Skilled Wages

Sheet metal worker salary in Alabama

Median $22.85 an hour for 1,450 sheet metal workers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$22.85/hrMedian hourly wageAlabama, May data
$47,530/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$17.07 – $34.2610th to 90th percentilehourly range
1,450Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Sheet metal worker pay in Alabama: the full range

Wage percentiles, AlabamaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrAlabama: 10th $17.07 · 25th $20.33 · median $22.85 · 75th $28.21 · 90th $34.26Alabama$22.85$17.07$34.26United States: 10th $18.57 · 25th $22.99 · median $29.71 · 75th $39.24 · 90th $50.79United States$29.71
Hourly wage percentiles for sheet metal workers: Alabama vs United States, May 2025.

Alabama ranks 47th of 50 states for median sheet metal worker pay, and 43rd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $25.73). 1,450 sheet metal workers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.0× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$17.07 – $20.33$35,510 – $42,290roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$20.33 – $28.21$42,290 – $58,670the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$28.21 – $34.26$58,670 – $71,270the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Sheet metal worker pay by metro in Alabama

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrHuntsville: $24.74Huntsville$24.74Montgomery: $24.63Montgomery$24.63Daphne: $23.42Daphne$23.42Tuscaloosa: $23.14Tuscaloosa$23.14Birmingham: $23.12Birmingham$23.12Decatur: $22.57Decatur$22.57Dothan: $21.97Dothan$21.97Columbus: $21.49Columbus$21.49
Median hourly wage for sheet metal workers by metro area in Alabama, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Huntsville$20.83$24.74$26.57$41.491408% above
Montgomery$17.72$24.63$27.46$38.01808% above
Daphne$16.27$23.42$24.73$36.44602% above
Tuscaloosa$20.03$23.14$26.39$35.30301% above
Birmingham$17.07$23.12$25.24$34.265301% above
Decatur$17.17$22.57$25.88$28.31501% below
Dothan$16.41$21.97$26.22$29.61304% below
Columbus$17.17$21.49$24.06$30.61406% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Sheet metal worker wages in Alabama over time

Alabama, 1999-2025AlabamaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$0$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$29.71United States$22.85Alabama
Median hourly wage for sheet metal workers, Alabama vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearAlabama $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$11.65$22.51$14.095,660
2000$12.57$23.50$15.314,380
2001$12.32$22.40$15.973,870
2002$13.24$23.69$16.623,560
2003$12.44$21.77$16.833,490
2004$12.49$21.29$17.093,600
2005$13.75$22.67$17.503,670
2006$14.35$22.92$17.963,430
2007$15.19$23.59$18.853,330
2008$15.46$23.12$19.373,030
2009$15.46$23.20$19.542,840
2010$15.84$23.39$20.052,610
2011$15.97$22.86$20.552,150
2012$15.98$22.41$20.811,620
2013$17.37$24.01$21.101,410
2014$16.91$23.00$21.671,460
2015$17.85$24.25$21.991,260
2016$17.53$23.51$22.571,190
2017$17.76$23.33$23.071,090
2018$18.02$23.10$23.301,260
2019$19.73$24.85$24.231,200
2020$19.44$24.18$24.701,250
2021$18.30$21.74$25.69—
2022$17.70$19.47$26.612,300
2023$19.47$20.57$28.261,530
2024$22.16$22.74$29.261,630
2025$22.85$22.85$29.711,450

In today's dollars, the median sheet metal worker wage in Alabama changed by -5.8% over the last ten years of data and by -8.0% since 2019.

Are there more sheet metal worker jobs in Alabama?

0.7Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.9× the US share, 37th of 50 states

BLS counted 1,450 sheet metal workers in Alabama in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 16%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.

Outlook for sheet metal workers in Alabama

+6.3%Projected growth in Alabama2024–2034, state agency
160Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
1,750Jobs in 20241,860 projected for 2034
+2.5%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Alabama's labor market agency projects the number of sheet metal workers in the state to change by +6.3% between 2024 and 2034, from 1,750 to 1,860, with about 160 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +2.5% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 1,450 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Alabama labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for sheet metal workers in Alabama

