Sheet metal worker salary: what sheet metal workers actually make
Sheet metal workers earned a median $29.71 an hour ($61,800 a year) in May 2025, across 119,770 jobs in the BLS employer survey. Pay by state and metro, the 20-year trend, and the union scale contractors must pay on federal work.
How much do sheet metal workers make?
The median sheet metal worker earned $29.71 an hour, or $61,800 a year, in May 2025 according to the BLS employer survey of 119,770 jobs. Half earn more and half earn less; the middle 50% earn between $22.99 and $39.24 an hour.
The middle half of sheet metal workers earn between $22.99 and $39.24 an hour. The top 10% earn more than $50.79 ($105,650 a year); the bottom 10% earn less than $18.57. The top 10% earn 2.7× what the bottom 10% earn.
Apprentice, journeyman and master sheet metal worker pay
Pay tracks licence and experience: an apprentice or entry-level sheet metal worker earns near the bottom of the range, a journeyman around the median, and a master sheet metal worker, foreman or specialist in the top quarter. The union pay scale (journeyman base plus fringe) for every county is in the prevailing-wage section.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $18.57 – $22.99 | $38,630 – $47,830 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.99 – $39.24 | $47,830 – $81,610 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $39.24 – $50.79 | $81,610 – $105,650 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification or licence requirement.
Sheet metal worker pay by state
Table
| State | Median $/hr | vs US |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $47.38 | 59% above |
| Hawaii | $46.32 | 56% above |
| Alaska | $45.48 | 53% above |
| New Jersey | $44.64 | 50% above |
| Illinois | $41.65 | 40% above |
| Massachusetts | $39.47 | 33% above |
| Connecticut | $37.86 | 27% above |
| Wisconsin | $37.38 | 26% above |
| California | $36.82 | 24% above |
| Ohio | $35.96 | 21% above |
| New York | $35.46 | 19% above |
| Oregon | $35.46 | 19% above |
| Minnesota | $35.08 | 18% above |
| West Virginia | $34.81 | 17% above |
| Iowa | $31.95 | 8% above |
| Oklahoma | $31.56 | 6% above |
| North Dakota | $31.34 | 5% above |
| Rhode Island | $31.30 | 5% above |
| Michigan | $31.01 | 4% above |
| Nebraska | $30.98 | 4% above |
| Indiana | $30.79 | 4% above |
| Missouri | $30.56 | 3% above |
| Utah | $30.36 | 2% above |
| Kansas | $30.13 | 1% above |
| Maryland | $30.08 | 1% above |
| Maine | $29.87 | 1% above |
| Delaware | $29.55 | 1% below |
| Montana | $29.53 | 1% below |
| Pennsylvania | $29.52 | 1% below |
| Kentucky | $29.17 | 2% below |
| New Hampshire | $28.75 | 3% below |
| Tennessee | $28.45 | 4% below |
| Wyoming | $28.24 | 5% below |
| Vermont | $28.00 | 6% below |
| Colorado | $27.83 | 6% below |
| Georgia | $27.31 | 8% below |
| New Mexico | $27.27 | 8% below |
