Skilled Wages

Sheet metal worker salary in Nebraska

Median $30.98 an hour for 440 sheet metal workers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$30.98/hrMedian hourly wageNebraska, May data
$64,440/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$15.45 – $45.6710th to 90th percentilehourly range
440Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-09-28

Sheet metal worker pay in Nebraska: the full range

Wage percentiles, NebraskaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$20$40$60/hrNebraska: 10th $15.45 · 25th $22.13 · median $30.98 · 75th $42.46 · 90th $45.67Nebraska$30.98$15.45$45.67United 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: Nebraska vs United States, May 2025.

Nebraska ranks 20th of 50 states for median sheet metal worker pay, and 15th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $34.38). 440 sheet metal workers work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$15.45 – $22.13$32,140 – $46,030roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$22.13 – $42.46$46,030 – $88,310the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$42.46 – $45.67$88,310 – $94,980the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Sheet metal worker pay by metro in Nebraska

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrOmaha: $36.27Omaha$36.27Sioux City: $32.38Sioux City$32.38Lincoln: $25.36Lincoln$25.36
Median hourly wage for sheet metal workers by metro area in Nebraska, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Omaha$19.39$36.27$47.4330017% above
Sioux City$21.38$32.38$38.64505% above
Lincoln$15.03$25.36$45.655018% below

Sheet metal worker wages in Nebraska over time

Nebraska, 1999-2025NebraskaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$30.98Nebraska$29.71United States
Median hourly wage for sheet metal workers, Nebraska vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNebraska $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$12.50$24.16$14.09680
2000$12.80$23.93$15.311,390
2001$13.49$24.52$15.971,280
2002$15.19$27.18$16.621,490
2003$18.60$32.54$16.831,340
2004$19.07$32.50$17.091,120
2005$20.54$33.86$17.501,040
2006$21.49$34.32$17.961,040
2007$22.29$34.61$18.851,040
2008$18.88$28.23$19.371,070
2009$19.74$29.62$19.541,040
2010$18.87$27.86$20.05910
2011$20.59$29.47$20.55850
2012$20.11$28.20$20.81800
2013$19.47$26.91$21.10770
2014$20.42$27.77$21.67800
2015$20.62$28.01$21.99910
2016$22.04$29.56$22.57770
2017$21.20$27.84$23.07630
2018$22.61$28.99$23.30530
2019$24.49$30.84$24.23830
2020$23.90$29.73$24.70990
2021$23.37$27.77$25.69740
2022$24.22$26.64$26.61710
2023$28.20$29.80$28.26750
2024$28.15$28.89$29.26480
2025$30.98$30.98$29.71440

In today's dollars, the median sheet metal worker wage in Nebraska changed by +10.6% over the last ten years of data.

