Skilled Wages

Sheet metal worker salary in North Dakota

Median $31.34 an hour for 290 sheet metal workers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$31.34/hrMedian hourly wageNorth Dakota, May data
$65,180/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$23.11 – $40.7410th to 90th percentilehourly range
290Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Sheet metal worker pay in North Dakota: the full range

Wage percentiles, North DakotaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrNorth Dakota: 10th $23.11 · 25th $23.51 · median $31.34 · 75th $38.91 · 90th $40.74North Dakota$31.34$23.11$40.74United 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: North Dakota vs United States, May 2025.

North Dakota ranks 17th of 50 states for median sheet metal worker pay, and 14th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $35.21). 290 sheet metal workers work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.8× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$23.11 – $23.51$48,080 – $48,900roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$23.51 – $38.91$48,900 – $80,940the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$38.91 – $40.74$80,940 – $84,740the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Sheet metal worker pay by metro in North Dakota

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrFargo: $38.60Fargo$38.60Grand Forks: $29.55Grand Forks$29.55
Median hourly wage for sheet metal workers by metro area in North Dakota, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Fargo$24.37$38.60$42.46$39.3010023% above
Grand Forks$23.11$29.55$34.08$40.741006% below

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

Sheet metal worker wages in North Dakota over time

North Dakota, 1999-2025North DakotaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40$50200020052010201520202025$31.34North Dakota$29.71United States
Median hourly wage for sheet metal workers, North Dakota vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNorth Dakota $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$12.96$25.04$14.09580
2000$14.58$27.26$15.31650
2001$15.36$27.92$15.97600
2002$15.78$28.24$16.62510
2003$16.24$28.41$16.83440
2004$16.71$28.48$17.09540
2005$15.91$26.23$17.50520
2006$16.91$27.00$17.96540
2007$17.57$27.28$18.85430
2008$17.81$26.63$19.37440
2009$18.28$27.43$19.54600
2010$18.28$26.99$20.05710
2011$17.56$25.13$20.55850
2012$17.28$24.23$20.81580
2013$16.15$22.32$21.10720
2014$18.21$24.76$21.67—
2015$20.28$27.55$21.99640
2016$23.29$31.24$22.57410
2017$23.82$31.29$23.07470
2018$23.67$30.35$23.30430
2019$24.79$31.22$24.23450
2020$24.59$30.59$24.70300
2021$28.61$33.99$25.69310
2022$30.24$33.27$26.61460
2023$35.26$37.26$28.26370
2024$37.94$38.94$29.26380
2025$31.34$31.34$29.71290

In today's dollars, the median sheet metal worker wage in North Dakota changed by +13.8% over the last ten years of data and by +0.4% since 2019.

Are there more sheet metal worker jobs in North Dakota?

0.7Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.9× the US share, 39th of 50 states

BLS counted 290 sheet metal workers in North Dakota in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 17%. 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 North Dakota

+5.9%Projected growth in North Dakota2024–2034, state agency
30Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
390Jobs in 2024420 projected for 2034
+2.5%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

North Dakota's labor market agency projects the number of sheet metal workers in the state to change by +5.9% between 2024 and 2034, from 390 to 420, with about 30 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +2.5% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 290 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: North Dakota 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 North Dakota