| Texas | $26.08 | 12% below |
| Virginia | $25.10 | 16% below |
| North Carolina | $24.39 | 18% below |
| Louisiana | $24.19 | 19% below |
| Arizona | $24.16 | 19% below |
| South Carolina | $24.00 | 19% below |
| Florida | $23.87 | 20% below |
| Mississippi | $23.80 | 20% below |
| South Dakota | $22.98 | 23% below |
| Alabama | $22.85 | 23% below |
| Nevada | $22.47 | 24% below |
| Idaho | $22.29 | 25% below |
| Arkansas | $22.03 | 26% below |
| State | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $47.38 | $44.28 | #2 | 3,440 |
| Hawaii | $46.32 | $42.11 | #3 | 490 |
| Alaska | $45.48 | $44.41 | #1 | 240 |
| New Jersey | $44.64 | $41.03 | #5 | 2,790 |
| Illinois | $41.65 | $41.65 | #4 | 3,260 |
| Massachusetts | $39.47 | $37.31 | #9 | 2,890 |
| Connecticut | $37.86 | $36.54 | #10 | 1,480 |
| Wisconsin | $37.38 | $39.72 | #6 | 3,180 |
| California | $36.82 | $33.26 | #19 | 8,390 |
| Ohio | $35.96 | $38.75 | #8 | 4,180 |
| New York | $35.46 | $32.86 | #21 | 6,570 |
| Oregon | $35.46 | $34.29 | #16 | 3,250 |
| Minnesota | $35.08 | $35.58 | #13 | 2,980 |
| West Virginia | $34.81 | $38.89 | #7 | 540 |
| Iowa | $31.95 | $36.39 | #11 | 1,650 |
| Oklahoma | $31.56 | $35.95 | #12 | 2,820 |
| North Dakota | $31.34 | $35.21 | #14 | 290 |
| Rhode Island | $31.30 | $30.60 | #28 | 370 |
| Michigan | $31.01 | $32.23 | #23 | 4,000 |
| Nebraska | $30.98 | $34.38 | #15 | 440 |
| Indiana | $30.79 | $33.00 | #20 | 4,580 |
| Missouri | $30.56 | $33.66 | #17 | 2,640 |
| Utah | $30.36 | $30.70 | #27 | 1,810 |
| Kansas | $30.13 | $33.44 | #18 | 1,730 |
| Maryland | $30.08 | $28.65 | #33 | 1,940 |
| Maine | $29.87 | $30.79 | #26 | 830 |
| Delaware | $29.55 | $29.61 | #31 | 440 |
| Montana | $29.53 | $31.22 | #24 | 410 |
| Pennsylvania | $29.52 | $30.25 | #30 | 3,260 |
| Kentucky | $29.17 | $32.34 | #22 | 2,210 |
| New Hampshire | $28.75 | $27.59 | #36 | 760 |
| Tennessee | $28.45 | $30.96 | #25 | 1,850 |
| Wyoming | $28.24 | $30.46 | #29 | 160 |
| Vermont | $28.00 | $28.57 | #34 | 370 |
| Colorado | $27.83 | $26.99 | #39 | 1,660 |
| Georgia | $27.31 | $28.36 | #35 | 3,590 |
| New Mexico | $27.27 | $29.58 | #32 | 640 |
| Texas | $26.08 | $26.86 | #40 | 9,540 |
| Virginia | $25.10 | $24.83 | #46 | 4,520 |
| North Carolina | $24.39 | $25.86 | #42 | 2,780 |
| Louisiana | $24.19 | $27.43 | #37 | 1,080 |
| Arizona | $24.16 | $23.99 | #47 | 3,060 |
| South Carolina | $24.00 | $25.61 | #44 | 1,710 |
| Florida | $23.87 | $23.09 | #49 | 8,040 |
| Mississippi | $23.80 | $27.36 | #38 | 1,260 |
| South Dakota | $22.98 | $25.94 | #41 | 320 |
| Alabama | $22.85 | $25.73 | #43 | 1,450 |
| Nevada | $22.47 | $22.47 | #50 | 1,270 |
| Idaho | $22.29 | $23.34 | #48 | 1,290 |
| Arkansas | $22.03 | $25.35 | #45 | 1,230 |
Sheet metal worker wages over time
Table
| Year | Nominal $/hr | In 2025 $ | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $14.09 | $27.23 | 231,690 |
