Skilled Wages

Sheet metal worker salary in Virginia

Median $25.10 an hour for 4,520 sheet metal workers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$25.10/hrMedian hourly wageVirginia, May data
$52,220/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.00 – $35.4010th to 90th percentilehourly range
4,520Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Sheet metal worker pay in Virginia: the full range

Wage percentiles, VirginiaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrVirginia: 10th $18.00 · 25th $21.45 · median $25.10 · 75th $30.48 · 90th $35.40Virginia$25.10$18.00$35.40United 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: Virginia vs United States, May 2025.

Virginia ranks 39th of 50 states for median sheet metal worker pay, and 46th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $24.83). 4,520 sheet metal workers work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$18.00 – $21.45$37,440 – $44,620roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$21.45 – $30.48$44,620 – $63,390the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$30.48 – $35.40$63,390 – $73,640the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Sheet metal worker pay by metro in Virginia

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrVirginia Beach: $30.48Virginia Beach$30.48Washington DC: $29.46Washington DC$29.46Richmond: $23.08Richmond$23.08Lynchburg: $22.64Lynchburg$22.64Charlottesville: $22.57Charlottesville$22.57Roanoke: $22.11Roanoke$22.11Winchester: $21.59Winchester$21.59Blacksburg: $18.16Blacksburg$18.16
Median hourly wage for sheet metal workers by metro area in Virginia, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Virginia Beach$18.31$30.48$35.432,08021% above
Washington DC$21.05$29.46$41.241,84017% above
Richmond$17.55$23.08$36.326108% below
Lynchburg$17.33$22.64$30.8814010% below
Charlottesville$19.89$22.57$36.54—10% below
Roanoke$17.61$22.11$31.5313012% below
Winchester$17.83$21.59$29.068014% below
Blacksburg$17.55$18.16$26.454028% below

Sheet metal worker wages in Virginia over time

Virginia, 1999-2025VirginiaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$29.71United States$25.10Virginia
Median hourly wage for sheet metal workers, Virginia vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearVirginia $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$13.53$26.15$14.096,710
2000$13.64$25.50$15.317,380
2001$14.67$26.67$15.976,920
2002$15.19$27.18$16.626,720
2003$14.55$25.46$16.836,730
2004$14.61$24.90$17.096,790
2005$15.86$26.14$17.506,570
2006$16.39$26.17$17.967,380
2007$17.33$26.91$18.855,360
2008$17.50$26.17$19.375,150
2009$17.74$26.62$19.544,970
2010$18.43$27.21$20.054,890
2011$18.64$26.68$20.554,920
2012$19.10$26.78$20.815,110
2013$19.79$27.35$21.104,450
2014$19.86$27.01$21.674,230
2015$20.79$28.24$21.993,670
2016$21.96$29.46$22.573,900
2017$22.45$29.49$23.073,710
2018$22.84$29.28$23.303,910
2019$23.02$28.99$24.234,370
2020$24.99$31.09$24.704,470
2021$27.08$32.17$25.693,900
2022$24.63$27.09$26.613,440
2023$27.03$28.56$28.262,930
2024$28.12$28.86$29.263,870
2025$25.10$25.10$29.714,520

In today's dollars, the median sheet metal worker wage in Virginia changed by -11.1% over the last ten years of data.