On federally funded construction in North Dakota, contractors must pay sheet metal workers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 10 of the 53 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $57.01 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $35.32). 33 of the 53 counties still use a survey rate dated 2014 or earlier (for example Barnes County at $35.32). The market median for the state is $31.34.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, NDAdams: $49.55 (survey)Barnes: $35.32 (survey)Benson: $35.32 (survey)Billings: $49.55 (survey)Bottineau: $57.01 (union)Bowman: $49.55 (survey)Burke: $57.01 (union)Burleigh: $24.14 (survey)Cass: $35.03 (survey)Cavalier: $35.32 (survey)Dickey: $35.32 (survey)Divide: $49.55 (survey)Dunn: $49.55 (survey)Eddy: $35.32 (survey)Emmons: $35.32 (survey)Foster: $35.32 (survey)Golden Valley: $49.55 (survey)Grand Forks: $35.03 (survey)Grant: $35.32 (survey)Griggs: $35.32 (survey)Hettinger: $49.55 (survey)Kidder: $35.32 (survey)LaMoure: $35.32 (survey)Logan: $35.32 (survey)McHenry: $57.01 (union)McIntosh: $35.32 (survey)McKenzie: $57.24 (union)McLean: $57.01 (union)Mercer: $57.01 (union)Morton: $24.14 (survey)Mountrail: $33.53 (survey)Nelson: $35.32 (survey)Oliver: $24.14 (survey)Pembina: $35.32 (survey)Pierce: $57.01 (union)Ramsey: $35.32 (survey)Ransom: $35.32 (survey)Renville: $57.01 (union)Richland: $35.32 (survey)Rolette: $35.32 (survey)Sargent: $35.32 (survey)Sheridan: $57.01 (union)Sioux: $24.14 (survey)Slope: $49.55 (survey)Stark: $49.55 (survey)Steele: $35.32 (survey)Stutsman: $35.32 (survey)Towner: $35.32 (survey)Traill: $35.32 (survey)Walsh: $35.32 (survey)Ward: $57.01 (union)Wells: $35.32 (survey)Williams: $49.55 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$35.32$49.55survey 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$30$40$50$60/hrMcHenry (North Dakota): market median $31.34, prevailing (union) $57.01, gap +$25.67McHenry (North Dakota)+$25.67Grand Forks (Grand Forks): market median $29.55, prevailing (survey) $35.03, gap +$5.48Grand Forks (Grand Forks)+$5.48Cass (Fargo): market median $38.60, prevailing (survey) $35.03, gap −$3.57Cass (Fargo)−$3.57
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for sheet metal workers, metro counties in North Dakota.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
McKenzieUnion SHEE9010-001 2025-06-02$33.64$23.60$57.24ND20260022
BottineauUnion SHEE9010-002 2025-06-02$34.34$22.67$57.01ND20260021
BurkeUnion SHEE9010-002 2025-06-02$34.34$22.67$57.01ND20260035
McHenryUnion SHEE9010-002 2025-06-02$34.34$22.67$57.01ND20260035
McLeanUnion SHEE9010-002 2025-06-02$34.34$22.67$57.01ND20260023
MercerUnion SHEE9010-002 2025-06-02$34.34$22.67$57.01ND20260024
PierceUnion SHEE9010-002 2025-06-02$34.34$22.67$57.01ND20260035
RenvilleUnion SHEE9010-002 2025-06-02$34.34$22.67$57.01ND20260028
SheridanUnion SHEE9010-002 2025-06-02$34.34$22.67$57.01ND20260035
WardUnion SHEE9010-002 2025-06-02$34.34$22.67$57.01ND20260031
Adamsuavg UAVGND0001 2023-01-01$29.88$19.67$49.55ND20260018
Billingsuavg UAVGND0001 2023-01-01$29.88$19.67$49.55ND20260020
Bowmanuavg UAVGND0001 2023-01-01$29.88$19.67$49.55ND20260034
Divideuavg UAVGND0001 2023-01-01$29.88$19.67$49.55ND20260034
Dunnuavg UAVGND0001 2023-01-01$29.88$19.67$49.55ND20260034

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

Is construction work growing in North Dakota?

33.7kConstruction jobsNorth Dakota, 2026-09
-0.3%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k10k20k30k40k50k1990199520002005201020152020202534kSep 2026
Construction employment in North Dakota (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 33 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 17,862 in 2015 to 17,468 in 2025, -2.2%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Dickey County10199$115,265$2,217
Mercer County750$114,141$2,195
Morton County17112$111,244$2,139
Grand Forks County39539$81,163$1,561
Cass County951,510$81,018$1,558
Burleigh County50486$78,300$1,506
Barnes County547$71,515$1,375
Ward County36306$68,842$1,324
Rolette County518$64,647$1,243
Traill County515$59,500$1,144
Stark County2294$58,251$1,120
McLean County419$26,557$511

Keep comparing

Sheet metal worker pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in North Dakota

More on North Dakota

Questions this page answers

How much do sheet metal workers make in North Dakota?

The median sheet metal worker in North Dakota earned $31.34 an hour ($65,180 a year) in May 2025, 5% above the national median of $29.71. The middle half earn $23.51–$38.91; the top 10% earn more than $40.74.

Where does North Dakota rank for sheet metal worker pay?

North Dakota ranks 17th of 50 states for sheet metal worker pay, with a median of $31.34 an hour, and 14th after adjusting for North Dakota's cost of living (BEA price parity 89.0, US = 100).

What is the union sheet metal worker rate in North Dakota?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for sheet metal workers in 10 counties, with a typical package of $57.01 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many sheet metal workers work in North Dakota?

BLS counted 290 sheet metal workers in North Dakota in May 2025, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.88; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is sheet metal worker work growing in North Dakota?

North Dakota's labor market agency projects +5.9% growth for sheet metal workers between 2024 and 2034, from 390 to 420 jobs.

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

North Dakota projects about 30 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, North Dakota 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: North Dakota labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.