Best Cities to Start an Ironworker Business

Where a solo ironworker business has the most room Our calculation

Charleston, SC ranks first. One-person foundation, framing & exterior work businesses there average $110,531 a year in revenue, with 12.0 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses for every 10,000 residents (typical metro: 12.1). We scored all 154 metros where the Census publishes foundation, framing & exterior work business counts.

1
CharlestonSOUTH CAROLINA · SC · $110,531 avg solo revenue · 12.0 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
79
2
College StationTEXAS · TX · $127,555 avg solo revenue · 16.3 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
76
3
NashvilleTENNESSEE · TN · $123,621 avg solo revenue · 16.5 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
73
4
DurhamNORTH CAROLINA · NC · $105,101 avg solo revenue · 13.7 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
72
5
ColumbiaSOUTH CAROLINA · SC · $97,212 avg solo revenue · 10.9 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on fast population growth and lots of new building
72
6
MadisonWISCONSIN · WI · $109,527 avg solo revenue · 10.3 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
72
7
KnoxvilleTENNESSEE · TN · $107,012 avg solo revenue · 13.6 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
71
8
New HavenCONNECTICUT · CT · $123,935 avg solo revenue · 8.6 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fewer competitors per resident
71
9
GreeleyCOLORADO · CO · $124,312 avg solo revenue · 25.9 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
70
10
ShermanTEXAS · TX · $120,504 avg solo revenue · 29.5 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
70
11
CharlotteNORTH CAROLINA · NC · $104,051 avg solo revenue · 16.3 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
69
12
ColumbusOHIO · OH · $110,188 avg solo revenue · 12.6 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
68
13
GreenvilleSOUTH CAROLINA · SC · $101,317 avg solo revenue · 14.9 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
68
14
Fort CollinsCOLORADO · CO · $118,193 avg solo revenue · 16.2 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and fast population growth
68
15
Colorado SpringsCOLORADO · CO · $115,993 avg solo revenue · 17.8 foundation, framing & exterior work businesses per 10k residents · Strong on higher solo revenue and lots of new building
67

Weights: average solo revenue 3, fewer competitors per resident 3, revenue compared with the local employee wage 2, new home permits 2, population growth 1. Each factor is a percentile among these metros.

Top 5 by each factor Government data

Highest solo revenue

Bridgeport, CT: $137,233
College Station, TX: $127,555
Peoria, IL: $126,413
Greeley, CO: $124,312
New Haven, CT: $123,935

Least competition

San Jose, CA: 4.9 per 10k residents
San Francisco, CA: 5.0 per 10k residents
Las Vegas, NV: 5.4 per 10k residents
Decatur, IL: 5.8 per 10k residents
Stockton, CA: 5.9 per 10k residents

Most new building

Fayetteville, AR: 15.5 home permits per 1k
Ocala, FL: 15.0 home permits per 1k
St. George, UT: 14.5 home permits per 1k
Sherman, TX: 13.1 home permits per 1k
Boise City, ID: 11.6 home permits per 1k

Fastest-growing population

St. George, UT: +17.4%
Ocala, FL: +17.3%
Port St. Lucie, FL: +16.0%
Provo, UT: +14.5%
Greeley, CO: +14.2%

Every metro Government data

Click a column to sort. “Rate to match it” is the hourly rate you'd need to bill to replace the local employee median, at our default assumptions (25% for tax and benefits, $30,000 overhead, 1,400 billable hours). Try your own numbers in the rate calculator.

