Skilled Wages

Sheet metal worker salary in California

Median $36.82 an hour for 8,390 sheet metal workers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$36.82/hrMedian hourly wageCalifornia, May data
$76,590/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$22.79 – $63.5510th to 90th percentilehourly range
8,390Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Sheet metal worker pay in California: the full range

Wage percentiles, CaliforniaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$20$40$60$80/hrCalifornia: 10th $22.79 · 25th $28.47 · median $36.82 · 75th $51.62 · 90th $63.55California$36.82$22.79$63.55United 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: California vs United States, May 2025.

California ranks 9th of 50 states for median sheet metal worker pay, and 19th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $33.26). 8,390 sheet metal workers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.8× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$22.79 – $28.47$47,410 – $59,220roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$28.47 – $51.62$59,220 – $107,360the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$51.62 – $63.55$107,360 – $132,190the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Sheet metal worker pay by metro in California

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrSan Jose: $52.54San Jose$52.54San Francisco: $49.35San Francisco$49.35Salinas: $40.13Salinas$40.13San Diego: $38.50San Diego$38.50Visalia: $38.42Visalia$38.42Hanford: $36.88Hanford$36.88Sacramento: $35.97Sacramento$35.97Bakersfield: $35.91Bakersfield$35.91Santa Rosa: $35.79Santa Rosa$35.79Fresno: $35.51Fresno$35.51Los Angeles: $34.96Los Angeles$34.96Modesto: $34.07Modesto$34.07
Median hourly wage for sheet metal workers by metro area in California, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
San Jose$26.35$52.54$47.59$74.7575043% above
San Francisco$26.71$49.35$42.69$74.4288034% above
Salinas$25.05$40.13$36.82$65.29609% above
San Diego$22.81$38.50$34.41$60.841,4805% above
Visalia$21.21$38.42$38.50$60.051004% above
Hanford$28.97$36.88$36.30$47.9240about the same as
Sacramento$22.90$35.97$33.71$62.415802% below
Bakersfield$21.77$35.91$35.59$54.671702% below
Santa Rosa$23.65$35.79$33.20$77.651103% below
Fresno$21.69$35.51$34.75$61.712004% below
Los Angeles$22.70$34.96$30.77$62.122,4405% below
Modesto$22.51$34.07$32.73$62.11807% below
Santa Maria$22.54$33.86$31.12$63.97908% below
Stockton$21.89$33.22$31.61$61.247010% below
Riverside$21.57$33.07$31.08$60.5875010% below
Vallejo$23.70$31.61$29.13$45.7212014% below
Oxnard$22.36$30.06$27.20$61.8312018% below

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

Sheet metal worker wages in California over time

California, 1999-2025CaliforniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40$50200020052010201520202025$36.82California$29.71United States
Median hourly wage for sheet metal workers, California vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearCalifornia $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$14.32$27.67$14.0919,720
2000$16.22$30.32$15.3120,320
2001$17.98$32.69$15.9721,010
2002$18.54$33.18$16.6221,180
2003$18.83$32.95$16.8320,330
2004$19.91$33.93$17.0920,010
2005$21.24$35.01$17.5017,370
2006$20.93$33.42$17.9617,690
2007$22.06$34.25$18.8516,490
2008$23.33$34.89$19.3715,810
2009$24.52$36.80$19.5413,220
2010$26.13$38.58$20.0512,600
2011$25.84$36.98$20.5511,300
2012$25.71$36.05$20.8112,190
2013$25.97$35.89$21.1012,870
2014$26.61$36.19$21.6713,300
2015$27.02$36.70$21.9912,880
2016$26.83$35.99$22.5713,050
2017$26.16$34.36$23.0711,680
2018$25.77$33.04$23.3011,720
2019$27.72$34.91$24.2312,410
2020$29.34$36.50$24.7012,600
2021$30.54$36.28$25.6912,530
2022$36.59$40.25$26.6111,310
2023$36.95$39.04$28.2610,280
2024$38.28$39.29$29.269,180
2025$36.82$36.82$29.718,390

In today's dollars, the median sheet metal worker wage in California changed by +0.3% over the last ten years of data and by +5.5% since 2019.

Are there more sheet metal worker jobs in California?

-32.4%Jobs since 201912,410 then, 8,390 in 2025
-34.9%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
0.5Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.6× the US share, 49th of 50 states

Since 1999, the number of sheet metal workers counted in California has changed by -57.5%, against -48.3% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -32.4%.

