Skilled Wages

Sheet metal worker salary in Washington

Median $47.38 an hour for 3,440 sheet metal workers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$47.38/hrMedian hourly wageWashington, May data
$98,550/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$27.72 – $71.7610th to 90th percentilehourly range
3,440Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Sheet metal worker pay in Washington: the full range

Wage percentiles, WashingtonMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$20$40$60$80/hrWashington: 10th $27.72 · 25th $34.72 · median $47.38 · 75th $64.71 · 90th $71.76Washington$47.38$27.72$71.76United 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: Washington vs United States, May 2025.

Washington ranks 1st of 50 states for median sheet metal worker pay, and 2nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $44.28). 3,440 sheet metal workers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.6× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$27.72 – $34.72$57,650 – $72,220roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$34.72 – $64.71$72,220 – $134,590the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$64.71 – $71.76$134,590 – $149,260the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Sheet metal worker pay by metro in Washington

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrSeattle: $52.80Seattle$52.80Olympia: $48.39Olympia$48.39Kennewick: $46.15Kennewick$46.15Bellingham: $43.67Bellingham$43.67Bremerton: $42.66Bremerton$42.66Portland: $38.26Portland$38.26Yakima: $37.43Yakima$37.43Spokane: $36.58Spokane$36.58Mount Vernon: $29.49Mount Vernon$29.49
Median hourly wage for sheet metal workers by metro area in Washington, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Seattle$29.49$52.80$47.52$71.762,19011% above
Olympia$30.14$48.39$46.66$67.271002% above
Kennewick$27.72$46.15$46.10$61.621903% below
Bellingham$23.92$43.67$42.27$62.011008% below
Bremerton$28.92$42.66$40.40$50.5318010% below
Portland$24.03$38.26$36.30$61.272,28019% below
Yakima$21.09$37.43$39.19$49.129021% below
Spokane$23.88$36.58$36.47$59.6219023% below
Mount Vernon$24.37$29.49$28.80$47.138038% below

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

Sheet metal worker wages in Washington over time

Washington, 1999-2025WashingtonUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40$50$60200020052010201520202025$47.38Washington$29.71United States
Median hourly wage for sheet metal workers, Washington vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearWashington $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$19.25$37.20$14.096,450
2000$18.12$33.88$15.315,450
2001$19.05$34.63$15.975,280
2002$21.00$37.58$16.624,210
2003$21.36$37.37$16.833,560
2004$22.56$38.45$17.094,000
2005$23.31$38.43$17.504,210
2006$23.73$37.90$17.965,370
2007$27.02$41.95$18.854,570
2008$27.70$41.42$19.373,850
2009$24.38$36.59$19.543,260
2010$26.11$38.55$20.052,840
2011$27.75$39.72$20.553,060
2012$27.78$38.95$20.813,530
2013$27.65$38.21$21.103,270
2014$24.45$33.25$21.673,810
2015$27.98$38.01$21.993,630
2016$26.92$36.11$22.573,440
2017$27.69$36.37$23.074,340
2018$28.57$36.63$23.303,850
2019$29.52$37.17$24.234,270
2020$32.15$39.99$24.703,520
2021$37.45$44.49$25.693,100
2022$38.45$42.30$26.613,310
2023$41.17$43.50$28.263,780
2024$44.82$46.00$29.263,870
2025$47.38$47.38$29.713,440

In today's dollars, the median sheet metal worker wage in Washington changed by +24.7% over the last ten years of data and by +27.5% since 2019.

Are there more sheet metal worker jobs in Washington?

-19.4%Jobs since 20194,270 then, 3,440 in 2025
-5.2%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
1.0Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.3× the US share, 16th of 50 states

Since 1999, the number of sheet metal workers counted in Washington has changed by -46.7%, against -48.3% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -19.4%.

Sheet metal workers in Washington vs United States, 1999 = 100WashingtonUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages2040608010012020002005201020152020202553Washington52United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Washington vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearWashington jobsWashington indexUS index
19996,450100100
20005,4508494
20015,2808290
20024,2106585
20033,5605582
20044,0006280
20054,2106575
20065,3708377
20074,5707172
20083,8506071
20093,2605063
20102,8404457
20113,0604756
20123,5305558
20133,2705158
20143,8105957
20153,6305658
20163,4405358
20174,3406757
20183,8506057
20194,2706657
20203,5205555
20213,1004853
20223,3105152
20233,7805950
20243,8706051
20253,4405352

Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.

Outlook for sheet metal workers in Washington

-0.1%Projected growth in Washington2024–2034, state agency
350Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
4,360Jobs in 20244,350 projected for 2034
+2.5%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Washington's labor market agency projects the number of sheet metal workers in the state to change by -0.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 4,360 to 4,350, with about 350 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +2.5% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 3,440 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Washington 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 Washington

