Skilled Wages

Sheet metal worker salary in Arkansas

Median $22.03 an hour for 1,230 sheet metal workers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$22.03/hrMedian hourly wageArkansas, May data
$45,820/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$17.21 – $27.5910th to 90th percentilehourly range
1,230Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Sheet metal worker pay in Arkansas: the full range

Wage percentiles, ArkansasMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrArkansas: 10th $17.21 · 25th $18.48 · median $22.03 · 75th $23.20 · 90th $27.59Arkansas$22.03$17.21$27.59United 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: Arkansas vs United States, May 2025.

Arkansas ranks 50th of 50 states for median sheet metal worker pay, and 45th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $25.35). 1,230 sheet metal workers work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.6× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$17.21 – $18.48$35,800 – $38,440roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$18.48 – $23.20$38,440 – $48,260the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$23.20 – $27.59$48,260 – $57,380the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Sheet metal worker pay by metro in Arkansas

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrMemphis: $29.22Memphis$29.22Texarkana: $23.60Texarkana$23.60Little Rock: $22.53Little Rock$22.53Fort Smith: $22.22Fort Smith$22.22Fayetteville: $21.95Fayetteville$21.95Jonesboro: $20.80Jonesboro$20.80Hot Springs: $18.74Hot Springs$18.74
Median hourly wage for sheet metal workers by metro area in Arkansas, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Memphis$19.03$29.22$31.69$39.3531033% above
Texarkana$14.37$23.60$28.10$32.73507% above
Little Rock$17.86$22.53$25.20$27.593802% above
Fort Smith$14.61$22.22$25.87$37.76601% above
Fayetteville$17.70$21.95$24.02$27.25250about the same as
Jonesboro$12.04$20.80$24.21$24.21606% below
Hot Springs$18.40$18.74$21.87$24.6311015% below

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

Sheet metal worker wages in Arkansas over time

Arkansas, 1999-2025ArkansasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$0$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$29.71United States$22.03Arkansas
Median hourly wage for sheet metal workers, Arkansas vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearArkansas $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$11.48$22.18$14.091,650
2000$11.09$20.73$15.312,250
2001$12.84$23.34$15.971,640
2002$14.05$25.14$16.621,300
2003$13.16$23.03$16.831,230
2004$12.40$21.13$17.091,640
2005$12.72$20.97$17.501,570
2006$13.03$20.81$17.962,270
2007$13.48$20.93$18.852,270
2008$13.70$20.49$19.372,190
2009$13.84$20.77$19.541,620
2010$13.80$20.37$20.051,360
2011$14.83$21.23$20.551,370
2012$15.54$21.79$20.811,510
2013$16.17$22.35$21.101,340
2014$16.45$22.37$21.671,170
2015$16.40$22.28$21.991,360
2016$17.36$23.29$22.571,280
2017$17.26$22.67$23.071,430
2018$17.10$21.92$23.301,060
2019$17.41$21.92$24.231,230
2020$17.95$22.33$24.70930
2021$18.30$21.74$25.69850
2022$20.44$22.49$26.61820
2023$19.34$20.43$28.26930
2024$20.50$21.04$29.26850
2025$22.03$22.03$29.711,230

In today's dollars, the median sheet metal worker wage in Arkansas changed by -1.1% over the last ten years of data and by +0.5% since 2019.

Are there more sheet metal worker jobs in Arkansas?

0.9Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.2× the US share, 18th of 50 states

BLS counted 1,230 sheet metal workers in Arkansas in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 10%. 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 Arkansas

+9.7%Projected growth in Arkansas2024–2034, state agency
90Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
920Jobs in 20241,010 projected for 2034
+2.5%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Arkansas's labor market agency projects the number of sheet metal workers in the state to change by +9.7% between 2024 and 2034, from 920 to 1,010, with about 90 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +2.5% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 1,230 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Arkansas 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 Arkansas

