Skilled Wages

Sheet metal worker salary in Iowa

Median $31.95 an hour for 1,650 sheet metal workers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$31.95/hrMedian hourly wageIowa, May data
$66,460/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$21.04 – $43.9710th to 90th percentilehourly range
1,650Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Sheet metal worker pay in Iowa: the full range

Wage percentiles, IowaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrIowa: 10th $21.04 · 25th $23.78 · median $31.95 · 75th $36.58 · 90th $43.97Iowa$31.95$21.04$43.97United 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: Iowa vs United States, May 2025.

Iowa ranks 15th of 50 states for median sheet metal worker pay, and 11th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $36.39). 1,650 sheet metal workers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.1× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$21.04 – $23.78$43,770 – $49,470roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$23.78 – $36.58$49,470 – $76,080the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$36.58 – $43.97$76,080 – $91,450the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Sheet metal worker pay by metro in Iowa

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrCedar Rapids: $39.47Cedar Rapids$39.47Omaha: $36.27Omaha$36.27Davenport: $34.80Davenport$34.80Sioux City: $32.38Sioux City$32.38Des Moines: $31.73Des Moines$31.73Ames: $30.97Ames$30.97Waterloo: $30.40Waterloo$30.40
Median hourly wage for sheet metal workers by metro area in Iowa, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Cedar Rapids$21.66$39.47$44.35$43.9719024% above
Omaha$19.39$36.27$39.47$47.4330014% above
Davenport$24.28$34.80$39.06$41.104409% above
Sioux City$21.38$32.38$37.43$38.64501% above
Des Moines$21.19$31.73$34.60$44.393501% below
Ames$18.98$30.97$34.88$44.65603% below
Waterloo$21.55$30.40$34.90$38.25805% below

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

Sheet metal worker wages in Iowa over time

Iowa, 1999-2025IowaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$31.95Iowa$29.71United States
Median hourly wage for sheet metal workers, Iowa vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearIowa $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$13.35$25.80$14.092,440
2000$16.40$30.66$15.312,070
2001$17.09$31.07$15.972,070
2002$17.36$31.07$16.621,990
2003$17.16$30.02$16.831,870
2004$15.69$26.74$17.092,440
2005$17.13$28.24$17.502,230
2006$17.89$28.57$17.962,440
2007$19.28$29.94$18.851,650
2008$19.22$28.74$19.371,780
2009$19.59$29.40$19.541,550
2010$20.87$30.81$20.051,260
2011$22.84$32.69$20.551,290
2012$23.72$33.26$20.811,480
2013$24.21$33.46$21.101,270
2014$23.27$31.65$21.671,240
2015$23.03$31.28$21.991,420
2016$21.14$28.36$22.571,870
2017$22.26$29.24$23.071,620
2018$22.20$28.46$23.301,910
2019$23.15$29.15$24.231,420
2020$23.64$29.41$24.701,590
2021$27.60$32.79$25.691,890
2022$27.81$30.59$26.611,540
2023$23.90$25.25$28.261,280
2024$29.62$30.40$29.261,590
2025$31.95$31.95$29.711,650

In today's dollars, the median sheet metal worker wage in Iowa changed by +2.1% over the last ten years of data and by +9.6% since 2019.

Are there more sheet metal worker jobs in Iowa?

1.1Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.4× the US share, 13th of 50 states

BLS counted 1,650 sheet metal workers in Iowa in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 14%. 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 Iowa

+3.6%Projected growth in Iowa2024–2034, state agency
130Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
1,490Jobs in 20241,540 projected for 2034
+2.5%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Iowa's labor market agency projects the number of sheet metal workers in the state to change by +3.6% between 2024 and 2034, from 1,490 to 1,540, with about 130 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 1,650 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Iowa 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 Iowa

