Scaffolder Salary Guide

A scaffolder assembles, installs, inspects and dismantles temporary work platforms and support structures used in construction, maintenance, and repair projects. Responsibilities include reading plans, selecting materials, following safety procedures, securing platforms, and coordinating with site teams to provide safe, efficient access at height.

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What is the average Scaffolder salary?

Entry Level

$35,000 - $45,000 per year

Mid Level

$45,000 - $65,000 per year

Senior Level

$65,000 - $90,000+ per year

How does Scaffolder salary grow with experience?

$30,000 - $38,000 per year
0-1
$35,000 - $50,000 per year
1-3
$45,000 - $60,000 per year
3-5
$55,000 - $75,000 per year
5-10
$65,000 - $95,000+ per year+
10+
Base (min)
Top of range (max)
Max: $95k

Scaffolder salary by location

New York, NY$55,000 - $95,000 per year
San Francisco, CA$60,000 - $100,000 per year
Los Angeles, CA$50,000 - $90,000 per year
Houston, TX$45,000 - $80,000 per year
Chicago, IL$48,000 - $85,000 per year
Base (min)
Top of range (max)

What factors affect a Scaffolder's salary?

  • Certification and safety training (OSHA, IPAF, CISRS, rigging, fall protection)
  • Union membership and local collective bargaining agreements
  • Project type and risk level (high-rise, industrial, maintenance, specialty scaffolding)
  • Geographic location and cost of living
  • Experience level and supervisory responsibilities

How to compare Scaffolder pay figures

The generated ranges in this guide have not been independently source-verified. Check the underlying occupation, location and data period before using a range as a market benchmark. Keep the original source alongside any figure you save. A page updated recently can still contain wages measured in an earlier year, and a broad occupational category may cover several different job titles.

Compare the work as well as the title

Read a vacancy's responsibilities, required experience, working hours and location before placing it beside another role. Two positions called Scaffolder can have different scope. Record the duties you would own, the team or customers you would support, and any supervisory expectations. Use those details to decide whether a comparison is relevant instead of assuming that a matching title means matching pay.

Keep compensation definitions consistent

Confirm the currency and whether a figure is hourly, monthly or annual. Check the paid hours before converting between periods. Separate guaranteed base pay from bonuses, commissions, overtime, equity and benefits. Ask which parts are guaranteed and which depend on targets, company results or vesting conditions. Compare the same components across offers; a total-compensation figure and a base-salary figure answer different questions.

Identify the statistic too. A median divides the measured workforce into two equal halves. A percentile describes a point in that distribution; it does not automatically describe an entry-level or senior employee. Do not turn national survey percentiles into a personal experience-based pay prediction. Use local, role-relevant evidence when it is available and record any mismatch in coverage.

Build a comparison you can check later

For each job listing, survey or offer, save the role, responsibilities, location, currency, pay period, compensation components, source link and date checked. Mark missing information as unknown. Keep the employer's stated range separate from any expectation you calculate yourself. If the figures differ, first check their definitions and scope rather than averaging incompatible numbers into a new estimate.

When discussing an offer, prepare clear examples of the responsibilities and results you can support with your experience. Ask the recruiter about the role's level, the approved range and how the package is structured. Keep those answers with your comparison so you can assess the offer using confirmed information. This guide gives you questions to investigate; the employer's written terms establish the actual package being offered.

Read the salary source and comparison checklist

Frequently Asked Questions About Scaffolder Salaries

How much does a scaffolder make on average in the U.S.?

Average U.S. pay for scaffolders typically ranges from about $40,000 to $75,000 per year depending on experience, location, and union status; entry-level starts near $35K while senior scaffolders can earn $65K–$90K or more.

What certifications increase a scaffolder's pay?

Certifications such as OSHA 10/30, CISRS (UK equivalent often relevant for international employers), SSA or IPAF powered access training, and specialized rigging or fall-protection certificates commonly increase pay by demonstrating safety and technical skills.

Do scaffolders earn more when they join a union?

Yes. Union scaffolders generally earn higher base wages, better overtime premiums, and stronger benefits compared with non-union peers; total compensation can be 10%–30% higher depending on the local union contract.

How does location affect scaffolder wages?

Wages vary markedly by region: large metropolitan and high-cost areas (e.g., New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles) typically pay higher hourly rates to offset living costs and project demand, while rural areas pay lower rates.

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