Sheet metal worker salary in Alaska
Median $45.48 an hour for 240 sheet metal workers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Sheet metal worker pay in Alaska: the full range
Alaska ranks 3rd of 50 states for median sheet metal worker pay, and 1st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $44.41). 240 sheet metal workers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.4× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $23.70 – $27.74 | $49,300 – $57,690 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $27.74 – $49.77 | $57,690 – $103,520 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $49.77 – $56.05 | $103,520 – $116,580 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Sheet metal worker pay by metro in Alaska
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $23.70 | $47.15 | $44.73 | $56.05 | 160 | 4% above |
| Fairbanks | $23.46 | $36.42 | $35.29 | $56.17 | 50 | 20% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Sheet metal worker wages in Alaska over time
Table
| Year | Alaska $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $22.80 | $44.06 | $14.09 | 440 |
| 2000 | $23.36 | $43.67 | $15.31 | 470 |
| 2001 | $25.34 | $46.06 | $15.97 | 440 |
| 2002 | $20.66 | $36.97 | $16.62 | 510 |
| 2003 | $25.84 | $45.21 | $16.83 | 470 |
| 2004 | $24.15 | $41.16 | $17.09 | — |
| 2005 | $27.72 | $45.70 | $17.50 | 500 |
| 2006 | $22.98 | $36.70 | $17.96 | 510 |
| 2007 | $24.95 | $38.74 | $18.85 | 640 |
| 2008 | $26.97 | $40.33 | $19.37 | 520 |
| 2009 | $29.03 | $43.56 | $19.54 | — |
| 2010 | $27.25 | $40.23 | $20.05 | 360 |
| 2011 | $27.56 | $39.45 | $20.55 | 410 |
| 2012 | $30.61 | $42.92 | $20.81 | 230 |
| 2013 | $32.12 | $44.39 | $21.10 | 270 |
| 2014 | $29.63 | $40.29 | $21.67 | 270 |
| 2015 | $35.96 | $48.84 | $21.99 | 530 |
| 2016 | $40.62 | $54.49 | $22.57 | 450 |
| 2017 | $41.05 | $53.92 | $23.07 | 470 |
| 2018 | $29.34 | $37.62 | $23.30 | 260 |
| 2019 | $24.18 | $30.45 | $24.23 | 230 |
| 2020 | $28.34 | $35.25 | $24.70 | 170 |
| 2021 | $46.40 | $55.13 | $25.69 | 310 |
| 2022 | $45.50 | $50.05 | $26.61 | 330 |
| 2023 | $47.88 | $50.59 | $28.26 | 240 |
| 2024 | $39.79 | $40.84 | $29.26 | 210 |
| 2025 | $45.48 | $45.48 | $29.71 | 240 |
In today's dollars, the median sheet metal worker wage in Alaska changed by -6.9% over the last ten years of data and by +49.4% since 2019.
Are there more sheet metal worker jobs in Alaska?
BLS counted 240 sheet metal workers in Alaska in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 32%. 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 Alaska
Alaska's labor market agency projects the number of sheet metal workers in the state to change by +0.6% between 2024 and 2034, from 340 to 340, with about 30 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +2.5% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 240 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Alaska 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 Alaska
On federally funded construction in Alaska, contractors must pay sheet metal workers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 30 of the 30 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $86.82 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $45.48.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aleutians East | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Aleutians West | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Anchorage | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Bethel | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Bristol Bay | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Chugach | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Copper River | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Denali | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Dillingham | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Fairbanks North Star | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Haines | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Hoonah-Angoon | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Juneau | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Kenai Peninsula | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Ketchikan Gateway | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Kodiak Island | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Kusilvak | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Lake and Peninsula | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Matanuska-Susitna | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Nome | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| North Slope | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Northwest Arctic | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Petersburg | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Prince of Wales-Hyder | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Sitka | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Skagway | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Southeast Fairbanks | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Wrangell | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Yakutat | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
| Yukon-Koyukuk | Union SHEE0023-003 2026-07-01 | $55.10 | $31.72 | $86.82 | AK20260001 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Alaska prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Alaska?
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 10 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 7,994 in 2015 to 7,572 in 2025, -5.3%.
| County | Establishments | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage Municipality | 86 | 983 | $97,706 | $1,879 |
| Ketchikan Gateway Borough | 4 | 37 | $90,608 | $1,742 |
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 56 | 362 | $81,355 | $1,565 |
| Juneau City and Borough | 17 | 103 | $75,851 | $1,459 |
Keep comparing
Sheet metal worker pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Alaska
More on Alaska
Questions this page answers
How much do sheet metal workers make in Alaska?
The median sheet metal worker in Alaska earned $45.48 an hour ($94,600 a year) in May 2025, 53% above the national median of $29.71. The middle half earn $27.74–$49.77; the top 10% earn more than $56.05.
Where does Alaska rank for sheet metal worker pay?
Alaska ranks 3rd of 50 states for sheet metal worker pay, with a median of $45.48 an hour, and 1st after adjusting for Alaska's cost of living (BEA price parity 102.4, US = 100).
What is the union sheet metal worker rate in Alaska?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for sheet metal workers in 30 counties, with a typical package of $86.82 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many sheet metal workers work in Alaska?
BLS counted 240 sheet metal workers in Alaska in May 2025, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.95; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is sheet metal worker work growing in Alaska?
Alaska's labor market agency projects +0.6% growth for sheet metal workers between 2024 and 2034, from 340 to 340 jobs.
How many sheet metal worker openings a year are there in Alaska?
Alaska projects about 30 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, Alaska 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: Alaska labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.