Prevailing Wage for Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Prevailing wage floors for Structural Iron and Steel Workers are set by the DOL using Occupational Employment Statistics surveys across more than 150 metro areas. Whether your offer is for an Iron Worker, Fitter, or Steel Worker role, the floor shifts significantly by city. DOL assigns four experience levels, so the wage requirement for your position depends on both location and seniority.
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Level 1 covers entry-level iron and steel workers with limited field experience, typically under two years. Workers at this level perform tasks under close supervision, following established procedures for raising and placing structural members without independent judgment.
Level 2 applies to qualified workers with two or more years of hands-on ironworking experience. This is the most common filing level for Structural Iron and Steel Workers, covering journeyworkers who execute standard structural erection tasks with moderate supervision.
Level 3 applies to experienced ironworkers who work independently on complex structural assignments. Workers at this level often coordinate with other trades, read advanced structural drawings, and mentor less experienced crew members on multi-phase commercial or industrial projects.
Level 4 covers fully competent senior ironworkers and lead structural erectors who set methods, oversee crews, and take responsibility for project safety and sequencing. Employers filing at this level typically document supervisory scope and specialized certifications in the LCA.
Prevailing Wage for Structural Iron and Steel Workers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Structural Iron and Steel Workers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Verify your title matches SOC 47-2221
Offer letters sometimes use titles like Steel Fabricator or Structural Steel Erector that employers file under a different SOC code. Confirm your employer's LCA lists SOC 47-2221 specifically, or the prevailing wage floor for this occupation does not apply to your offer.
Factor in union scale when reading metro wages
In high-density markets like New York and Boston, collective bargaining agreements push prevailing wage rates well above national medians. An offer benchmarked against national figures may fall short of the actual DOL floor for that specific worksite city.
Expect Level 2 filings even for experienced ironworkers
Many construction employers default to Level 2 LCA filings regardless of a worker's actual years in the field. If you have three or more years of structural erection experience, confirm the filed level reflects your seniority so your offer is not undervalued at the LCA stage.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors for ironworking roles
Structural iron and steel work has a narrower sponsorship pool than office-based occupations. Migrate Mate shows which employers have historical H-1B or green card sponsorship records for this occupation, so you can focus outreach on companies with a proven track record.
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Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 47-2221.00 alongside Structural Iron and Steel Workers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Fitter Prevailing Wage
Fitter Prevailing Wage
Fitter positions fall under SOC 47-2221.00 (Structural Iron and Steel Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Iron Worker Prevailing Wage
Iron Worker Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Iron Worker for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2221.00 (Structural Iron and Steel Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Ironworker Prevailing Wage
Ironworker Prevailing Wage
Ironworker is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-2221.00 (Structural Iron and Steel Workers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Steel Fabricator Prevailing Wage
Steel Fabricator Prevailing Wage
Steel Fabricator positions fall under SOC 47-2221.00 (Structural Iron and Steel Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Steel Worker Prevailing Wage
Steel Worker Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Steel Worker for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2221.00 (Structural Iron and Steel Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Structural Steel Erector Prevailing Wage
Structural Steel Erector Prevailing Wage
Structural Steel Erector is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-2221.00 (Structural Iron and Steel Workers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Tower Hand Prevailing Wage
Tower Hand Prevailing Wage
Tower Hand positions fall under SOC 47-2221.00 (Structural Iron and Steel Workers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Structural Iron and Steel Workers?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across metro and non-metro areas nationwide. For SOC 47-2221, DOL converts raw wage distributions into four levels based on experience and responsibility. Employers must certify on the LCA that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable DOL level for the specific worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
The four levels reflect increasing experience and autonomy. Level 1 is entry-level work under close supervision. Level 2 covers journeyworkers performing standard ironworking tasks. Level 3 applies to experienced workers handling complex assignments independently. Level 4 is for senior or lead workers with supervisory responsibilities. Your level should match the actual duties and experience requirements in your job offer, as DOL and USCIS both review whether the filed level is consistent with the role description.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same ironworking role vary so much between cities?
DOL derives metro-level prevailing wages from regional OES surveys, so local labor market conditions drive the figures. Dense union markets like Trenton and Boston generate significantly higher survey wage data than lower-cost regions. The LCA rule requires employers to use the wage for the actual worksite metro, not a national average or the employer's headquarters city. If a project moves to a new location mid-visa period, the employer may need to file an amended LCA reflecting the new worksite wage floor.
What happens if an employer offers a wage below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
DOL will not certify an LCA where the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite area and wage level. Without a certified LCA, USCIS will not approve the H-1B or other sponsored visa petition. If an underpayment is discovered after certification, DOL's Wage and Hour Division can require back wages, assess civil penalties, and debar the employer from future sponsorship filings. Workers are not penalized, but their petition is at risk if the employer's LCA is challenged.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for Structural Iron and Steel Workers in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool on the DOL website to look up current prevailing wages by SOC code 47-2221 and metro area. Select the relevant fiscal year wage data and confirm the wage level matches the duties in your offer. For the sponsorship side, Migrate Mate filters job listings by role and location and shows which employers have historically sponsored iron and steel worker positions, helping you identify realistic opportunities before negotiating an offer.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Structural Iron and Steel Workers right now.
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