On federally funded construction in Iowa, contractors must pay sheet metal workers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 71 of the 96 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $59.34 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $34.25). 25 of the 96 counties still use a survey rate dated 2016 or earlier (for example Allamakee County at $34.25). The market median for the state is $31.95.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, IAAdair: $64.33 (union)Adams: $64.33 (union)Allamakee: $34.25 (survey)Appanoose: $59.34 (union)Audubon: $64.33 (union)Benton: $64.56 (union)Black Hawk: $32.61 (survey)Boone: $64.33 (union)Bremer: $31.98 (survey)Buchanan: $34.25 (survey)Buena Vista: $55.40 (union)Butler: $34.25 (survey)Calhoun: $55.40 (union)Carroll: $64.33 (union)Cass: $64.33 (union)Cedar: $39.96 (survey)Cerro Gordo: $28.61 (survey)Cherokee: $55.40 (union)Chickasaw: $34.25 (survey)Clarke: $64.33 (union)Clay: $55.40 (union)Clayton: $34.25 (survey)Clinton: $60.55 (union)Crawford: n/aDallas: $64.33 (union)Davis: $59.34 (union)Decatur: $64.33 (union)Delaware: $34.25 (survey)Des Moines: $36.49 (survey)Dickinson: $55.40 (union)Dubuque: $64.56 (union)Emmet: $55.40 (union)Fayette: $34.25 (survey)Floyd: $28.91 (survey)Franklin: $34.25 (survey)Fremont: $64.33 (union)Greene: $64.33 (union)Grundy: $31.98 (survey)Guthrie: n/aHamilton: $55.40 (union)Hancock: $55.40 (union)Hardin: $34.25 (survey)Harrison: $40.79 (survey)Henry: $59.34 (union)Howard: $34.25 (survey)Humboldt: $55.40 (union)Ida: $55.40 (union)Iowa: $59.34 (union)Jackson: $59.34 (union)Jasper: $59.34 (union)Jefferson: $59.34 (union)Johnson: $64.56 (union)Jones: $64.56 (union)Keokuk: $59.34 (union)Kossuth: $55.40 (union)Lee: $59.34 (union)Linn: $64.56 (union)Louisa: $59.34 (union)Lucas: $64.33 (union)Lyon: $55.40 (union)Madison: n/aMahaska: $59.34 (union)Marion: $59.34 (union)Marshall: $64.33 (union)Mills: $40.79 (survey)Mitchell: $34.25 (survey)Monona: $64.33 (union)Monroe: $59.34 (union)Montgomery: $64.33 (union)Muscatine: $59.34 (union)O'Brien: $55.40 (union)Osceola: $55.40 (union)Page: $64.33 (union)Palo Alto: $55.40 (union)Plymouth: $55.40 (union)Pocahontas: $55.40 (union)Polk: $64.33 (union)Pottawattamie: $40.79 (survey)Poweshiek: $59.34 (union)Ringgold: $64.33 (union)Sac: $55.40 (union)Scott: $40.90 (survey)Shelby: $64.33 (union)Sioux: $55.40 (union)Story: $64.33 (union)Tama: $59.34 (union)Taylor: $64.33 (union)Union: $64.33 (union)Van Buren: $59.34 (union)Wapello: $59.34 (union)Warren: $64.33 (union)Washington: $64.56 (union)Wayne: $64.33 (union)Webster: $55.40 (union)Winnebago: $55.40 (union)Winneshiek: $34.25 (survey)Woodbury: $28.13 (survey)Worth: $34.25 (survey)Wright: $55.40 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$36.49$55.40$59.34$64.33n/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)$20$40$60$80/hrBoone (Ames): market median $30.97, prevailing (union) $64.33, gap +$33.36Boone (Ames)+$33.36Dubuque (Iowa): market median $31.95, prevailing (union) $64.56, gap +$32.61Dubuque (Iowa)+$32.61Dallas (Des Moines): market median $31.73, prevailing (union) $64.33, gap +$32.60Dallas (Des Moines)+$32.60Benton (Cedar Rapids): market median $39.47, prevailing (union) $64.56, gap +$25.09Benton (Cedar Rapids)+$25.09Scott (Davenport): market median $34.80, prevailing (survey) $40.90, gap +$6.10Scott (Davenport)+$6.10Harrison (Omaha): market median $36.27, prevailing (survey) $40.79, gap +$4.52Harrison (Omaha)+$4.52Black Hawk (Waterloo): market median $30.40, prevailing (survey) $32.61, gap +$2.21Black Hawk (Waterloo)+$2.21Woodbury (Sioux City): market median $32.38, prevailing (survey) $28.13, gap −$4.25Woodbury (Sioux City)−$4.25
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for sheet metal workers, metro counties in Iowa.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BentonUnion SHEE0263-007 2025-05-01$41.45$23.11$64.56IA20260078
DubuqueUnion SHEE0263-007 2025-05-01$41.45$23.11$64.56IA20260065
JohnsonUnion SHEE0263-007 2025-05-01$41.45$23.11$64.56IA20260068
JonesUnion SHEE0263-007 2025-05-01$41.45$23.11$64.56IA20260078
LinnUnion SHEE0263-007 2025-05-01$41.45$23.11$64.56IA20260069
WashingtonUnion SHEE0263-007 2025-05-01$41.45$23.11$64.56IA20260076
AdairUnion SHEE0045-002 2024-06-01$39.38$24.95$64.33IA20260029
AdamsUnion SHEE0045-002 2024-06-01$39.38$24.95$64.33IA20260030
AudubonUnion SHEE0045-002 2024-06-01$39.38$24.95$64.33IA20260033
BooneUnion SHEE0045-002 2024-06-01$39.38$24.95$64.33IA20260034
CarrollUnion SHEE0045-002 2024-06-01$39.38$24.95$64.33IA20260035
CassUnion SHEE0045-002 2024-06-01$39.38$24.95$64.33IA20260058
ClarkeUnion SHEE0045-002 2024-06-01$39.38$24.95$64.33IA20260058
DallasUnion SHEE0045-002 2024-06-01$39.38$24.95$64.33IA20260064
DecaturUnion SHEE0045-002 2024-06-01$39.38$24.95$64.33IA20260060

