Skilled Wages

Sheet metal worker salary in Illinois

Median $41.65 an hour for 3,260 sheet metal workers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$41.65/hrMedian hourly wageIllinois, May data
$86,630/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$20.30 – $56.6910th to 90th percentilehourly range
3,260Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Sheet metal worker pay in Illinois: the full range

Wage percentiles, IllinoisMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$20$40$60/hrIllinois: 10th $20.30 · 25th $28.56 · median $41.65 · 75th $50.64 · 90th $56.69Illinois$41.65$20.30$56.69United 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: Illinois vs United States, May 2025.

Illinois ranks 5th of 50 states for median sheet metal worker pay, and 4th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $41.65). 3,260 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$20.30 – $28.56$42,220 – $59,400roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$28.56 – $50.64$59,400 – $105,330the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$50.64 – $56.69$105,330 – $117,910the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Sheet metal worker pay by metro in Illinois

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrChicago: $45.82Chicago$45.82Champaign: $44.57Champaign$44.57Springfield: $43.43Springfield$43.43Peoria: $41.89Peoria$41.89Paducah: $37.99Paducah$37.99Rockford: $37.81Rockford$37.81Davenport: $34.80Davenport$34.80St. Louis: $31.77St. Louis$31.77Cape Girardeau: $27.50Cape Girardeau$27.50
Median hourly wage for sheet metal workers by metro area in Illinois, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Chicago$20.30$45.82$44.23$58.812,43010% above
Champaign$21.37$44.57$48.08$48.331107% above
Springfield$22.10$43.43$46.85$54.06404% above
Peoria$21.95$41.89$45.93$53.011201% above
Paducah$18.57$37.99$44.12$41.17709% below
Rockford$21.49$37.81$41.01$52.411509% below
Davenport$24.28$34.80$39.06$41.1044016% below
St. Louis$19.61$31.77$33.41$51.721,05024% below
Cape Girardeau$22.28$27.50$31.94$53.375034% below

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

Sheet metal worker wages in Illinois over time

Illinois, 1999-2025IllinoisUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40$50200020052010201520202025$41.65Illinois$29.71United States
Median hourly wage for sheet metal workers, Illinois vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearIllinois $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$21.40$41.35$14.0914,400
2000$21.79$40.74$15.3110,410
2001$23.21$42.19$15.978,330
2002$24.79$44.36$16.626,670
2003$25.61$44.81$16.836,160
2004$27.40$46.70$17.096,420
2005$28.31$46.67$17.506,320
2006$26.70$42.64$17.966,610
2007$27.18$42.20$18.856,320
2008$29.10$43.51$19.377,600
2009$30.38$45.59$19.546,710
2010$29.38$43.38$20.055,360
2011$29.30$41.94$20.554,940
2012$25.84$36.23$20.815,100
2013$29.29$40.48$21.104,090
2014$34.88$47.43$21.673,330
2015$37.18$50.50$21.993,490
2016$39.49$52.97$22.574,120
2017$38.55$50.63$23.074,450
2018$38.52$49.39$23.304,990
2019$35.99$45.32$24.235,400
2020$29.23$36.36$24.705,320
2021$31.19$37.06$25.695,300
2022$41.10$45.21$26.614,690
2023$43.04$45.48$28.264,430
2024$44.99$46.17$29.264,240
2025$41.65$41.65$29.713,260

In today's dollars, the median sheet metal worker wage in Illinois changed by -17.5% over the last ten years of data and by -8.1% since 2019.

Are there more sheet metal worker jobs in Illinois?

-39.6%Jobs since 20195,400 then, 3,260 in 2025
-6.6%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
0.5Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.7× the US share, 48th of 50 states

Since 1999, the number of sheet metal workers counted in Illinois has changed by -77.4%, against -48.3% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -39.6%.

