Career comparison
Ironworker vs. Welder
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Ironworkers earn more at the median ($62,780 vs. $53,750), while welders usually get to work faster (3–18 months of training). Ironworkers raise the steel frames of buildings, bridges and towers, high above the ground. Welders join and cut metal with MIG, TIG and stick welding for construction and manufacturing.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Ironworker | Welder | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $62,780 ($30.18/hr) | $53,750 ($25.84/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $44,580 – $108,260 | $39,240 – $77,530 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +3.1% (about as fast as average) | +2.4% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 5,900 | 40,300 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 3–4 years (apprenticeship) | 3–18 months |
| Key credential | Apprenticeship completion | AWS Certified Welder |
| Work setting | Ironworkers work outdoors at great heights on buildings, bridges and towers, in heat, cold and wind. | Welders work in fabrication shops, factories, shipyards, construction sites and refineries, sometimes outdoors or at heights. |
What each job does
Ironworker
- Read blueprints and erection drawings
- Signal cranes and rig steel members for lifting
- Guide beams and columns into position
- Bolt and weld connections
- Plumb and align steel frames
Welder
- Read blueprints, specifications and weld symbols
- Prepare, clean and fit metal parts
- Set up welding equipment and select processes and settings
- Weld components in flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead positions
- Cut metal with oxy-fuel or plasma torches
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, physical work, and working outdoors. Both are part of the skilled trades & construction field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose ironworker if…
- I’m comfortable working at great heights
- I like physical, high-energy work
- I trust and depend on my crew
Choose welder if…
- I like making things with my hands
- I have a steady hand and patience for precise work
- Heat, sparks and noise don’t bother me
Still torn? Take the Ironworker fit quiz and the Welder fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, ironworker or welder?
Ironworkers earn more at the median: $62,780 versus $53,750 for welders, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Welders typically train faster (3–18 months) than ironworkers (3–4 years (apprenticeship)).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects ironworkers to grow +3.1% from 2025–35, compared with +2.4% for welders.