| 2000 | $15.31 | $28.62 | 218,020 |
| 2001 | $15.97 | $29.03 | 207,960 |
| 2002 | $16.62 | $29.74 | 197,110 |
| 2003 | $16.83 | $29.45 | 189,590 |
| 2004 | $17.09 | $29.13 | 184,740 |
| 2005 | $17.50 | $28.85 | 174,550 |
| 2006 | $17.96 | $28.68 | 177,540 |
| 2007 | $18.85 | $29.27 | 167,730 |
| 2008 | $19.37 | $28.96 | 163,480 |
| 2009 | $19.54 | $29.32 | 146,690 |
| 2010 | $20.05 | $29.60 | 131,600 |
| 2011 | $20.55 | $29.41 | 130,670 |
| 2012 | $20.81 | $29.18 | 133,420 |
| 2013 | $21.10 | $29.16 | 134,110 |
| 2014 | $21.67 | $29.47 | 132,530 |
| 2015 | $21.99 | $29.87 | 135,570 |
| 2016 | $22.57 | $30.28 | 134,450 |
| 2017 | $23.07 | $30.30 | 132,920 |
| 2018 | $23.30 | $29.87 | 131,570 |
| 2019 | $24.23 | $30.51 | 131,300 |
| 2020 | $24.70 | $30.73 | 128,220 |
| 2021 | $25.69 | $30.52 | 122,630 |
| 2022 | $26.61 | $29.27 | 120,810 |
| 2023 | $28.26 | $29.86 | 116,190 |
| 2024 | $29.26 | $30.03 | 117,470 |
| 2025 | $29.71 | $29.71 | 119,770 |
Adjusted for inflation, the median sheet metal worker wage changed by -0.5% over the last ten years and by -2.6% since 2019.
Are there more sheet metal worker jobs than there used to be?
The BLS employer survey counted 119,770 sheet metal workers in May 2025, -11.7% compared with 135,570 ten years earlier and -8.8% since 2019.
Table
| Year | Jobs |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 231,690 |
| 2000 | 218,020 |
| 2001 | 207,960 |
| 2002 | 197,110 |
| 2003 | 189,590 |
| 2004 | 184,740 |
| 2005 | 174,550 |
| 2006 | 177,540 |
| 2007 | 167,730 |
| 2008 | 163,480 |
| 2009 | 146,690 |
| 2010 | 131,600 |
| 2011 | 130,670 |
| 2012 | 133,420 |
| 2013 | 134,110 |
| 2014 | 132,530 |
| 2015 | 135,570 |
| 2016 | 134,450 |
| 2017 | 132,920 |
| 2018 | 131,570 |
| 2019 | 131,300 |
| 2020 | 128,220 |
| 2021 | 122,630 |
| 2022 | 120,810 |
| 2023 | 116,190 |
| 2024 | 117,470 |
| 2025 | 119,770 |
Of the 13 states with a precise enough estimate to compare, 4 counted more sheet metal workers in 2025 than ten years earlier. The fastest growth was in Virginia (+23.2%, 3,670 to 4,520); the weakest was California (-34.9%).
| State | Jobs in 2015 | Jobs in 2025 | Change over 10 years | Since 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 3,670 | 4,520 | +23.2% | +3.4% |
| Michigan | 3,510 | 4,000 | +14.0% | +36.5% |
| Indiana | 4,120 | 4,580 | +11.2% | +12.5% |
| Florida | 7,310 | 8,040 | +10.0% | -2.4% |
| Ohio | 4,330 | 4,180 | -3.5% | +1.0% |
| Wisconsin | 3,330 | 3,180 | -4.5% | +6.0% |
| Washington | 3,630 | 3,440 | -5.2% | -19.4% |
| Illinois | 3,490 | 3,260 | -6.6% | -39.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 3,510 | 3,260 | -7.1% | +19.0% |
| Texas | 11,740 | 9,540 | -18.7% | -5.8% |
| New York | 8,300 | 6,570 | -20.8% | -2.2% |
| Georgia | 4,970 | 3,590 | -27.8% | -18.4% |
| California | 12,880 | 8,390 | -34.9% | -32.4% |
Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.