Sheet metal workers in Illinois vs United States, 1999 = 100IllinoisUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages025507510012520002005201020152020202552United States23Illinois
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Illinois vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearIllinois jobsIllinois indexUS index
199914,400100100
200010,4107294
20018,3305890
20026,6704685
20036,1604382
20046,4204580
20056,3204475
20066,6104677
20076,3204472
20087,6005371
20096,7104763
20105,3603757
20114,9403456
20125,1003558
20134,0902858
20143,3302357
20153,4902458
20164,1202958
20174,4503157
20184,9903557
20195,4003857
20205,3203755
20215,3003753
20224,6903352
20234,4303150
20244,2402951
20253,2602352

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 Illinois

+1.7%Projected growth in Illinois2024–2034, state agency
360Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
4,330Jobs in 20244,400 projected for 2034
+2.5%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Illinois's labor market agency projects the number of sheet metal workers in the state to change by +1.7% between 2024 and 2034, from 4,330 to 4,400, with about 360 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +2.5% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 3,260 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Illinois 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 Illinois

On federally funded construction in Illinois, contractors must pay sheet metal workers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 102 of the 102 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $71.05 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $41.65.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, ILAdams: $71.05 (union)Alexander: $71.05 (union)Bond: $71.05 (union)Boone: $71.05 (union)Brown: $71.05 (union)Bureau: $71.05 (union)Calhoun: $71.05 (union)Carroll: $71.05 (union)Cass: $71.05 (union)Champaign: $71.05 (union)Christian: $71.05 (union)Clark: $71.05 (union)Clay: $71.05 (union)Clinton: $71.05 (union)Coles: $71.05 (union)Cook: $92.01 (union)Crawford: $71.05 (union)Cumberland: $71.05 (union)DeKalb: $71.05 (union)De Witt: $71.05 (union)Douglas: $71.05 (union)DuPage: $95.00 (union)Edgar: $71.05 (union)Edwards: $71.05 (union)Effingham: $71.05 (union)Fayette: $71.05 (union)Ford: $71.05 (union)Franklin: $71.05 (union)Fulton: $71.05 (union)Gallatin: $71.05 (union)Greene: $71.05 (union)Grundy: $95.00 (union)Hamilton: $71.05 (union)Hancock: $71.05 (union)Hardin: $71.05 (union)Henderson: $71.05 (union)Henry: $71.05 (union)Iroquois: $71.05 (union)Jackson: $71.05 (union)Jasper: $71.05 (union)Jefferson: $71.05 (union)Jersey: $71.05 (union)Jo Daviess: $71.05 (union)Johnson: $71.05 (union)Kane: $95.00 (union)Kankakee: $95.00 (union)Kendall: $95.00 (union)Knox: $71.05 (union)Lake: $95.00 (union)LaSalle: $71.05 (union)Lawrence: $71.05 (union)Lee: $71.05 (union)Livingston: $71.05 (union)Logan: $71.05 (union)McDonough: $71.05 (union)McHenry: $95.00 (union)McLean: $71.05 (union)Macon: $67.00 (union)Macoupin: $71.05 (union)Madison: $71.05 (union)Marion: $71.05 (union)Marshall: $71.05 (union)Mason: $71.05 (union)Massac: $71.05 (union)Menard: $71.05 (union)Mercer: $71.05 (union)Monroe: $71.05 (union)Montgomery: $71.05 (union)Morgan: $71.05 (union)Moultrie: $71.05 (union)Ogle: $71.05 (union)Peoria: $72.56 (union)Perry: $71.05 (union)Piatt: $71.05 (union)Pike: $71.05 (union)Pope: $71.05 (union)Pulaski: $71.05 (union)Putnam: $71.05 (union)Randolph: $71.05 (union)Richland: $71.05 (union)Rock Island: $71.05 (union)St. Clair: $71.05 (union)Saline: $71.05 (union)Sangamon: $68.91 (union)Schuyler: $71.05 (union)Scott: $71.05 (union)Shelby: $71.05 (union)Stark: $71.05 (union)Stephenson: $71.05 (union)Tazewell: $72.56 (union)Union: $71.05 (union)Vermilion: $71.05 (union)Wabash: $71.05 (union)Warren: $71.05 (union)Washington: $71.05 (union)Wayne: $71.05 (union)White: $71.05 (union)Whiteside: $71.05 (union)Will: $95.00 (union)Williamson: $71.05 (union)Winnebago: $71.05 (union)Woodford: $71.05 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$71.05
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/hrKankakee (Illinois): market median $41.65, prevailing (union) $95.00, gap +$53.35Kankakee (Illinois)+$53.35DuPage (Chicago): market median $45.82, prevailing (union) $95.00, gap +$49.18DuPage (Chicago)+$49.18Alexander (Cape Girardeau): market median $27.50, prevailing (union) $71.05, gap +$43.55Alexander (Cape Girardeau)+$43.55Bond (St. Louis): market median $31.77, prevailing (union) $71.05, gap +$39.28Bond (St. Louis)+$39.28Henry (Davenport): market median $34.80, prevailing (union) $71.05, gap +$36.25Henry (Davenport)+$36.25Boone (Rockford): market median $37.81, prevailing (union) $71.05, gap +$33.24Boone (Rockford)+$33.24Massac (Paducah): market median $37.99, prevailing (union) $71.05, gap +$33.06Massac (Paducah)+$33.06Peoria (Peoria): market median $41.89, prevailing (union) $72.56, gap +$30.67Peoria (Peoria)+$30.67Menard (Springfield): market median $43.43, prevailing (union) $71.05, gap +$27.62Menard (Springfield)+$27.62Champaign (Champaign): market median $44.57, prevailing (union) $71.05, gap +$26.48Champaign (Champaign)+$26.48
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for sheet metal workers, metro counties in Illinois.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
DuPageUnion SHEE0265-001 2024-06-01$56.35$38.65$95.00IL20260008
GrundyUnion SHEE0265-001 2024-06-01$56.35$38.65$95.00IL20260008
KaneUnion SHEE0265-001 2024-06-01$56.35$38.65$95.00IL20260008
KankakeeUnion SHEE0265-003 2024-06-01$56.35$38.65$95.00IL20260006
KendallUnion SHEE0265-001 2024-06-01$56.35$38.65$95.00IL20260008
LakeUnion SHEE0265-001 2024-06-01$56.35$38.65$95.00IL20260008
McHenryUnion SHEE0265-001 2024-06-01$56.35$38.65$95.00IL20260008
WillUnion SHEE0265-001 2024-06-01$56.35$38.65$95.00IL20260008
CookUnion SHEE0073-001 2022-06-01$49.10$42.91$92.01IL20260009
PeoriaUnion SHEE0001-002 2024-05-01$39.50$33.06$72.56IL20260003
TazewellUnion SHEE0001-002 2024-05-01$39.50$33.06$72.56IL20260003
AdamsUnion SHEE0268-001 2025-07-01$46.57$24.48$71.05IL20260001
AlexanderUnion SHEE0268-003 2025-07-01$46.57$24.48$71.05IL20260002
BondUnion SHEE0268-001 2025-07-01$46.57$24.48$71.05IL20260001
BooneUnion SHEE0268-001 2025-07-01$46.57$24.48$71.05IL20260001