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

Is construction work growing in Iowa?

92.4kConstruction jobsIowa, 2026-09
+4.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202620k40k60k80k100k120k1990199520002005201020152020202592kSep 2026
Construction employment in Iowa (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 89 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 48,022 in 2015 to 55,511 in 2025, +15.6%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Polk County1484,936$93,825$1,804
Woodbury County48705$90,444$1,739
Linn County722,122$87,280$1,678
Benton County794$84,377$1,623
Scott County551,151$83,930$1,614
Pottawattamie County38397$80,299$1,544
Wapello County16279$79,163$1,522
Boone County9190$78,983$1,519
Black Hawk County30521$77,457$1,490
Carroll County14149$75,167$1,446
Johnson County40443$71,992$1,384
Dubuque County38354$71,482$1,375

Keep comparing

Sheet metal worker pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Iowa

More on Iowa

Questions this page answers

How much do sheet metal workers make in Iowa?

The median sheet metal worker in Iowa earned $31.95 an hour ($66,460 a year) in May 2025, 8% above the national median of $29.71. The middle half earn $23.78–$36.58; the top 10% earn more than $43.97.

Where does Iowa rank for sheet metal worker pay?

Iowa ranks 15th of 50 states for sheet metal worker pay, with a median of $31.95 an hour, and 11th after adjusting for Iowa's cost of living (BEA price parity 87.8, US = 100).

What is the union sheet metal worker rate in Iowa?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for sheet metal workers in 71 counties, with a typical package of $59.34 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many sheet metal workers work in Iowa?

BLS counted 1,650 sheet metal workers in Iowa in May 2025, 1.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.37; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is sheet metal worker work growing in Iowa?

Iowa's labor market agency projects +3.6% growth for sheet metal workers between 2024 and 2034, from 1,490 to 1,540 jobs.

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

Iowa projects about 130 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, Iowa 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: Iowa labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.