Where the sheet metal worker jobs are
Oklahoma has the highest concentration of sheet metal workers, 2.1× the national share, followed by Oregon (2.1×) and Idaho (1.9×). The lowest is Nebraska at 0.6×. Concentration says where the trade is a large part of the local economy; the job count says where the most positions are.
| State | Jobs | Jobs per 1,000 | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 2,820 | 1.6 | 2.1× |
| Oregon | 3,250 | 1.6 | 2.1× |
| Idaho | 1,290 | 1.5 | 1.9× |
| Indiana | 4,580 | 1.4 | 1.9× |
| Maine | 830 | 1.3 | 1.7× |
| Vermont | 370 | 1.2 | 1.6× |
| Kansas | 1,730 | 1.2 | 1.6× |
| Kentucky | 2,210 | 1.1 | 1.4× |
| New Hampshire | 760 | 1.1 | 1.4× |
| Virginia | 4,520 | 1.1 | 1.4× |
| Mississippi | 1,260 | 1.1 | 1.4× |
| Wisconsin | 3,180 | 1.1 | 1.4× |
| Iowa | 1,650 | 1.1 | 1.4× |
| Utah | 1,810 | 1.0 | 1.4× |
| Minnesota | 2,980 | 1.0 | 1.3× |
| Washington | 3,440 | 1.0 | 1.3× |
| Arizona | 3,060 | 0.9 | 1.2× |
| Arkansas | 1,230 | 0.9 | 1.2× |
| Delaware | 440 | 0.9 | 1.2× |
| Michigan | 4,000 | 0.9 | 1.2× |
| Missouri | 2,640 | 0.9 | 1.2× |
| Connecticut | 1,480 | 0.9 | 1.1× |
| Nevada | 1,270 | 0.8 | 1.1× |
| Florida | 8,040 | 0.8 | 1.1× |
| Montana | 410 | 0.8 | 1.0× |
| Massachusetts | 2,890 | 0.8 | 1.0× |
| Hawaii | 490 | 0.8 | 1.0× |
| West Virginia | 540 | 0.8 | 1.0× |
| Ohio | 4,180 | 0.8 | 1.0× |
| South Carolina | 1,710 | 0.7 | 1.0× |
| New Mexico | 640 | 0.7 | 1.0× |
| Rhode Island | 370 | 0.7 | 1.0× |
| Alaska | 240 | 0.7 | 0.9× |
| Georgia | 3,590 | 0.7 | 0.9× |
| Maryland | 1,940 | 0.7 | 0.9× |
| South Dakota | 320 | 0.7 | 0.9× |
| Alabama | 1,450 | 0.7 | 0.9× |
| New York | 6,570 | 0.7 | 0.9× |
| North Dakota | 290 | 0.7 | 0.9× |
| Texas | 9,540 | 0.7 | 0.9× |
| New Jersey | 2,790 | 0.7 | 0.8× |
| Colorado | 1,660 | 0.6 | 0.8× |
| North Carolina | 2,780 | 0.6 | 0.7× |
| Tennessee | 1,850 | 0.6 | 0.7× |
| Louisiana | 1,080 | 0.6 | 0.7× |
| Wyoming | 160 | 0.6 | 0.7× |
| Pennsylvania | 3,260 | 0.5 | 0.7× |
| Illinois | 3,260 | 0.5 | 0.7× |
| California | 8,390 | 0.5 | 0.6× |
| Nebraska | 440 | 0.4 | 0.6× |
Metros with the most sheet metal worker jobs
| Metro | Jobs | Median $/hr |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 6,080 | $36.89 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,890 | $27.04 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2,610 | $24.94 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2,550 | $24.63 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,440 | $34.96 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,430 | $45.82 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 2,340 | $35.08 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 2,330 | $39.69 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2,280 | $38.26 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,190 | $52.80 |
Highest-paying metros for sheet metal workers
| Metro | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $52.80 | $47.52 | #2 | $71.76 | 2,190 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $52.54 | $47.59 | #1 | $74.75 | 750 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49.35 | $42.69 | #5 | $74.42 | 880 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $45.82 | $44.23 | #3 | $58.81 | 2,430 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $39.82 | $43.05 | #4 | $55.11 | 1,080 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $39.69 | $36.65 | #10 | $58.20 | 2,330 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $38.71 | $36.21 | #13 | $55.36 | 500 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $38.50 | $34.41 | #17 | $60.84 | 1,480 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $38.26 | $36.30 | #11 | $61.27 | 2,280 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $37.90 | $39.11 | #8 | $57.38 | 1,020 |
| Columbus, OH | $37.39 | $39.15 | #7 | $46.61 | 760 |
| Cleveland, OH | $37.22 | $39.64 | #6 | $46.33 | 620 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $37.09 | $36.15 | #15 | $60.51 | 1,530 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $36.89 | $32.76 | #23 | $62.34 | 6,080 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $36.12 | $36.01 | #16 | $47.34 | 1,640 |
Metros with at least 500 sheet metal workers. Cost-of-living adjustment divides the median by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100); the adjusted rank is among the 57 metros with a parity.