Union scale and prevailing wage for sheet metal workers in Virginia

On federally funded construction in Virginia, contractors must pay sheet metal workers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 9 of the 102 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $76.62 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $22.04). 93 of the 102 counties still use a survey rate dated 2016 or earlier (for example Accomack County at $24.17). The market median for the state is $25.10.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, VAAccomack: $24.17 (survey)Albemarle: $24.40 (survey)Alleghany: $30.27 (survey)Amelia: $21.55 (survey)Amherst: $21.68 (survey)Appomattox: $21.68 (survey)Arlington: $76.62 (union)Augusta: $21.68 (survey)Bath: $30.27 (survey)Bedford: $21.68 (survey)Bland: $24.17 (survey)Botetourt: $21.68 (survey)Brunswick: $19.18 (survey)Buchanan: $24.17 (survey)Buckingham: $21.77 (survey)Campbell: $21.68 (survey)Caroline: $21.55 (survey)Carroll: $24.17 (survey)Charles City: $21.55 (survey)Charlotte: $19.18 (survey)Chesterfield: $21.55 (survey)Clarke: $76.62 (union)Craig: $21.68 (survey)Culpeper: $76.62 (union)Cumberland: $19.18 (survey)Dickenson: $24.17 (survey)Dinwiddie: $21.55 (survey)Essex: $24.17 (survey)Fairfax: $76.62 (union)Fauquier: $31.47 (survey)Floyd: $21.68 (survey)Fluvanna: $21.77 (survey)Franklin: $21.68 (survey)Frederick: $32.37 (survey)Giles: $21.68 (survey)Gloucester: $22.04 (survey)Goochland: $21.55 (survey)Grayson: $24.17 (survey)Greene: $21.77 (survey)Greensville: $19.18 (survey)Halifax: $19.18 (survey)Hanover: $21.55 (survey)Henrico: $21.55 (survey)Henry: $24.17 (survey)Highland: $30.27 (survey)Isle of Wight: $22.04 (survey)James City: $22.04 (survey)King and Queen: $24.17 (survey)King George: $24.17 (survey)King William: $21.55 (survey)Lancaster: $24.17 (survey)Lee: $24.17 (survey)Loudoun: $76.62 (union)Louisa: $30.27 (survey)Lunenburg: $19.18 (survey)Madison: $30.27 (survey)Mathews: $22.04 (survey)Mecklenburg: $19.18 (survey)Middlesex: $24.17 (survey)Montgomery: $21.68 (survey)Nelson: $21.77 (survey)New Kent: $21.55 (survey)Northampton: $24.17 (survey)Northumberland: $24.17 (survey)Nottoway: $19.18 (survey)Orange: $30.27 (survey)Page: $30.27 (survey)Patrick: $24.17 (survey)Pittsylvania: $19.18 (survey)Powhatan: $21.55 (survey)Prince Edward: $19.18 (survey)Prince George: $21.55 (survey)Prince William: $76.62 (union)Pulaski: $21.68 (survey)Rappahannock: $76.62 (union)Richmond: $24.17 (survey)Roanoke: $21.68 (survey)Rockbridge: $30.27 (survey)Rockingham: $21.68 (survey)Russell: $24.17 (survey)Scott: $21.68 (survey)Shenandoah: $30.27 (survey)Smyth: $24.17 (survey)Southampton: $19.18 (survey)Spotsylvania: $76.62 (union)Stafford: $76.62 (union)Surry: $19.18 (survey)Sussex: $21.55 (survey)Tazewell: $24.17 (survey)Warren: $18.40 (survey)Washington: $21.68 (survey)Westmoreland: $24.17 (survey)Wise: $24.17 (survey)Wythe: $24.17 (survey)York: $22.04 (survey)Alexandria: —Bristol: —Buena Vista: —Charlottesville: —Chesapeake: $28.48 (survey)Colonial Heights: —Covington: —Danville: —Emporia: —Fairfax: —Falls Church: —Franklin: —Fredericksburg: —Galax: —Hampton: $22.04 (survey)Harrisonburg: —Hopewell: —Lexington: —Lynchburg: —Manassas: —Manassas Park: —Martinsville: —Newport News: $22.47 (survey)Norfolk: $23.60 (survey)Norton: —Petersburg: —Poquoson: —Portsmouth: $22.04 (survey)Radford: —Richmond: —Roanoke: —Salem: —Staunton: —Suffolk: $22.04 (survey)Virginia Beach: $22.04 (survey)Waynesboro: —Williamsburg: —Winchester: —Union / prevailing package, $/hr$21.55$21.68$24.17$27.66n/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)$0$20$40$60$80$100/hrArlington (Washington DC): market median $29.46, prevailing (union) $76.62, gap +$47.16Arlington (Washington DC)+$47.16Frederick (Winchester): market median $21.59, prevailing (survey) $32.37, gap +$10.78Frederick (Winchester)+$10.78Floyd (Blacksburg): market median $18.16, prevailing (survey) $21.68, gap +$3.52Floyd (Blacksburg)+$3.52Albemarle (Charlottesville): market median $22.57, prevailing (survey) $24.40, gap +$1.83Albemarle (Charlottesville)+$1.83King and Queen (Richmond): market median $23.08, prevailing (survey) $24.17, gap +$1.09King and Queen (Richmond)+$1.09Botetourt (Roanoke): market median $22.11, prevailing (survey) $21.68, gap −$0.43Botetourt (Roanoke)−$0.43Amherst (Lynchburg): market median $22.64, prevailing (survey) $21.68, gap −$0.96Amherst (Lynchburg)−$0.96Chesapeake (Virginia Beach): market median $30.48, prevailing (survey) $28.48, gap −$2.00Chesapeake (Virginia Beach)−$2.00Augusta (Virginia): market median $25.10, prevailing (survey) $21.68, gap −$3.42Augusta (Virginia)−$3.42
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for sheet metal workers, metro counties in Virginia.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
ArlingtonUnion SHEE0100-004 2025-11-01$53.42$23.20$76.62VA20260013
ClarkeUnion SHEE0100-004 2025-11-01$53.42$23.20$76.62VA20260018
CulpeperUnion SHEE0100-004 2025-11-01$53.42$23.20$76.62VA20260174
FairfaxUnion SHEE0100-004 2025-11-01$53.42$23.20$76.62VA20260178
LoudounUnion SHEE0100-004 2025-11-01$53.42$23.20$76.62VA20260158
Prince WilliamUnion SHEE0100-004 2025-11-01$53.42$23.20$76.62VA20260162
RappahannockUnion SHEE0100-004 2025-11-01$53.42$23.20$76.62VA20260174
SpotsylvaniaUnion SHEE0100-004 2025-11-01$53.42$23.20$76.62VA20260165
StaffordUnion SHEE0100-004 2025-11-01$53.42$23.20$76.62VA20260174
FrederickSurvey SUVA2013-036 2016-01-11$24.46$7.91$32.37VA20260021
FauquierSurvey SUVA2013-035 2016-01-11$24.19$7.28$31.47VA20260020
AlleghanySurvey SUVA2013-017 2016-01-11$22.33$7.94$30.27VA20260008
BathSurvey SUVA2013-017 2016-01-11$22.33$7.94$30.27VA20260008
HighlandSurvey SUVA2013-017 2016-01-11$22.33$7.94$30.27VA20260008
LouisaSurvey SUVA2013-017 2016-01-11$22.33$7.94$30.27VA20260008