#	Metro	Score	Solo revenue	Businesses / 10k people	Employee median	Rate to match it	Permits / 1k
1	Charleston, SC	79	$110,531	12.0	$57,780	$73/hr	8.7
2	College Station, TX	76	$127,555	16.3	$44,760	$61/hr	8.6
3	Nashville, TN	73	$123,621	16.5	$61,890	$77/hr	9.2
4	Durham, NC	72	$105,101	13.7	$57,810	$73/hr	10.1
5	Columbia, SC	72	$97,212	10.9	$50,510	$67/hr	7.1
6	Madison, WI	72	$109,527	10.3	$92,460	$104/hr	10.0
7	Knoxville, TN	71	$107,012	13.6	$61,250	$76/hr	8.4
8	New Haven, CT	71	$123,935	8.6	$62,400	$77/hr	1.8
9	Greeley, CO	70	$124,312	25.9	$59,100	$74/hr	8.5
10	Sherman, TX	70	$120,504	29.5	$57,720	$73/hr	13.1
11	Charlotte, NC	69	$104,051	16.3	$48,290	$65/hr	8.0
12	Columbus, OH	68	$110,188	12.6	$76,920	$90/hr	7.2
13	Greenville, SC	68	$101,317	14.9	$53,450	$69/hr	8.6
14	Fort Collins, CO	68	$118,193	16.2	$62,670	$77/hr	6.6
15	Colorado Springs, CO	67	$115,993	17.8	$55,690	$71/hr	7.6
16	Kansas City, MO	67	$116,814	12.1	$77,570	$91/hr	4.5
17	Sioux Falls, SD	67	$108,177	17.0	$59,200	$74/hr	7.8
18	Austin, TX	66	$105,805	18.8	$59,980	$75/hr	11.3
19	Hartford, CT	65	$112,178	9.2	$64,850	$79/hr	1.3
20	San Luis Obispo, CA	65	$115,933	10.4	$60,080	$75/hr	2.4
21	Dallas, TX	65	$106,925	21.8	$53,600	$69/hr	8.3
22	Chattanooga, TN	65	$105,074	13.3	$61,880	$77/hr	5.1
23	Portland, ME	64	$108,117	14.9	$63,730	$78/hr	6.2
24	Bridgeport, CT	64	$137,233	13.3	$94,120	$105/hr	3.6
25	Peoria, IL	64	$126,413	7.8	$80,060	$93/hr	0.6
26	Dayton, OH	64	$115,528	9.9	$74,650	$88/hr	2.4
27	Fargo, ND	63	$97,402	10.9	$83,200	$96/hr	5.8
28	St. George, UT	63	$97,442	22.3	$48,970	$65/hr	14.5
29	Oklahoma City, OK	63	$106,634	20.1	$47,330	$64/hr	5.9
30	Fayetteville, AR	62	$95,315	25.4	$47,390	$64/hr	15.5
31	Omaha, NE	62	$117,659	18.6	$74,430	$88/hr	6.5
32	Allentown, PA	62	$106,352	8.6	$83,630	$96/hr	2.3
33	Rapid City, SD	62	$100,898	18.4	$49,100	$65/hr	6.3
34	Cincinnati, OH	62	$109,654	11.0	$75,700	$89/hr	3.2
35	Denver, CO	61	$112,158	19.3	$60,080	$75/hr	5.3
36	Ogden, UT	61	$89,241	12.0	$56,420	$72/hr	5.5
37	Manchester, NH	61	$119,778	12.3	$59,920	$75/hr	1.5
38	Lincoln, NE	60	$99,733	15.4	$57,900	$73/hr	7.0
39	Birmingham, AL	60	$101,567	11.8	$59,180	$74/hr	3.6
40	Tulsa, OK	60	$103,977	17.7	$53,190	$69/hr	5.0
41	Phoenix, AZ	60	$79,476	10.5	$59,540	$75/hr	7.9
42	Atlantic City, NJ	60	$113,452	10.2	$114,570	$124/hr	4.3
43	Appleton, WI	60	$120,082	14.5	$93,960	$105/hr	5.1
44	Memphis, TN	59	$104,538	12.0	$50,390	$66/hr	2.5
45	Lake Havasu City, AZ	59	$86,396	15.2	$48,350	$65/hr	8.2
46	Atlanta, GA	58	$97,082	18.3	$48,090	$64/hr	5.4
47	Indianapolis, IN	58	$94,382	12.3	$70,140	$84/hr	5.4
48	Oxnard, CA	58	$100,737	8.3	$63,150	$78/hr	1.9
49	Champaign, IL	57	$85,678	6.5	$82,480	$95/hr	3.8
50	St. Louis, MO	57	$108,539	9.8	$81,640	$94/hr	2.2
51	Little Rock, AR	56	$96,981	16.3	$46,660	$63/hr	4.1
52	Sacramento, CA	56	$79,736	7.5	$77,760	$91/hr	4.4
53	Augusta, GA	56	$79,000	11.5	$56,900	$72/hr	6.6
54	Waco, TX	55	$98,104	24.2	$45,590	$62/hr	4.8
55	Abilene, TX	55	$94,393	26.1	$45,680	$62/hr	6.4
56	Boston, MA	54	$109,844	9.3	$120,840	$129/hr	2.0
57	Tampa, FL	54	$73,207	12.6	$48,720	$65/hr	6.9
58	Milwaukee, WI	54	$102,399	8.3	$95,730	$107/hr	2.0
59	Columbia, MO	54	$93,062	11.2	$79,100	$92/hr	3.8
60	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY	54	$96,163	13.5	$69,280	$83/hr	4.4
61	Lexington, KY	54	$86,644	11.7	$64,000	$79/hr	4.5
62	Winchester, VA	54	$87,977	15.4	$60,420	$75/hr	6.2
63	Tyler, TX	54	$108,869	28.9	$45,030	$62/hr	2.2
64	Wichita, KS	53	$92,304	14.2	$58,100	$73/hr	4.8
65	Spokane, WA	53	$86,631	11.0	$82,660	$95/hr	5.3
66	Winston, NC	53	$81,556	16.0	$47,730	$64/hr	6.8
67	Fort Wayne, IN	53	$97,172	13.9	$67,530	$82/hr	3.6
68	Harrisonburg, VA	53	$86,472	14.7	$57,720	$73/hr	6.2
69	Logan, UT	53	$80,842	17.5	$48,510	$65/hr	7.6
70	Boise City, ID	53	$92,382	20.0	$77,940	$91/hr	11.6
71	Billings, MT	53	$99,409	18.6	$69,030	$83/hr	5.4
72	Salt Lake City, UT	53	$85,369	13.6	$60,580	$76/hr	6.0
73	Ocala, FL	53	$59,933	14.5	$33,770	$52/hr	15.0
74	Reading, PA	53	$98,985	10.4	$67,550	$82/hr	1.3
75	Terre Haute, IN	52	$84,558	8.2	$52,140	$68/hr	1.7
76	Seattle, WA	52	$88,227	9.0	$111,440	$121/hr	3.9
77	Houston, TX	52	$84,840	20.0	$58,030	$73/hr	8.7
78	Provo, UT	51	$71,194	14.1	$57,960	$73/hr	10.2
79	Tucson, AZ	51	$79,261	11.3	$54,770	$70/hr	4.4
80	Greensboro, NC	51	$82,144	14.6	$49,490	$66/hr	4.9
81	Gulfport, MS	50	$80,520	16.5	$53,600	$69/hr	7.9
82	Virginia Beach, VA	49	$79,124	8.1	$58,630	$74/hr	2.2
83	Eugene, OR	49	$79,672	6.7	$92,580	$104/hr	4.0
84	Port St. Lucie, FL	49	$73,990	16.0	$61,120	$76/hr	9.3
85	Bellingham, WA	49	$77,610	9.5	$86,120	$98/hr	5.3
86	Las Vegas, NV	49	$40,216	5.4	$62,510	$77/hr	6.2
87	Decatur, AL	49	$101,805	18.3	$56,220	$72/hr	2.6
88	Portland, OR	49	$86,436	8.3	$98,120	$109/hr	3.3
89	Minneapolis, MN	49	$99,158	13.1	$97,810	$109/hr	3.9
90	Philadelphia, PA	48	$89,596	8.1	$103,330	$114/hr	2.1
91	San Antonio, TX	48	$86,688	23.3	$50,120	$66/hr	4.0
92	Orlando, FL	48	$66,704	15.2	$48,400	$65/hr	10.0
93	La Crosse, WI	47	$102,031	12.1	$100,160	$111/hr	2.8
94	Salem, OR	47	$85,879	11.3	$74,920	$88/hr	3.2
95	Olympia, WA	47	$67,297	6.9	$111,500	$121/hr	5.6
96	Deltona, FL	47	$65,057	12.5	$60,740	$76/hr	7.7
97	Scranton, PA	46	$87,400	8.7	$80,540	$93/hr	1.1
98	Trenton, NJ	45	$99,656	12.8	$116,360	$125/hr	3.0
99	Lynchburg, VA	45	$68,929	10.6	$56,440	$72/hr	4.2
100	Santa Rosa, CA	45	$79,137	9.3	$75,380	$89/hr	3.5
101	Pittsburgh, PA	44	$86,665	9.6	$82,860	$95/hr	2.4
102	Albany, NY	44	$74,668	7.9	$77,110	$90/hr	2.3
103	San Jose, CA	44	$77,415	4.9	$109,440	$119/hr	2.8
104	Grand Rapids, MI	44	$77,868	12.0	$65,250	$80/hr	3.7
105	Syracuse, NY	44	$72,363	7.4	$71,810	$86/hr	3.1
106	Davenport, IA	43	$89,494	9.8	$79,090	$92/hr	1.6
107	Stockton, CA	43	$53,320	5.9	$74,890	$88/hr	3.2
108	Amarillo, TX	42	$91,320	25.0	$59,610	$75/hr	3.7
109	Evansville, IN	42	$74,580	9.3	$76,090	$89/hr	3.0
110	Kiryas Joel, NY	42	$73,378	8.5	$97,150	$108/hr	3.1
111	Tuscaloosa, AL	42	$68,514	8.7	$59,230	$74/hr	2.2
112	Sierra Vista, AZ	42	$61,766	9.6	$49,490	$66/hr	3.7
113	Riverside, CA	42	$66,763	9.2	$72,790	$86/hr	3.4
114	Lancaster, PA	41	$103,283	21.7	$74,950	$88/hr	2.3
115	Cheyenne, WY	40	$64,747	13.9	$47,150	$64/hr	5.5
116	San Diego, CA	40	$64,453	7.0	$76,400	$90/hr	3.6
117	Washington, DC	40	$77,259	12.1	$68,320	$82/hr	2.8
118	Detroit, MI	40	$77,664	10.7	$62,870	$78/hr	2.0
119	Anchorage, AK	40	$85,524	10.0	$76,970	$90/hr	0.7
120	Baltimore, MD	40	$71,786	7.9	$71,200	$85/hr	2.0
121	San Francisco, CA	39	$73,688	5.0	$87,340	$99/hr	1.7
122	Bakersfield, CA	39	$50,471	6.7	$70,400	$84/hr	3.5
123	Fresno, CA	38	$49,640	6.6	$80,110	$93/hr	3.0
124	Springfield, MO	38	$84,940	19.5	$74,330	$88/hr	3.6
125	Chico, CA	37	$62,465	8.9	$88,070	$100/hr	4.8
126	Joplin, MO	37	$76,958	15.6	$62,600	$77/hr	3.0
127	Cleveland, OH	37	$93,458	14.7	$76,060	$89/hr	1.9
128	Chicago, IL	37	$81,058	9.3	$102,350	$113/hr	1.7
129	Akron, OH	36	$91,304	13.8	$76,330	$90/hr	1.1
130	Los Angeles, CA	36	$65,460	6.6	$78,040	$91/hr	2.1
131	South Bend, IN	36	$70,983	9.3	$73,640	$87/hr	2.3
132	Rochester, NY	36	$73,693	8.9	$76,220	$89/hr	1.7
133	Baton Rouge, LA	35	$70,564	13.9	$73,470	$87/hr	4.9
134	Buffalo, NY	35	$65,685	6.5	$76,420	$90/hr	1.3
135	Vineland, NJ	35	$69,750	7.6	$105,370	$116/hr	0.9
136	Modesto, CA	35	$58,578	7.5	$75,820	$89/hr	2.2
137	Florence, AL	35	$79,215	15.6	$69,530	$84/hr	2.6
138	New York, NY	34	$63,590	7.9	$102,060	$113/hr	2.2
139	Providence, RI	34	$76,675	9.9	$98,320	$109/hr	1.7
140	Rockford, IL	34	$95,068	13.6	$100,290	$111/hr	1.1
141	Fort Smith, AR	33	$73,352	23.3	$45,220	$62/hr	2.9
142	Cedar Rapids, IA	33	$71,904	12.9	$75,380	$89/hr	3.6
143	Vallejo, CA	32	$49,682	6.1	$106,900	$117/hr	1.9
144	Saginaw, MI	30	$54,464	8.5	$56,300	$72/hr	1.1
145	Toledo, OH	29	$70,234	9.9	$74,710	$88/hr	0.8
146	Houma, LA	29	$53,290	12.0	$46,800	$63/hr	2.9
147	New Orleans, LA	29	$60,827	11.4	$47,530	$64/hr	1.7
148	Elkhart, IN	28	$61,977	14.9	$62,390	$77/hr	3.8
149	Springfield, IL	28	$61,091	8.4	$81,750	$94/hr	1.1
150	Decatur, IL	27	$34,030	5.8	$64,830	$79/hr	0.4
151	McAllen, TX	27	$39,573	28.8	$42,710	$60/hr	8.2
152	Corpus Christi, TX	26	$62,697	21.4	$57,440	$73/hr	4.7
153	Miami, FL	24	$54,497	18.9	$60,270	$75/hr	3.8
154	Beaumont, TX	20	$53,625	15.3	$57,220	$73/hr	2.4

How to read this

Revenue is what one-person businesses take in before expenses, not take-home pay. A high figure with lots of competitors per resident usually means a busy but crowded market; a lower figure with few competitors can mean room to grow. Business counts come from the Census Nonemployer Statistics (2024) and County Business Patterns (2023), grouped as “foundation, framing & exterior work”, so they include some firms outside the trade itself.

For pay as an employee in any of these cities, see the ironworker salary overview or the best cities for ironworkers to work.

Census Nonemployer Statistics 2024; County Business Patterns 2023; Census Building Permits 2025; Census population estimates; BLS OEWS May 2025. Our data

Best cities to start an ironworker business