Sheet metal worker salary: what sheet metal workers actually make
BLS employer-survey wages for 119,770 sheet metal workers nationwide, plus the union scale contractors must pay on federal jobs.
What sheet metal workers earn: the full range
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.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $18.57 – $22.99 | $38,630 – $47,830 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.99 – $39.24 | $47,830 – $81,610 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $39.24 – $50.79 | $81,610 – $105,650 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification. Union journeyman scale by county is in the prevailing-wage section below.
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.
Highest-paying metros for sheet metal workers
| Metro | Median $/hr | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $52.80 | $71.76 | 2,190 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $52.54 | $74.75 | 750 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49.35 | $74.42 | 880 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $45.82 | $58.81 | 2,430 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $39.82 | $55.11 | 1,080 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $39.69 | $58.20 | 2,330 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $38.71 | $55.36 | 500 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $38.50 | $60.84 | 1,480 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $38.26 | $61.27 | 2,280 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $37.90 | $57.38 | 1,020 |
| Columbus, OH | $37.39 | $46.61 | 760 |
| Cleveland, OH | $37.22 | $46.33 | 620 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $37.09 | $60.51 | 1,530 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $36.89 | $62.34 | 6,080 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $36.12 | $47.34 | 1,640 |
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 | — | 8/17 |
| 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 | 9% | $76.62 | $22.04 | 102/133 |
| 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% | — | $80.65 | 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 sheet metal workers employment to change by +2.5% over 2025-35, with about 9,800 openings a year from growth and people leaving the occupation. Typical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent.
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?
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.
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.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2211 (Sheet metal workers). Wages exclude overtime and benefits.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, latest year.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national. Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.