Union scale and prevailing wage for sheet metal workers
Federal construction projects must pay the Davis-Bacon rate for each county. Where the rate comes from a union contract it is the local journeyman scale: base wage plus fringe (health, pension, training). Where it comes from a survey, it is often older and lower. This table summarises the Building-construction determination for sheet metal workers in every state.
| State | Counties with a union rate | Typical union package (base + fringe, $/hr) | Typical survey rate | Counties with a rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 95% | $106.14 | $54.72 | 21/21 |
| California | 91% | $91.19 | $34.34 | 58/58 |
| Connecticut | 100% | $89.20 | — | 8/8 |
| Oregon | 100% | $88.91 | — | 36/36 |
| Wisconsin | 100% | $87.13 | — | 72/72 |
| Alaska | 100% | $86.82 | — | 30/30 |
| Rhode Island | 100% | $86.36 | — | 5/5 |
| Hawaii | 100% | $83.48 | — | 5/5 |
| Pennsylvania | 93% | $82.68 | $54.90 | 67/67 |
| Massachusetts | 100% | $82.09 | — | 14/14 |
| Kansas | 92% | $79.33 | $35.20 | 105/105 |
| Missouri | 98% | $79.12 | $33.31 | 115/115 |
| Washington | 95% | $78.41 | $24.83 | 39/39 |
| District of Columbia | 100% | $76.62 | — | 1/1 |
| Virginia | 11% | $76.62 | $21.77 | 131/133 |
| Indiana | 96% | $74.88 | $20.27 | 92/92 |
| Delaware | 100% | $74.23 | — | 3/3 |
| Illinois | 100% | $71.05 | — | 102/102 |
| Arizona | 53% | $69.25 | $23.59 | 15/15 |
| New York | 98% | $66.77 | $45.86 | 51/62 |
| Kentucky | 98% | $65.98 | $43.13 | 120/120 |
| Colorado | 100% | $65.70 | — | 64/64 |
| Ohio | 88% | $65.39 | $51.51 | 88/88 |
| Montana | 98% | $62.07 | $28.70 | 56/56 |
| Utah | 100% | $61.68 | — | 29/29 |
| West Virginia | 54% | $60.24 | $41.29 | 52/55 |
| Nebraska | 100% | $59.52 | — | 93/93 |
| Iowa | 74% | $59.34 | $34.25 | 96/99 |
| Idaho | 100% | $58.02 | — | 44/44 |
| North Dakota | 19% | $57.01 | $35.32 | 53/53 |
| Michigan | 97% | $56.12 | $30.51 | 77/83 |
| New Mexico | 24% | $56.01 | $31.66 | 33/33 |
| Georgia | 66% | $55.69 | $15.77 | 159/159 |
| Vermont | 100% | $55.38 | — | 14/14 |
| Tennessee | 93% | $55.10 | $29.45 | 95/95 |
| Oklahoma | 39% | $49.74 | $16.32 | 77/77 |
| South Dakota | 52% | $48.15 | $30.05 | 66/66 |
| Texas | 10% | $46.83 | $17.00 | 254/254 |
| Louisiana | 39% | $44.58 | $32.63 | 64/64 |
| Mississippi | 13% | $44.33 | $20.63 | 82/82 |
| Florida | 46% | $43.78 | $20.05 | 67/67 |
| Arkansas | 73% | $42.66 | $26.81 | 56/75 |
| Alabama | 40% | $41.20 | $30.94 | 50/67 |
| Maryland | 0% | — | $75.53 | 24/24 |
| Maine | 0% | — | $18.89 | 11/16 |
| Minnesota | 0% | — | $78.71 | 86/87 |
| North Carolina | 0% | — | $14.71 | 100/100 |
| New Hampshire | 0% | — | $40.29 | 10/10 |
| Nevada | 0% | — | $83.70 | 17/17 |
| South Carolina | 0% | — | $16.00 | 27/46 |
| Wyoming | 0% | — | $39.74 | 23/23 |
Source: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions, Building construction type. Not the official determination; see each state page for county detail and links to the official text.