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

Is construction work growing in Illinois?

268.8kConstruction jobsIllinois, 2026-09
+6.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025269kSep 2026
Construction employment in Illinois (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 91 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 136,127 in 2015 to 152,071 in 2025, +11.7%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
DuPage County3865,922$104,818$2,016
Stephenson County18369$102,060$1,963
Winnebago County811,104$98,085$1,886
Boone County14107$97,154$1,868
Cook County1,33413,727$96,991$1,865
Peoria County571,185$95,803$1,842
Kane County2041,800$95,236$1,831
Lake County2562,242$93,138$1,791
Grundy County23316$90,795$1,746
McHenry County1621,456$89,729$1,726
Will County2642,010$88,263$1,697
St. Clair County62636$88,253$1,697

Keep comparing

Sheet metal worker pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Illinois

More on Illinois

Questions this page answers

How much do sheet metal workers make in Illinois?

The median sheet metal worker in Illinois earned $41.65 an hour ($86,630 a year) in May 2025, 40% above the national median of $29.71. The middle half earn $28.56–$50.64; the top 10% earn more than $56.69.

Where does Illinois rank for sheet metal worker pay?

Illinois ranks 5th of 50 states for sheet metal worker pay, with a median of $41.65 an hour, and 4th after adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (BEA price parity 100.0, US = 100).

What is the union sheet metal worker rate in Illinois?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for sheet metal workers in 102 counties, with a typical package of $71.05 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many sheet metal workers work in Illinois?

BLS counted 3,260 sheet metal workers in Illinois in May 2025, 0.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.69; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is sheet metal worker work growing in Illinois?

The BLS employer survey count of sheet metal workers in Illinois went from 3,490 in 2015 to 3,260 in 2025, -6.6%, and -39.6% since 2019. Illinois's labor market agency projects +1.7% growth for sheet metal workers between 2024 and 2034, from 4,330 to 4,400 jobs.

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

Illinois projects about 360 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, Illinois 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: Illinois labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.