SOC 47-2221 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Structural Iron and Steel Workers — Arkansas
Arkansas · 3 metro areas compared
Median pay in Arkansas is $45,510 a year, 27.5% under the national median of $62,780 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in Arkansas is $45,510 a year, 27.5% under the national median of $62,780 for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $36,860 and $56,230. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $32,430 and the ninetieth at $61,460.
The area has 1,080 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.8 of every thousand jobs. Among the 50 states with published data for this occupation, Arkansas ranks 50th by median wage. Fayetteville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $47,390. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 395th of 673 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,430 | −48.3% |
| 25th | $36,860 | −41.3% |
| Median (50th) | $45,510 | −27.5% |
| 75th | $56,230 | −10.4% |
| 90th | $61,460 | −2.1% |
| Mean | $46,020 | −26.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Arkansas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville | $47,390 | 200 | |
| 2 | Little Rock | $46,660 | 310 | |
| 3 | Fort Smith | $45,220 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Arkansas run 13.1% below the national average, so the median of $45,510 goes as far as $52,371 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 16.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$45,510as reported by BLSLocal price level
86.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$52,371US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $45,510 a year, 27.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $32,430 to $61,460 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,080 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 50th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Fayetteville, at $47,390.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Structural Iron and Steel Workers in Arkansas?
The median annual wage is $45,510, or $21.88 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,780, so pay in Arkansas is 27.5% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Arkansas earns more than $61,460 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $32,430 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Fayetteville, at $47,390 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,080 jobs in this occupation in Arkansas. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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