On federally funded construction in Alabama, contractors must pay sheet metal workers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 20 of the 50 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $41.20 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $30.94). 30 of the 50 counties still use a survey rate dated 2017 or earlier (for example Autauga County at $16.16). The market median for the state is $22.85.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, ALAutauga: $16.16 (survey)Baldwin: $41.20 (union)Barbour: $30.94 (survey)Bibb: $32.17 (survey)Blount: $32.17 (survey)Bullock: $30.94 (survey)Butler: $30.94 (survey)Calhoun: $27.42 (survey)Chambers: n/aCherokee: n/aChilton: $32.17 (survey)Choctaw: $41.20 (union)Clarke: $41.20 (union)Clay: n/aCleburne: n/aCoffee: $30.94 (survey)Colbert: $50.99 (union)Conecuh: $41.20 (union)Coosa: n/aCovington: $30.94 (survey)Crenshaw: $30.94 (survey)Cullman: n/aDale: $30.94 (survey)Dallas: $41.20 (union)DeKalb: n/aElmore: $16.16 (survey)Escambia: $41.20 (union)Etowah: $27.42 (survey)Fayette: n/aFranklin: n/aGeneva: $27.79 (survey)Greene: $41.20 (union)Hale: $31.96 (survey)Henry: $27.79 (survey)Houston: $27.79 (survey)Jackson: n/aJefferson: $32.17 (survey)Lamar: n/aLauderdale: $50.99 (union)Lawrence: $50.99 (union)Lee: $14.78 (survey)Limestone: $23.12 (survey)Lowndes: $16.16 (survey)Macon: $30.94 (survey)Madison: $23.12 (survey)Marengo: $41.20 (union)Marion: n/aMarshall: n/aMobile: $41.20 (union)Monroe: $41.20 (union)Montgomery: $16.16 (survey)Morgan: $50.99 (union)Perry: $41.20 (union)Pickens: $31.96 (survey)Pike: $30.94 (survey)Randolph: n/aRussell: $50.99 (union)St. Clair: $32.17 (survey)Shelby: $32.17 (survey)Sumter: $41.20 (union)Talladega: n/aTallapoosa: n/aTuscaloosa: $50.99 (union)Walker: $32.17 (survey)Washington: $41.20 (union)Wilcox: $41.20 (union)Winston: n/aUnion / prevailing package, $/hr$27.79$30.94$35.78$41.20n/asurvey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for sheet metal workers by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)Prevailing (survey)$0$20$40$60/hrRussell (Columbus): market median $21.49, prevailing (union) $50.99, gap +$29.50Russell (Columbus)+$29.50Lawrence (Decatur): market median $22.57, prevailing (union) $50.99, gap +$28.42Lawrence (Decatur)+$28.42Colbert (Alabama): market median $22.85, prevailing (union) $50.99, gap +$28.14Colbert (Alabama)+$28.14Tuscaloosa (Tuscaloosa): market median $23.14, prevailing (union) $50.99, gap +$27.85Tuscaloosa (Tuscaloosa)+$27.85Baldwin (Daphne): market median $23.42, prevailing (union) $41.20, gap +$17.78Baldwin (Daphne)+$17.78Bibb (Birmingham): market median $23.12, prevailing (survey) $32.17, gap +$9.05Bibb (Birmingham)+$9.05Geneva (Dothan): market median $21.97, prevailing (survey) $27.79, gap +$5.82Geneva (Dothan)+$5.82Limestone (Huntsville): market median $24.74, prevailing (survey) $23.12, gap −$1.62Limestone (Huntsville)−$1.62Autauga (Montgomery): market median $24.63, prevailing (survey) $16.16, gap −$8.47Autauga (Montgomery)−$8.47
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for sheet metal workers, metro counties in Alabama.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
ColbertUnion SHEE0048-005 2025-06-01$30.50$20.49$50.99AL20260100
LauderdaleUnion SHEE0048-005 2025-06-01$30.50$20.49$50.99AL20260100
LawrenceUnion SHEE0048-005 2025-06-01$30.50$20.49$50.99AL20260088
MorganUnion SHEE0048-005 2025-06-01$30.50$20.49$50.99AL20260094
RussellUnion SHEE0048-005 2025-06-01$30.50$20.49$50.99AL20260095
TuscaloosaUnion SHEE0048-005 2025-06-01$30.50$20.49$50.99AL20260098
BaldwinUnion SHEE0441-009 2023-07-01$27.22$13.98$41.20AL20260083
ChoctawUnion SHEE0441-008 2023-07-01$27.22$13.98$41.20AL20260080
ClarkeUnion SHEE0441-008 2023-07-01$27.22$13.98$41.20AL20260073
ConecuhUnion SHEE0441-008 2023-07-01$27.22$13.98$41.20AL20260080
DallasUnion SHEE0441-008 2023-07-01$27.22$13.98$41.20AL20260080
EscambiaUnion SHEE0441-008 2023-07-01$27.22$13.98$41.20AL20260080
GreeneUnion SHEE0441-008 2023-07-01$27.22$13.98$41.20AL20260080
MarengoUnion SHEE0441-008 2023-07-01$27.22$13.98$41.20AL20260080
MobileUnion SHEE0441-009 2023-07-01$27.22$13.98$41.20AL20260092

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Alabama prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Alabama?

113.8kConstruction jobsAlabama, 2026-09
+2.6%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202660k80k100k120k19901995200020052010201520202025114kSep 2026
Construction employment in Alabama (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Contractor pay by county

Average pay at plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just sheet metal workers), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages. Across the 57 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 44,698 in 2015 to 62,190 in 2025, +39.1%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Jefferson County2813,486$82,619$1,589
Montgomery County66942$80,917$1,556
Mobile County1792,421$79,111$1,521
Shelby County1111,098$77,131$1,483
Lauderdale County39680$75,453$1,451
Morgan County64687$74,931$1,441
Franklin County1040$71,058$1,366
Madison County1531,486$70,148$1,349
Limestone County54512$69,230$1,331
Hale County6122$68,934$1,326
Elmore County46268$68,137$1,310
Cullman County54362$64,152$1,234

Keep comparing

Sheet metal worker pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Alabama

More on Alabama

Questions this page answers

How much do sheet metal workers make in Alabama?

The median sheet metal worker in Alabama earned $22.85 an hour ($47,530 a year) in May 2025, 23% below the national median of $29.71. The middle half earn $20.33–$28.21; the top 10% earn more than $34.26.

Where does Alabama rank for sheet metal worker pay?

Alabama ranks 47th of 50 states for sheet metal worker pay, with a median of $22.85 an hour, and 43rd after adjusting for Alabama's cost of living (BEA price parity 88.8, US = 100).

What is the union sheet metal worker rate in Alabama?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for sheet metal workers in 20 counties, with a typical package of $41.20 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many sheet metal workers work in Alabama?

BLS counted 1,450 sheet metal workers in Alabama in May 2025, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.89; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is sheet metal worker work growing in Alabama?

Alabama's labor market agency projects +6.3% growth for sheet metal workers between 2024 and 2034, from 1,750 to 1,860 jobs.

How many sheet metal worker openings a year are there in Alabama?

Alabama projects about 160 openings a year for sheet metal workers over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 9,800 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Alabama and metro areas, SOC 47-2211. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Alabama labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.