--- title: "Ironworker Salary in Kentucky: Pay & Jobs" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/ironworker/kentucky/ description: "Ironworker pay in Kentucky: BLS average $66,980 (all experience levels), median $64,060, bottom 10% $48,240; 990 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. Kentucky Kentucky # Ironworker pay in *Kentucky* What ironworkers earn in Kentucky: pay for the state and 3 metro areas, plus job counts and 4 listed training programs. - **$66,980** Average across all experience levels (state) - **$48,240** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$64,060** Median pay (state) - **$98,360** Top 10% earn over 990 jobs in Kentucky. 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 Kentucky Annual wages. | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Kentucky | $48,240 | $56,480 | $64,060 | $76,570 | $98,360 | $66,980 | 990 | | 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 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $48,390 | $59,210 | $75,700 | $77,390 | $88,350 | $72,820 | 480 | | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $51,400 | $60,280 | $69,280 | $78,590 | $88,050 | $71,220 | 310 | | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $45,030 | $52,010 | $64,000 | $66,420 | $79,270 | $61,890 | 40 | Metro area estimates, BLS, May 2025. Only areas BLS published are shown. At a glance ## How Kentucky compares | | | | --- | --- | | Rank by average pay | 25 of 52 states and territories with a BLS estimate | | Average vs U.S. average | -4.7% ($66,980 vs $70,280) | | Median vs U.S. median | +2.0% ($64,060 vs $62,780) | | Median hourly wage | $30.80 | | Bottom 10% to top 10% | $48,240 to $98,360 | | Jobs per 1,000 jobs in the state | 0.50 | | Location quotient | 1.13 (more concentrated than the U.S. average of 1.00) | | Metro areas with a BLS estimate | 3; highest median Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $75,700, lowest Lexington-Fayette, KY $64,000 | 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 Kentucky We matched 4 ironworker training options in Kentucky: 0 school programs in the NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions file and 4 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 Kentucky** Full directory, entry requirements and how to apply · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/ky/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/kentucky/ 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.