 | $124,470 | $124,470 | $90,070 | 50 | | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $56,880 | $71,990 | $87,340 | $119,600 | $124,470 | $91,760 | 800 | | Fresno, CA | $46,800 | $57,520 | $80,110 | $99,630 | $117,110 | $81,010 | 180 | | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $47,000 | $59,960 | $78,040 | $104,060 | $110,200 | $81,100 | 2,150 | | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $52,040 | $61,010 | $77,760 | $103,420 | $111,630 | $81,790 | 450 | | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $49,340 | $61,090 | $76,400 | $104,130 | $110,350 | $79,480 | 740 | | Modesto, CA | $47,850 | $60,280 | $75,820 | $115,980 | $129,460 | $84,580 | 100 | | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $51,880 | $61,920 | $75,380 | $83,630 | $99,680 | $76,600 | 60 | | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $48,290 | $59,080 | $74,890 | $100,580 | $127,800 | $78,850 | 170 | | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $47,280 | $49,090 | $72,790 | $99,170 | $105,570 | $74,480 | 1,120 | Metro area estimates, BLS, May 2025. Only areas BLS published are shown. At a glance ## How California compares | | | | --- | --- | | Rank by average pay | 13 of 52 states and territories with a BLS estimate | | Average vs U.S. average | +15.1% ($80,920 vs $70,280) | | Median vs U.S. median | +21.6% ($76,370 vs $62,780) | | Median hourly wage | $36.72 | | Bottom 10% to top 10% | $47,480 to $118,030 | | Jobs per 1,000 jobs in the state | 0.39 | | Location quotient | 0.89 (less concentrated than the U.S. average of 1.00) | | Metro areas with a BLS estimate | 15; highest median San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $109,440, lowest San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $60,080 | Computed from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates state and metro files. A location quotient above 1 means the job makes up a larger share of employment in the state than nationally. Training ## Schools and apprenticeships in California We matched 11 ironworker training options in California: 0 school programs in the NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions file and 11 registered apprenticeship sponsors in the DOL Office of Apprenticeship partner file. This site covers pay and careers; the school and apprenticeship directory lives on our sister site. [**See ironworker schools and apprenticeship sponsors in California** Full directory, entry requirements and how to apply · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/ca/ironworking/) Veterans can compare [gI Bill-approved welding programs](https://veterantradeschools.com/welding/) on VeteranTradeSchools.com. By the [HighPayingTrades Data Team](https://highpayingtrades.com/about/) · Updated Nov 4, 2026 ## Sources **Figures as of BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates (released 2026-05-15) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 (released 2026-08-27).** - **Wages:** U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 ([news release USDL-26-0725](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm); [data tables](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm)). Cross-checked against the BLS Public Data API on 2026-11-04. - **Occupation:** O\*NET OnLine, [47-2221.00 Structural Iron and Steel Workers](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-2221.00), retrieved 2026-11-04 (CC BY 4.0). - **Apprenticeship sponsors:** U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship: partner sponsors file, retrieved 2026-10-29 ([Partner Finder](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/partner-finder)). - **Schools & graduates:** U.S. Department of Education, NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24 (C2024\_A) and Institutional Characteristics (HD2024), award year 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code ([completions file](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/data/C2024_A.zip); [CIP-SOC crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Files/CIP2020_SOC2018_Crosswalk.xlsx)). - **Tuition:** U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts: Institution + Field of Study), data updated 2026-10-15, matched by IPEDS unit ID ([source](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/)). Program listings are matched from public files by occupation code or organization name; they are not endorsements and we have not visited or tested any program. Confirm schedules, entry requirements and costs with the program. Compiled by the HighPayingTrades Data Team; last refreshed 2026-11-04. --- Canonical HTML: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/ironworker/california/ Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm). Programs: NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions; DOL Office of Apprenticeship. Tuition: College Scorecard.