How to Become a Ironworker in Idaho
You build what everyone else works inside.
Median Salary (ID)
$63,480*
Apprenticeship
3–4 years
License Required
Varies
Job Demand
Moderate
* State-specific BLS data not available — showing national median.
What Ironworkers Earn in Idaho
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Idaho Median
N/A
per year
National Median
$63,480
per year
Entry Level (25th)
$43,890
Median
$63,480
Experienced (75th)
$90,120
Top Earners (90th)
$107,400
National percentiles shown. Idaho-specific percentile data varies.
Career Path
From apprentice to running your own operation in Idaho
Apprentice Ironworker
$38,000–$55,000Years 0–4
Complete a 3–4 year IUIW union apprenticeship. Learn to raise and connect structural steel, set rebar for concrete, and work safely at extreme heights with rigging and cranes.
Journeyperson Ironworker
$60,000–$100,000+Years 4–10
Work on commercial high-rises, bridges, stadiums, and industrial structures. Union ironworkers on large projects often work significant overtime, pushing total annual earnings well above the base wage.
Foreman / General Foreman
$90,000–$120,000Years 8–15
Supervise an ironworking crew on major steel erection projects. Requires strong rigging knowledge, crane coordination skills, and the ability to read structural drawings.
Superintendent / Steel Contractor
$100,000–$180,000+Years 12+
Move into project management for a structural steel erection contractor, or start your own ironworking specialty firm serving as a sub to general contractors.
How to Get Started in Idaho
Step-by-step path into the ironworker trade
- 1
Apply to your local IUIW union (ironworkers.org) — it's competitive, but the union offers the best wages and safety training for this work.
Browse ironworker apprenticeships → - 2
Build your welding skills before applying — AWS D1.1 structural certification is a major advantage that most locals notice.
Find welding programs → - 3
Competition is high in major markets. Apply early, follow up persistently — most people get in on their second or third attempt.
- 4
Once accepted, your apprenticeship starts immediately. You're earning from day one while building toward journeyperson wages.