Job outlook
The BLS Employment Projections program expects the number of sheet metal workers to change by +2.5% over 2025-35, from 131,100 to 134,400, with about 9,800 openings a year.
Of those openings, 400 a year come from growth in the number of jobs and 9,400 from replacement: 3,700 for people who retire or leave the workforce and 5,700 for people who move to another occupation.
Sourcing change - share decreases as the use of prefabricated duct systems will reduce the need for sheet metal workers on residential construction sites.
BLS worker characteristics, 2025-35: typical education for entry: high school diploma or equivalent; related work experience: none; on-the-job training: apprenticeship. The Occupational Outlook Handbook entry describes the work.
What each state projects
State labor market agencies publish their own projections on a 2024–2034 cycle. Rhode Island projects the fastest growth for sheet metal workers at +30.3%; by openings, Florida (980 a year), Texas (950 a year), California (790 a year) lead. 50 states publish a figure for this occupation.
| State | Jobs, 2024 | Projected, 2034 | Change | Openings per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | 460 | 600 | +30.3% | 60 |
| Arizona | 3,270 | 3,880 | +18.8% | 350 |
| Wyoming | 190 | 220 | +18.2% | 20 |
| Colorado | 1,660 | 1,930 | +16.7% | 180 |
| Nevada | 1,220 | 1,420 | +16.2% | 120 |
| Delaware | 290 | 340 | +16.0% | 30 |
| Idaho | 1,980 | 2,280 | +15.5% | 200 |
| Florida | 10,100 | 11,370 | +12.6% | 980 |
| Montana | 610 | 680 | +12.0% | 60 |
| Mississippi | 1,220 | 1,360 | +11.5% | 120 |
| West Virginia | 560 | 620 | +11.1% | 50 |
| Tennessee | 2,620 | 2,900 | +10.8% | 250 |
| Utah | 1,940 | 2,130 | +9.8% | 180 |
| Arkansas | 920 | 1,010 | +9.7% | 90 |
| Kansas | 1,750 | 1,920 | +9.3% | 160 |
| Oregon | 3,110 | 3,390 | +9.1% | 290 |
| Wisconsin | 3,190 | 3,420 | +7.5% | 290 |
| Connecticut | 1,190 | 1,280 | +7.4% | 110 |
| Nebraska | 510 | 540 | +6.7% | 40 |
| South Carolina | 1,680 | 1,800 | +6.6% | 150 |
| Louisiana | 940 | 1,000 | +6.5% | 80 |
| Alabama | 1,750 | 1,860 | +6.3% | 160 |
| North Dakota | 390 | 420 | +5.9% | 30 |
| California | 9,100 | 9,600 | +5.5% | 790 |
| Texas | 10,870 | 11,440 | +5.3% | 950 |
| Georgia | 3,960 | 4,160 | +5.1% | 340 |
| Kentucky | 950 | 990 | +4.9% | 80 |
| South Dakota | 600 | 630 | +4.7% | 50 |
| Virginia | 3,090 | 3,230 | +4.6% | 300 |
| New Hampshire | 800 | 830 | +4.4% | 70 |
| Indiana | 3,740 | 3,900 | +4.1% | 320 |
| North Carolina | 3,090 | 3,220 | +4.1% | 260 |
| Maryland | 2,080 | 2,160 | +3.9% | 180 |
| New Mexico | 700 | 720 | +3.9% | 60 |
| Missouri | 4,060 | 4,220 | +3.8% | 350 |
| New Jersey | 1,810 | 1,880 | +3.8% | 150 |
| Iowa | 1,490 | 1,540 | +3.6% | 130 |
| Minnesota | 2,390 | 2,470 | +3.1% | 200 |
| Illinois | 4,330 | 4,400 | +1.7% | 360 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,630 | 2,670 | +1.6% | 220 |
| Hawaii | 490 | 500 | +1.4% | 40 |
| Ohio | 5,820 | 5,900 | +1.3% | 480 |
| Vermont | 490 | 490 | +0.8% | 40 |
| Alaska | 340 | 340 | +0.6% | 30 |
| District of Columbia | 90 | 90 | 0.0% | 10 |
| Washington | 4,360 | 4,350 | -0.1% | 350 |
| Maine | 950 | 950 | -0.6% | 80 |