Sheet metal workers in California vs United States, 1999 = 100CaliforniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages2040608010012020002005201020152020202552United States42California
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, California vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearCalifornia jobsCalifornia indexUS index
199919,720100100
200020,32010394
200121,01010690
200221,18010785
200320,33010382
200420,01010280
200517,3708875
200617,6909077
200716,4908472
200815,8108071
200913,2206763
201012,6006457
201111,3005756
201212,1906258
201312,8706558
201413,3006757
201512,8806558
201613,0506658
201711,6805957
201811,7205957
201912,4106357
202012,6006455
202112,5306453
202211,3105752
202310,2805250
20249,1804751
20258,3904252

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.

Outlook for sheet metal workers in California

+5.5%Projected growth in California2024–2034, state agency
790Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
9,100Jobs in 20249,600 projected for 2034
+2.5%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

California's labor market agency projects the number of sheet metal workers in the state to change by +5.5% between 2024 and 2034, from 9,100 to 9,600, with about 790 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +2.5% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 8,390 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: California 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 California

On federally funded construction in California, contractors must pay sheet metal workers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 53 of the 58 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $91.19 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $34.34). 5 of the 58 counties still use a survey rate dated 1985 or earlier (for example Amador County at $25.63). The market median for the state is $36.82.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, CAAlameda: $89.34 (union)Alpine: $95.59 (union)Amador: $25.63 (survey)Butte: $95.59 (union)Calaveras: $89.34 (union)Colusa: $95.59 (union)Contra Costa: $89.34 (union)Del Norte: $34.34 (survey)El Dorado: $95.59 (union)Fresno: $89.34 (union)Glenn: $95.59 (union)Humboldt: $34.34 (survey)Imperial: $82.37 (union)Inyo: $89.74 (union)Kern: $89.74 (union)Kings: $89.34 (union)Lake: $34.34 (survey)Lassen: $95.59 (union)Los Angeles: $46.20 (union)Madera: $89.34 (union)Marin: $95.59 (union)Mariposa: $89.34 (union)Mendocino: $34.34 (survey)Merced: $89.34 (union)Modoc: $95.59 (union)Mono: $89.74 (union)Monterey: $89.34 (union)Napa: $95.59 (union)Nevada: $95.59 (union)Orange: $89.74 (union)Placer: $95.59 (union)Plumas: $95.59 (union)Riverside: $89.74 (union)Sacramento: $95.59 (union)San Benito: $89.34 (union)San Bernardino: $89.74 (union)San Diego: $84.37 (union)San Francisco: $89.34 (union)San Joaquin: $89.34 (union)San Luis Obispo: $91.19 (union)San Mateo: $89.34 (union)Santa Barbara: $91.19 (union)Santa Clara: $89.34 (union)Santa Cruz: $89.34 (union)Shasta: $95.59 (union)Sierra: $95.59 (union)Siskiyou: $95.59 (union)Solano: $95.59 (union)Sonoma: $95.59 (union)Stanislaus: $89.34 (union)Sutter: $95.59 (union)Tehama: $95.59 (union)Trinity: $95.59 (union)Tulare: $96.88 (union)Tuolumne: $89.34 (union)Ventura: $91.19 (union)Yolo: $95.59 (union)Yuba: $95.59 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$89.34$95.59survey 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)$20$40$60$80$100$120/hrSolano (Vallejo): market median $31.61, prevailing (union) $95.59, gap +$63.98Solano (Vallejo)+$63.98Ventura (Oxnard): market median $30.06, prevailing (union) $91.19, gap +$61.13Ventura (Oxnard)+$61.13Sonoma (Santa Rosa): market median $35.79, prevailing (union) $95.59, gap +$59.80Sonoma (Santa Rosa)+$59.80El Dorado (Sacramento): market median $35.97, prevailing (union) $95.59, gap +$59.62El Dorado (Sacramento)+$59.62Butte (California): market median $36.82, prevailing (union) $95.59, gap +$58.77Butte (California)+$58.77Tulare (Visalia): market median $38.42, prevailing (union) $96.88, gap +$58.46Tulare (Visalia)+$58.46Santa Barbara (Santa Maria): market median $33.86, prevailing (union) $91.19, gap +$57.33Santa Barbara (Santa Maria)+$57.33Riverside (Riverside): market median $33.07, prevailing (union) $89.74, gap +$56.67Riverside (Riverside)+$56.67San Joaquin (Stockton): market median $33.22, prevailing (union) $89.34, gap +$56.12San Joaquin (Stockton)+$56.12Stanislaus (Modesto): market median $34.07, prevailing (union) $89.34, gap +$55.27Stanislaus (Modesto)+$55.27Orange (Los Angeles): market median $34.96, prevailing (union) $89.74, gap +$54.78Orange (Los Angeles)+$54.78Fresno (Fresno): market median $35.51, prevailing (union) $89.34, gap +$53.83Fresno (Fresno)+$53.83Kern (Bakersfield): market median $35.91, prevailing (union) $89.74, gap +$53.83Kern (Bakersfield)+$53.83Kings (Hanford): market median $36.88, prevailing (union) $89.34, gap +$52.46Kings (Hanford)+$52.46Monterey (Salinas): market median $40.13, prevailing (union) $89.34, gap +$49.21Monterey (Salinas)+$49.21Marin (San Francisco): market median $49.35, prevailing (union) $95.59, gap +$46.24Marin (San Francisco)+$46.24San Diego (San Diego): market median $38.50, prevailing (union) $84.37, gap +$45.87San Diego (San Diego)+$45.87San Benito (San Jose): market median $52.54, prevailing (union) $89.34, gap +$36.80San Benito (San Jose)+$36.80
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for sheet metal workers, metro counties in California.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
TulareUnion SHEE0104-008 2026-06-29$54.49$42.39$96.88CA20260016
AlpineUnion SHEE0104-010 2026-06-29$56.96$38.63$95.59CA20260007
ButteUnion SHEE0104-010 2026-06-29$56.96$38.63$95.59CA20260007
ColusaUnion SHEE0104-010 2026-06-29$56.96$38.63$95.59CA20260007
El DoradoUnion SHEE0104-010 2026-06-29$56.96$38.63$95.59CA20260007
GlennUnion SHEE0104-010 2026-06-29$56.96$38.63$95.59CA20260007
LassenUnion SHEE0104-010 2026-06-29$56.96$38.63$95.59CA20260007
MarinUnion SHEE0104-010 2026-06-29$56.96$38.63$95.59CA20260007
ModocUnion SHEE0104-010 2026-06-29$56.96$38.63$95.59CA20260007
NapaUnion SHEE0104-010 2026-06-29$56.96$38.63$95.59CA20260007
NevadaUnion SHEE0104-010 2026-06-29$56.96$38.63$95.59CA20260007
PlacerUnion SHEE0104-010 2026-06-29$56.96$38.63$95.59CA20260007
PlumasUnion SHEE0104-010 2026-06-29$56.96$38.63$95.59CA20260007
SacramentoUnion SHEE0104-010 2026-06-29$56.96$38.63$95.59CA20260007
ShastaUnion SHEE0104-010 2026-06-29$56.96$38.63$95.59CA20260007