Union scale and prevailing wage for sheet metal workers in Nebraska

On federally funded construction in Nebraska, contractors must pay sheet metal workers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 93 of the 93 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $59.52 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $30.98.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, NEAdams: $59.52 (union)Antelope: $59.52 (union)Arthur: $59.52 (union)Banner: $59.52 (union)Blaine: $59.52 (union)Boone: $59.52 (union)Box Butte: $59.52 (union)Boyd: $59.52 (union)Brown: $59.52 (union)Buffalo: $59.52 (union)Burt: $59.52 (union)Butler: $54.82 (union)Cass: $59.52 (union)Cedar: $59.52 (union)Chase: $59.52 (union)Cherry: $59.52 (union)Cheyenne: $40.40 (union)Clay: $59.52 (union)Colfax: $59.52 (union)Cuming: $59.52 (union)Custer: $59.52 (union)Dakota: $59.52 (union)Dawes: $59.52 (union)Dawson: $59.52 (union)Deuel: $59.52 (union)Dixon: $59.52 (union)Dodge: $59.52 (union)Douglas: $59.52 (union)Dundy: $40.40 (union)Fillmore: $54.82 (union)Franklin: $59.52 (union)Frontier: $59.52 (union)Furnas: $59.52 (union)Gage: $54.82 (union)Garden: $59.52 (union)Garfield: $59.52 (union)Gosper: $59.52 (union)Grant: $59.52 (union)Greeley: $59.52 (union)Hall: $59.52 (union)Hamilton: $59.52 (union)Harlan: $59.52 (union)Hayes: $59.52 (union)Hitchcock: $59.52 (union)Holt: $59.52 (union)Hooker: $59.52 (union)Howard: $59.52 (union)Jefferson: $54.82 (union)Johnson: $54.82 (union)Kearney: $59.52 (union)Keith: $59.52 (union)Keya Paha: $59.52 (union)Kimball: $59.52 (union)Knox: $32.70 (union)Lancaster: $59.52 (union)Lincoln: $59.52 (union)Logan: $59.52 (union)Loup: $59.52 (union)McPherson: $59.52 (union)Madison: $59.52 (union)Merrick: $59.52 (union)Morrill: $59.52 (union)Nance: $59.52 (union)Nemaha: $54.82 (union)Nuckolls: $59.52 (union)Otoe: $59.52 (union)Pawnee: $59.52 (union)Perkins: $59.52 (union)Phelps: $59.52 (union)Pierce: $32.70 (union)Platte: $59.52 (union)Polk: $54.82 (union)Red Willow: $59.52 (union)Richardson: $54.82 (union)Rock: $59.52 (union)Saline: $54.82 (union)Sarpy: $59.52 (union)Saunders: $59.52 (union)Scotts Bluff: $59.52 (union)Seward: $59.52 (union)Sheridan: $59.52 (union)Sherman: $59.52 (union)Sioux: $59.52 (union)Stanton: $59.52 (union)Thayer: $54.82 (union)Thomas: $59.52 (union)Thurston: $32.70 (union)Valley: $59.52 (union)Washington: $59.52 (union)Wayne: $59.52 (union)Webster: $59.52 (union)Wheeler: $59.52 (union)York: $59.52 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr
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$30$40$50$60$70/hrLancaster (Lincoln): market median $25.36, prevailing (union) $59.52, gap +$34.16Lancaster (Lincoln)+$34.16Hall (Nebraska): market median $30.98, prevailing (union) $59.52, gap +$28.54Hall (Nebraska)+$28.54Dakota (Sioux City): market median $32.38, prevailing (union) $59.52, gap +$27.14Dakota (Sioux City)+$27.14Cass (Omaha): market median $36.27, prevailing (union) $59.52, gap +$23.25Cass (Omaha)+$23.25
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for sheet metal workers, metro counties in Nebraska.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AdamsUnion SHEE0003-006 2023-07-01$39.65$19.87$59.52NE20260064
AntelopeUnion SHEE0003-020 2023-07-01$39.65$19.87$59.52NE20260078
ArthurUnion SHEE0003-022 2023-07-01$39.65$19.87$59.52NE20260079
BannerUnion SHEE0003-022 2023-07-01$39.65$19.87$59.52NE20260079
BlaineUnion SHEE0003-006 2023-07-01$39.65$19.87$59.52NE20260080
BooneUnion SHEE0003-006 2023-07-01$39.65$19.87$59.52NE20260065
Box ButteUnion SHEE0003-022 2023-07-01$39.65$19.87$59.52NE20260079
BoydUnion SHEE0003-020 2023-07-01$39.65$19.87$59.52NE20260078
BrownUnion SHEE0003-020 2023-07-01$39.65$19.87$59.52NE20260078
BuffaloUnion SHEE0003-006 2023-07-01$39.65$19.87$59.52NE20260066
BurtUnion SHEE0003-020 2023-07-01$39.65$19.87$59.52NE20260078
CassUnion SHEE0003-001 2023-07-01$39.65$19.87$59.52NE20260056
CedarUnion SHEE0003-020 2023-07-01$39.65$19.87$59.52NE20260078
ChaseUnion SHEE0003-022 2023-07-01$39.65$19.87$59.52NE20260079
CherryUnion SHEE0003-006 2023-07-01$39.65$19.87$59.52NE20260067

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Nebraska prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Nebraska?

71.2kConstruction jobsNebraska, 2026-08
+6.6%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k20k40k60k80k1990199520002005201020152020202571kAug 2026
Construction employment in Nebraska (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.

CountyEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Douglas County3,857$81,935$1,576
Sarpy County2,548$81,435$1,566
Hall County313$73,187$1,407
Washington County41$70,753$1,361
Lancaster County1,580$66,194$1,273
Dodge County231$65,485$1,259
Buffalo County296$63,508$1,221
Cedar County39$62,668$1,205
Pierce County22$62,147$1,195
Madison County149$61,808$1,189
Adams County224$60,890$1,171
Lincoln County268$60,014$1,154

Keep comparing

Sheet metal worker pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Nebraska

Questions this page answers

How much do sheet metal workers make in Nebraska?

The median sheet metal worker in Nebraska earned $30.98 an hour ($64,440 a year) in May 2025, 4% above the national median of $29.71. The middle half earn $22.13–$42.46; the top 10% earn more than $45.67.

Where does Nebraska rank for sheet metal worker pay?

Nebraska ranks 20th of 50 states for sheet metal worker pay, with a median of $30.98 an hour, and 15th after adjusting for Nebraska's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.1, US = 100).

What is the union sheet metal worker rate in Nebraska?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for sheet metal workers in 93 counties, with a typical package of $59.52 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many sheet metal workers work in Nebraska?

BLS counted 440 sheet metal workers in Nebraska in May 2025, 0.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.56; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Nebraska and metro areas, SOC 47-2211.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.