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

Is construction work growing in Virginia?

231.3kConstruction jobsVirginia, 2026-08
-1.4%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025231kAug 2026
Construction employment in Virginia (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
Arlington County105$159,113$3,060
Manassas City388$118,692$2,283
Loudoun County3,600$107,623$2,070
Alexandria City340$100,711$1,937
Falls Church City118$86,056$1,655
Fairfax County3,273$84,525$1,625
Augusta County735$83,701$1,610
Fredericksburg City229$83,470$1,605
Prince William County2,607$83,251$1,601
Hanover County1,313$80,197$1,542
Norfolk City648$79,984$1,538
Fairfax City58$79,643$1,532

Keep comparing

Sheet metal worker pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Virginia

Questions this page answers

How much do sheet metal workers make in Virginia?

The median sheet metal worker in Virginia earned $25.10 an hour ($52,220 a year) in May 2025, 16% below the national median of $29.71. The middle half earn $21.45–$30.48; the top 10% earn more than $35.40.

Where does Virginia rank for sheet metal worker pay?

Virginia ranks 39th of 50 states for sheet metal worker pay, with a median of $25.10 an hour, and 46th after adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (BEA price parity 101.1, US = 100).

What is the union sheet metal worker rate in Virginia?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for sheet metal workers in 9 counties, with a typical package of $76.62 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many sheet metal workers work in Virginia?

BLS counted 4,520 sheet metal workers in Virginia in May 2025, 1.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.43; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Virginia 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.