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

Is construction work growing in California?

895.7kConstruction jobsCalifornia, 2026-09
-0.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026200k400k600k800k1,000k1,200k19901995200020052010201520202025896kSep 2026
Construction employment in California (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 54 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 473,902 in 2015 to 577,497 in 2025, +21.9%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
San Francisco County1791,646$129,468$2,490
Alameda County4237,792$118,700$2,283
Santa Clara County5487,833$118,066$2,271
San Mateo County2522,454$111,096$2,136
Contra Costa County3423,535$104,357$2,007
Orange County1,15615,786$98,548$1,895
Sonoma County2782,094$93,066$1,790
Inyo County652$89,882$1,728
Sacramento County4946,629$89,749$1,726
San Diego County1,17313,107$87,605$1,685
Placer County2112,787$86,152$1,657
Tulare County1201,662$83,474$1,605

Keep comparing

Sheet metal worker pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in California

More on California

Questions this page answers

How much do sheet metal workers make in California?

The median sheet metal worker in California earned $36.82 an hour ($76,590 a year) in May 2025, 24% above the national median of $29.71. The middle half earn $28.47–$51.62; the top 10% earn more than $63.55.

Where does California rank for sheet metal worker pay?

California ranks 9th of 50 states for sheet metal worker pay, with a median of $36.82 an hour, and 19th after adjusting for California's cost of living (BEA price parity 110.7, US = 100).

What is the union sheet metal worker rate in California?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for sheet metal workers in 53 counties, with a typical package of $91.19 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many sheet metal workers work in California?

BLS counted 8,390 sheet metal workers in California in May 2025, 0.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.60; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is sheet metal worker work growing in California?

The BLS employer survey count of sheet metal workers in California went from 12,880 in 2015 to 8,390 in 2025, -34.9%, and -32.4% since 2019. California's labor market agency projects +5.5% growth for sheet metal workers between 2024 and 2034, from 9,100 to 9,600 jobs.

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

California projects about 790 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, California 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: California labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.