| Michigan | 4,730 | 4,680 | -1.0% | 370 |
| Oklahoma | 2,970 | 2,910 | -2.0% | 230 |
| New York | 6,610 | 6,220 | -6.0% | 470 |
Source: state labor market information agencies via Projections Central, 2024–2034 projections. State base counts include the self-employed, so they run higher than the BLS survey count above.
Compare sheet metal worker pay with other trades
See how sheet metal worker pay compares with other trades on the ranking of all trades and the comparison pages.
Questions this page answers
How much do sheet metal workers make an hour?
Hourly pay runs from about $18.57 at the 10th percentile to $50.79 at the 90th, with a median of $29.71. Overtime, per-diem and union fringe benefits are not included in these figures.
What does a starting or apprentice sheet metal worker make?
Entry-level pay sits near the bottom of the distribution: roughly $18.57 to $22.99 an hour ($38,630 to $47,830 a year). Registered apprentices usually start at a fixed percentage of the local journeyman rate and step up every six to twelve months.
Which state pays sheet metal workers the most?
Washington had the highest median at $47.38 an hour in May 2025, followed by Hawaii ($46.32) and Alaska ($45.48). Adjusted for cost of living the order changes; see the state table.
Are sheet metal worker wages going up?
In today's dollars the median sheet metal worker wage changed by -0.5% over the last ten years of data (CPI-adjusted). The nominal median rose from $21.99 to $29.71.
Is sheet metal worker a good career?
By the numbers: median pay of $61,800 a year, a 90th percentile of $105,650, projected growth of +2.5% and about 9,800 openings a year. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself; this site only reports the pay and demand data.
Are sheet metal worker jobs growing?
The BLS employer survey counted 119,770 sheet metal workers in May 2025, -11.7% compared with ten years earlier and -8.8% since 2019. Looking ahead, BLS projects +2.5% growth over 2025-35 with about 9,800 openings a year, most of them replacing people who leave the occupation.
Which states will need the most sheet metal workers?
By projected annual openings, the state agencies' figures put Florida (980 a year, +12.6% growth), Texas (950 a year, +5.3% growth), California (790 a year, +5.5% growth) at the top. Every state's projection is in the outlook table above.
Where are sheet metal workers most concentrated?
Relative to the size of each state's workforce, Oklahoma has the highest concentration at 2.1× the national share, then Oregon (2.1×) and Idaho (1.9×). The largest absolute job counts are usually in the most populous states; see the map above.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2211 (Sheet metal workers). Wages exclude overtime and benefits; job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, 2024.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35 (Tables 1.2, 1.10 and 1.12). Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.
- State projections: state labor market information agencies via Projections Central (Projections Managing Partnership), 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05. State figures include the self-employed.