On federally funded construction in Arkansas, contractors must pay sheet metal workers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 41 of the 56 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $42.66 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $26.81). 15 of the 56 counties still use a survey rate dated 2017 or earlier (for example Calhoun County at $26.81). The market median for the state is $22.03.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, ARArkansas: $42.66 (union)Ashley: $42.66 (union)Baxter: n/aBenton: n/aBoone: n/aBradley: $42.66 (union)Calhoun: $26.81 (survey)Carroll: n/aChicot: $42.66 (union)Clark: $26.81 (survey)Clay: $42.66 (union)Cleburne: $42.66 (union)Cleveland: $42.66 (union)Columbia: $26.81 (survey)Conway: n/aCraighead: $42.66 (union)Crawford: $22.98 (survey)Crittenden: $42.66 (union)Cross: $42.66 (union)Dallas: $26.81 (survey)Desha: $42.66 (union)Drew: $42.66 (union)Faulkner: $42.66 (union)Franklin: n/aFulton: $42.66 (union)Garland: $42.66 (union)Grant: $42.66 (union)Greene: $42.66 (union)Hempstead: $26.81 (survey)Hot Spring: n/aHoward: $26.81 (survey)Independence: $42.66 (union)Izard: $42.66 (union)Jackson: $42.66 (union)Jefferson: $42.66 (union)Johnson: n/aLafayette: $26.81 (survey)Lawrence: $42.66 (union)Lee: $42.66 (union)Lincoln: $42.66 (union)Little River: $42.66 (union)Logan: n/aLonoke: $42.66 (union)Madison: $23.68 (survey)Marion: n/aMiller: $42.66 (union)Mississippi: $42.66 (union)Monroe: $42.66 (union)Montgomery: $26.81 (survey)Nevada: n/aNewton: n/aOuachita: $26.81 (survey)Perry: $42.66 (union)Phillips: $42.66 (union)Pike: $26.81 (survey)Poinsett: $42.66 (union)Polk: n/aPope: n/aPrairie: $42.66 (union)Pulaski: $42.66 (union)Randolph: $42.66 (union)St. Francis: $42.66 (union)Saline: $42.66 (union)Scott: n/aSearcy: n/aSebastian: $22.98 (survey)Sevier: $26.81 (survey)Sharp: $42.66 (union)Stone: $42.66 (union)Union: n/aVan Buren: n/aWashington: $25.47 (survey)White: $42.66 (union)Woodruff: $42.66 (union)Yell: n/aUnion / prevailing package, $/hr$26.81n/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)$10$20$30$40$50/hrGarland (Hot Springs): market median $18.74, prevailing (union) $42.66, gap +$23.92Garland (Hot Springs)+$23.92Craighead (Jonesboro): market median $20.80, prevailing (union) $42.66, gap +$21.86Craighead (Jonesboro)+$21.86Faulkner (Little Rock): market median $22.53, prevailing (union) $42.66, gap +$20.13Faulkner (Little Rock)+$20.13Little River (Texarkana): market median $23.60, prevailing (union) $42.66, gap +$19.06Little River (Texarkana)+$19.06Crittenden (Memphis): market median $29.22, prevailing (union) $42.66, gap +$13.44Crittenden (Memphis)+$13.44Washington (Fayetteville): market median $21.95, prevailing (survey) $25.47, gap +$3.52Washington (Fayetteville)+$3.52Crawford (Fort Smith): market median $22.22, prevailing (survey) $22.98, gap +$0.76Crawford (Fort Smith)+$0.76
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for sheet metal workers, metro counties in Arkansas.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
ArkansasUnion SHEE0036-035 2024-06-01$26.99$15.67$42.66AR20260018
AshleyUnion SHEE0036-035 2024-06-01$26.99$15.67$42.66AR20260018
BradleyUnion SHEE0036-035 2024-06-01$26.99$15.67$42.66AR20260018
ChicotUnion SHEE0036-035 2024-06-01$26.99$15.67$42.66AR20260018
ClayUnion SHEE0036-035 2024-06-01$26.99$15.67$42.66AR20260021
CleburneUnion SHEE0036-035 2024-06-01$26.99$15.67$42.66AR20260022
ClevelandUnion SHEE0036-034 2024-06-01$26.99$15.67$42.66AR20260036
CraigheadUnion SHEE0036-034 2024-06-01$26.99$15.67$42.66AR20260024
CrittendenUnion SHEE0036-034 2024-06-01$26.99$15.67$42.66AR20260026
CrossUnion SHEE0036-035 2024-06-01$26.99$15.67$42.66AR20260021
DeshaUnion SHEE0036-035 2024-06-01$26.99$15.67$42.66AR20260018
DrewUnion SHEE0036-035 2024-06-01$26.99$15.67$42.66AR20260004
FaulknerUnion SHEE0036-034 2024-06-01$26.99$15.67$42.66AR20260027
FultonUnion SHEE0036-035 2024-06-01$26.99$15.67$42.66AR20260021
GarlandUnion SHEE0036-034 2024-06-01$26.99$15.67$42.66AR20260028

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

Is construction work growing in Arkansas?

68.0kConstruction jobsArkansas, 2026-09
+1.8%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202620k40k60k80k1990199520002005201020152020202568kSep 2026
Construction employment in Arkansas (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 60 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 28,946 in 2015 to 39,465 in 2025, +36.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Union County14222$99,027$1,904
Washington County1211,777$71,231$1,370
Pope County29165$71,218$1,370
Pulaski County1491,608$67,286$1,294
Benton County1431,204$63,808$1,227
Saline County80790$60,490$1,163
Independence County14218$59,914$1,152
Crawford County29230$58,705$1,129
Lonoke County44365$57,889$1,113
Sebastian County50643$57,425$1,104
Grant County976$56,782$1,092
Marion County1028$54,922$1,056

Keep comparing

Sheet metal worker pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Arkansas

More on Arkansas

Questions this page answers

How much do sheet metal workers make in Arkansas?

The median sheet metal worker in Arkansas earned $22.03 an hour ($45,820 a year) in May 2025, 26% below the national median of $29.71. The middle half earn $18.48–$23.20; the top 10% earn more than $27.59.

Where does Arkansas rank for sheet metal worker pay?

Arkansas ranks 50th of 50 states for sheet metal worker pay, with a median of $22.03 an hour, and 45th after adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (BEA price parity 86.9, US = 100).

What is the union sheet metal worker rate in Arkansas?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for sheet metal workers in 41 counties, with a typical package of $42.66 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many sheet metal workers work in Arkansas?

BLS counted 1,230 sheet metal workers in Arkansas in May 2025, 0.9 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.22; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is sheet metal worker work growing in Arkansas?

Arkansas's labor market agency projects +9.7% growth for sheet metal workers between 2024 and 2034, from 920 to 1,010 jobs.

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

Arkansas projects about 90 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, Arkansas 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: Arkansas labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.