21221/Iron Ore Mining
US businesses, employees and payroll, 2017 to 2023
5,004
employees, 2023
5,004
employees, 2023
In 2023, 23 US Iron Ore Mining business locations employed 5,004 people and paid $528.7 million in annual payroll, $105,653 per employee on average. Employment was up 3.5% from 2022. Minnesota had the most employees.
Updated Oct 9, 2026 · data year 2023
Business locations
23
-11.5% vs 2022
Employees
5,004
+3.5% vs 2022
Annual payroll
$528.7M
0.0% vs 2022
Average pay
$105,653
-3.4% vs 2022
Over the years
United States, 2017 to 2023
Employees
Paid employees in mid-March
Business locations
Places with paid employees
By state
Employees of Iron Ore Mining in each state, 2023
Employees by state
States with the most employees
Employees and the share of all the state's jobs
| State | Business locations | Employees | Average pay | Share of state jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 10 | 3,953 | $108,865 | 0.14% |
| California | 3 | 10 | $82,200 | 0.00% |
Top metro areas
Metro and micro areas with the most Iron Ore Mining employees, 2023
Metro areas with the most employees
| Metro area | Locations | Employees | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN-WI | 7 | 3,367 | $106,298 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 3 | 10 | $82,200 |
Business size
US Iron Ore Mining business locations by number of employees, 2023
Locations by size
| Employees | Locations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5 | 6 | 37.5% |
| 5 to 9 | Not published | - |
| 10 to 19 | 4 | 25.0% |
| 20 to 49 | Not published | - |
| 50 to 99 | Not published | - |
| 100 to 249 | Not published | - |
| 250 to 499 | 3 | 18.8% |
| 500 to 999 | 3 | 18.8% |
| 1,000 or more | Not published | - |
Related industries
Iron Ore Mining and the 1 industry directly below it
Part of Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction 21Mining (except Oil and Gas) 212Metal Ore Mining 2122
| Code | Industry | Employees | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 212210 | Iron Ore Mining | 5,004 | $105,653 |
Questions and answers
How many people work in Iron Ore Mining in the US?
5,004 people worked at 23 US Iron Ore Mining business locations in 2023, up 3.5% from 2022. That is 0.00% of all US private-sector employees.
What is the average pay in Iron Ore Mining?
$105,653 a year per employee in 2023, from $528.7 million in annual payroll (down 3.4% from 2022). The average across all US industries was $68,342.
Which state has the most Iron Ore Mining jobs?
Minnesota had the most, with 3,953 employees in 2023, followed by California (10).
Which metro areas have the most Iron Ore Mining jobs?
Duluth, MN-WI (3,367), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA (10) had the most Iron Ore Mining employees in 2023.
Are most Iron Ore Mining businesses small?
62.5% of the 16 Iron Ore Mining business locations had fewer than 20 employees in 2023, and 3 had 500 or more.
Official US government statistics, published once a year. Business locations are places with paid employees; employees are counted in mid-March; payroll covers the whole year. Covers most private employers, not the self-employed, most government workers or farm workers on farms. Changes from the year before are shown only when both years use the same edition of the industry codes.