Sheet metal worker salary in Massachusetts
Median $39.47 an hour for 2,890 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 Massachusetts: the full range
Massachusetts ranks 6th of 50 states for median sheet metal worker pay, and 9th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $37.31). 2,890 sheet metal workers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.6× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $22.33 – $25.37 | $46,440 – $52,760 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $25.37 – $44.54 | $52,760 – $92,630 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $44.54 – $58.20 | $92,630 – $121,050 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Sheet metal worker pay by metro in Massachusetts
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $20.77 | $39.69 | $36.65 | $58.20 | 2,330 | 1% above |
| Worcester | $21.48 | $37.42 | $36.51 | $52.87 | 290 | 5% below |
| Springfield | $22.37 | $36.82 | $38.31 | $49.58 | 200 | 7% below |
| Amherst | $18.16 | $36.07 | $36.00 | $53.79 | 30 | 9% below |
| Providence | $20.51 | $31.30 | $30.75 | $39.42 | 520 | 21% below |
| Pittsfield | $17.76 | $28.92 | $30.41 | $36.97 | 50 | 27% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Sheet metal worker wages in Massachusetts over time
Table
| Year | Massachusetts $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $18.11 | $35.00 | $14.09 | 3,420 |
| 2000 | $19.71 | $36.85 | $15.31 | 5,480 |
| 2001 | $19.69 | $35.79 | $15.97 | 5,030 |
| 2002 | $21.21 | $37.96 | $16.62 | 4,370 |
| 2003 | $21.85 | $38.23 | $16.83 | 4,290 |
| 2004 | $21.06 | $35.89 | $17.09 | 3,790 |
| 2005 | $20.36 | $33.56 | $17.50 | 3,570 |
| 2006 | $22.00 | $35.13 | $17.96 | 4,210 |
| 2007 | $25.09 | $38.96 | $18.85 | 3,700 |
| 2008 | $25.09 | $37.52 | $19.37 | 2,980 |
| 2009 | $25.89 | $38.85 | $19.54 | 2,250 |
| 2010 | $23.85 | $35.21 | $20.05 | 1,770 |
| 2011 | $25.16 | $36.01 | $20.55 | 1,790 |
| 2012 | $27.43 | $38.46 | $20.81 | 2,180 |
| 2013 | $27.64 | $38.20 | $21.10 | 2,140 |
| 2014 | $27.32 | $37.15 | $21.67 | 2,390 |
| 2015 | $26.10 | $35.45 | $21.99 | 2,600 |
| 2016 | $30.34 | $40.70 | $22.57 | 3,990 |
| 2017 | $32.81 | $43.09 | $23.07 | 4,380 |
| 2018 | $29.87 | $38.30 | $23.30 | 3,830 |
| 2019 | $29.73 | $37.44 | $24.23 | 3,010 |
| 2020 | $31.29 | $38.92 | $24.70 | 2,370 |
| 2021 | $35.94 | $42.70 | $25.69 | 2,820 |
| 2022 | $34.74 | $38.22 | $26.61 | 2,130 |
| 2023 | $35.54 | $37.55 | $28.26 | — |
| 2024 | $38.10 | $39.10 | $29.26 | — |
| 2025 | $39.47 | $39.47 | $29.71 | 2,890 |
In today's dollars, the median sheet metal worker wage in Massachusetts changed by +11.3% over the last ten years of data and by +5.4% since 2019.
Are there more sheet metal worker jobs in Massachusetts?
BLS counted 2,890 sheet metal workers in Massachusetts in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 23%. 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 Massachusetts
No state projection is published for sheet metal workers in Massachusetts. Nationally, BLS projects +2.5% growth over 2025-35 with about 9,800 openings a year; the national page has the openings breakdown and every state that does publish a figure.
Union scale and prevailing wage for sheet metal workers in Massachusetts
On federally funded construction in Massachusetts, contractors must pay sheet metal workers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 14 of the 14 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $82.09 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $39.47.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth | Union SHEE0017-005 2025-04-01 | $60.00 | $48.78 | $108.78 | MA20260012 |
| Barnstable | Union SHEE0017-007 2025-10-01 | $43.60 | $38.49 | $82.09 | MA20260001 |
| Bristol | Union SHEE0017-007 2025-10-01 | $43.60 | $38.49 | $82.09 | MA20260001 |
| Dukes | Union SHEE0017-007 2025-10-01 | $43.60 | $38.49 | $82.09 | MA20260001 |
| Essex | Union SHEE0017-007 2025-10-01 | $43.60 | $38.49 | $82.09 | MA20260001 |
| Middlesex | Union SHEE0017-007 2025-10-01 | $43.60 | $38.49 | $82.09 | MA20260001 |
| Nantucket | Union SHEE0017-007 2025-10-01 | $43.60 | $38.49 | $82.09 | MA20260001 |
| Norfolk | Union SHEE0017-007 2025-10-01 | $43.60 | $38.49 | $82.09 | MA20260001 |
| Suffolk | Union SHEE0017-007 2025-10-01 | $43.60 | $38.49 | $82.09 | MA20260001 |
| Berkshire | Union SHEE0063-001 2025-07-01 | $43.48 | $36.46 | $79.94 | MA20260003 |
| Franklin | Union SHEE0063-001 2025-07-01 | $43.48 | $36.46 | $79.94 | MA20260003 |
| Hampden | Union SHEE0063-001 2025-07-01 | $43.48 | $36.46 | $79.94 | MA20260003 |
| Hampshire | Union SHEE0063-001 2025-07-01 | $43.48 | $36.46 | $79.94 | MA20260003 |
| Worcester | Union SHEE0063-006 2025-07-01 | $43.48 | $36.46 | $79.94 | MA20260013 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Massachusetts prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Massachusetts?
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 14 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 92,697 in 2015 to 113,325 in 2025, +22.3%.
| County | Establishments | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk County | 106 | 873 | $124,727 | $2,399 |
| Norfolk County | 344 | 5,011 | $115,749 | $2,226 |
| Plymouth County | 331 | 3,249 | $111,529 | $2,145 |
| Middlesex County | 766 | 9,174 | $105,830 | $2,035 |
| Essex County | 316 | 3,027 | $97,880 | $1,882 |
| Worcester County | 345 | 3,128 | $94,351 | $1,814 |
| Hampden County | 129 | 1,586 | $93,316 | $1,795 |
| Bristol County | 238 | 2,282 | $87,318 | $1,679 |
| Berkshire County | 65 | 564 | $82,964 | $1,595 |
| Barnstable County | 208 | 1,516 | $81,810 | $1,573 |
Keep comparing
Sheet metal worker pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Massachusetts
More on Massachusetts
Questions this page answers
How much do sheet metal workers make in Massachusetts?
The median sheet metal worker in Massachusetts earned $39.47 an hour ($82,100 a year) in May 2025, 33% above the national median of $29.71. The middle half earn $25.37–$44.54; the top 10% earn more than $58.20.
Where does Massachusetts rank for sheet metal worker pay?
Massachusetts ranks 6th of 50 states for sheet metal worker pay, with a median of $39.47 an hour, and 9th after adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (BEA price parity 105.8, US = 100).
What is the union sheet metal worker rate in Massachusetts?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for sheet metal workers in 14 counties, with a typical package of $82.09 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many sheet metal workers work in Massachusetts?
BLS counted 2,890 sheet metal workers in Massachusetts in May 2025, 0.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.03; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Massachusetts 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.