How much does a rebar worker make?
Answer: A typical rebar worker in the United States makes $58,970 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 14,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Rebar worker pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $43,310 | $58,970 | $104,540 | about 14,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $98,040 | about 1,000 |
| California | $63,110 | about 2,000 |
| Tennessee | $57,920 | about 500 |
| Texas | $50,650 | about 4,000 |
| Florida | $50,500 | about 1,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experienced rebar workers and workers with useful welding, rigging, or crane-signaling certificates may earn more. Pay also depends on the employer and type of construction, the local area, and hours worked.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a rebar worker do?
Position and secure steel bars or mesh in concrete forms in order to reinforce concrete. Use a variety of fasteners, rod-bending machines, blowtorches, and hand tools. Includes rod busters.
What's a typical day like?
They read plans, measure, cut, bend, and tie steel bars into grids inside concrete forms. They may unload rebar trucks and use forklifts or cranes to move the bars before concrete is poured.
How to get this job
In the U.S., finish high school or earn a GED, then apply for an ironworker apprenticeship, usually around age 18. Apprentices typically train for 3–4 years, learning in class and on paid job sites.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
Ironworkers mostly work with steel—not iron—but they are still commonly called “ironworkers.”
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Construction and Extraction jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/structural-iron-and-steel-workers.ht
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-2171.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.ironworkers417.org/en/news-details/webview/apprenticeship-program/single/191
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY