UnionIronworkers Local 498 wages 2026 (Illinois)
The hourly rates, overtime, shift, vacation and per diem rules of Ironworkers Local 498 in Illinois, read from the one agreement built into the Ironworker app. An independent guide: the agreement and your hall have the final word.
Field ironwork, Main Zone (Rockford)
Iron Workers Local 498 and the Northern Illinois Building Contractors Association, 2026–2029, Main Zone, with the June 1 2026 wage and benefit sheet
$50.74an hour
Journeyman, Field ironwork, Main Zone (Rockford)
From June 1, 2026. No later step published.
| Classification | From June 1, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Journeymanbase rate | $50.74 |
| Foreman over 3 or moreJM + 15% | $58.35 |
| Foreman over 2 or fewerJM + 7% | $54.29 |
| General foremanJM + 20% | $60.89 |
| Apprentice, 6,501 to 7,200 hours95% | $48.20 |
| Apprentice, 5,501 to 6,500 hours90% | $45.67 |
| Apprentice, 4,501 to 5,500 hours85% | $43.13 |
| Apprentice, 3,501 to 4,500 hours80% | $40.59 |
| Apprentice, 2,501 to 3,500 hours70% | $35.52 |
| Apprentice, 1,501 to 2,500 hours60% | $30.44 |
| Apprentice, 501 to 1,500 hours55% | $27.91 |
| Apprentice, 0 to 500 hours50% | $25.37 |
- Overtime
- Overtime: all overtime is double time (the sheet; the state's Winnebago County schedule shows Monday to Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays all at 2.0).
- Per diem and travel
- Local 498's travel and subsistence rules aren't published, so this agreement has no per diem in its published documents.
One 40-hour week, worked out
Week of October 25, 2026Journeyman, Field ironwork, Main Zone (Rockford)
Example| Day | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hours | 0 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Earnings | |
| Regular40 h × 50.74 | 2,029.60 |
| Gross pay | 2,029.60 |
| Deductions | |
| Field dues4% of gross wages | −81.18 |
| Defense Fundper hour | −60.00 |
| Building Tradesper hour | −3.20 |
| Local 498 Building Fundper hour | −6.00 |
| Local 498 PACper hour | −8.00 |
| Iron Workers District Council PACper hour | −4.00 |
| Social Security6.2% | −125.84 |
| Medicare1.45% | −29.43 |
| Federal income taxestimate (W-4) | −276.70 |
| Illinois income taxestimate | −100.47 |
What's missing
Where the app can't follow a rule to the letter yet, its notes say so, and say how to allow for it when you enter your hours. From this page's agreements:
- The agreement's text isn't public, so the rules it would set (overtime hours, shifts, show-up pay, holidays, travel) are the conservative choices below. Work under the National Maintenance Agreement, the International Agreement or another national agreement has its own rules and isn't built in yet.
- The 2025 rate isn't published, so weeks before June 1 2026 are worked out at the 2026 rates (use Enter my own rate for them); from June 1 2027, type your new rate under Enter my own rate.
- The app pays double time past 8 hours a day Monday to Friday, past 40 hours in the week, and for every Saturday, Sunday and holiday hour, on a 5×8 week only.
- The app uses the state's general list (New Year's Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas), double time when worked and unpaid when not, on the day itself: a weekend holiday isn't moved, and Veterans Day, which some state classifications add, isn't marked (tick Holiday if your job observes it).
- The app adds no shift premium (ticking Night changes nothing), no show-up pay and no travel or subsistence: enter the hours you're paid, and type any reimbursement under This week's extras.
Enter your own hours in the Ironworker app: it applies these rates, the overtime and holiday rules, dues and tax, and keeps a year of paychecks. Free for a month.
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Questions
What does a Local 498 journeyman make in 2026?
$50.74 an hour under the Iron Workers Local 498 and the Northern Illinois Building Contractors Association, 2026–2029, Main Zone, with the June 1 2026 wage and benefit sheet, from June 1, 2026.
When is the next Local 498 raise?
No later step is published in the data for the Field ironwork, Main Zone (Rockford) agreement. Rates usually change once a year; check the schedule before you count on a raise.
What do Local 498 apprentices make?
Apprentice, 6,501 to 7,200 hours $48.20 (95%), Apprentice, 5,501 to 6,500 hours $45.67 (90%), Apprentice, 4,501 to 5,500 hours $43.13 (85%), Apprentice, 3,501 to 4,500 hours $40.59 (80%), Apprentice, 2,501 to 3,500 hours $35.52 (70%), Apprentice, 1,501 to 2,500 hours $30.44 (60%), Apprentice, 501 to 1,500 hours $27.91 (55%) and Apprentice, 0 to 500 hours $25.37 (50%) an hour from June 1, 2026.
Does Local 498 pay a per diem?
Local 498's travel and subsistence rules aren't published, so this agreement has no per diem in its published documents.
How is Local 498 overtime paid?
Overtime: all overtime is double time (the sheet; the state's Winnebago County schedule shows Monday to Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays all at 2.0).
Sources
The agreements and schedules these numbers were read from. Built October 15, 2026 from the Ironworker app, version 0.1.0.
Independent. Not affiliated with any union. Check your agreement.