On federally funded construction in Washington, contractors must pay sheet metal workers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 37 of the 39 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $78.41 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $24.83). 2 of the 39 counties still use a survey rate dated 2009 or earlier (for example Jefferson County at $24.83). The market median for the state is $47.38.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, WAAdams: $73.75 (union)Asotin: $73.75 (union)Benton: $78.41 (union)Chelan: $73.75 (union)Clallam: $103.25 (union)Clark: $88.96 (union)Columbia: $78.41 (union)Cowlitz: $103.25 (union)Douglas: $73.75 (union)Ferry: $73.75 (union)Franklin: $78.41 (union)Garfield: $78.41 (union)Grant: $73.75 (union)Grays Harbor: $103.25 (union)Island: $95.46 (union)Jefferson: $24.83 (survey)King: $103.25 (union)Kitsap: $103.25 (union)Kittitas: $78.41 (union)Klickitat: $78.41 (union)Lewis: $103.25 (union)Lincoln: $73.75 (union)Mason: $103.25 (union)Okanogan: $73.75 (union)Pacific: $103.25 (union)Pend Oreille: $73.75 (union)Pierce: $103.25 (union)San Juan: $24.83 (survey)Skagit: $95.46 (union)Skamania: $88.96 (union)Snohomish: $103.25 (union)Spokane: $73.75 (union)Stevens: $73.75 (union)Thurston: $103.25 (union)Wahkiakum: $103.25 (union)Walla Walla: $78.41 (union)Whatcom: $103.25 (union)Whitman: $73.75 (union)Yakima: $78.41 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$73.75$78.41$88.96survey 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)$0$25$50$75$100$125/hrSkagit (Mount Vernon): market median $29.49, prevailing (union) $95.46, gap +$65.97Skagit (Mount Vernon)+$65.97Kitsap (Bremerton): market median $42.66, prevailing (union) $103.25, gap +$60.59Kitsap (Bremerton)+$60.59Whatcom (Bellingham): market median $43.67, prevailing (union) $103.25, gap +$59.58Whatcom (Bellingham)+$59.58Cowlitz (Washington): market median $47.38, prevailing (union) $103.25, gap +$55.87Cowlitz (Washington)+$55.87Thurston (Olympia): market median $48.39, prevailing (union) $103.25, gap +$54.86Thurston (Olympia)+$54.86Clark (Portland): market median $38.26, prevailing (union) $88.96, gap +$50.70Clark (Portland)+$50.70King (Seattle): market median $52.80, prevailing (union) $103.25, gap +$50.45King (Seattle)+$50.45Yakima (Yakima): market median $37.43, prevailing (union) $78.41, gap +$40.98Yakima (Yakima)+$40.98Spokane (Spokane): market median $36.58, prevailing (union) $73.75, gap +$37.17Spokane (Spokane)+$37.17Benton (Kennewick): market median $46.15, prevailing (union) $78.41, gap +$32.26Benton (Kennewick)+$32.26
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for sheet metal workers, metro counties in Washington.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
ClallamUnion SHEE0066-003 2025-06-01$69.86$33.39$103.25WA20260022
CowlitzUnion SHEE0066-014 2025-06-01$69.86$33.39$103.25WA20260105
Grays HarborUnion SHEE0066-003 2025-06-01$69.86$33.39$103.25WA20260027
KingUnion SHEE0066-014 2025-06-01$69.86$33.39$103.25WA20260108
KitsapUnion SHEE0066-014 2025-06-01$69.86$33.39$103.25WA20260109
LewisUnion SHEE0066-017 2025-06-01$69.86$33.39$103.25WA20260032
MasonUnion SHEE0066-003 2025-06-01$69.86$33.39$103.25WA20260034
PacificUnion SHEE0066-016 2025-06-01$69.86$33.39$103.25WA20260036
PierceUnion SHEE0066-014 2025-06-01$69.86$33.39$103.25WA20260111
SnohomishUnion SHEE0066-014 2025-06-01$69.86$33.39$103.25WA20260113
ThurstonUnion SHEE0066-014 2025-06-01$69.86$33.39$103.25WA20260116
WahkiakumUnion SHEE0066-004 2025-06-01$69.86$33.39$103.25WA20260040
WhatcomUnion SHEE0066-014 2025-06-01$69.86$33.39$103.25WA20260118
IslandUnion SHEE0066-032 2025-06-01$66.05$29.41$95.46WA20260028
SkagitUnion SHEE0066-015 2025-06-01$66.05$29.41$95.46WA20260112

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

Is construction work growing in Washington?

223.9kConstruction jobsWashington, 2026-09
+0.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025224kSep 2026
Construction employment in Washington (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 34 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 103,575 in 2015 to 131,891 in 2025, +27.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
King County46410,873$118,575$2,280
Benton County711,664$103,533$1,991
Whatcom County731,099$102,968$1,980
Snohomish County3032,791$93,120$1,791
Pierce County2863,366$89,763$1,726
Thurston County80939$88,497$1,702
Kitsap County81650$83,865$1,613
Clark County2222,802$83,386$1,604
Skagit County39382$75,084$1,444
Walla Walla County20227$74,979$1,442
Kittitas County1285$74,104$1,425
Spokane County1911,952$74,072$1,424

Keep comparing

Sheet metal worker pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Washington

More on Washington

Questions this page answers

How much do sheet metal workers make in Washington?

The median sheet metal worker in Washington earned $47.38 an hour ($98,550 a year) in May 2025, 59% above the national median of $29.71. The middle half earn $34.72–$64.71; the top 10% earn more than $71.76.

Where does Washington rank for sheet metal worker pay?

Washington ranks 1st of 50 states for sheet metal worker pay, with a median of $47.38 an hour, and 2nd after adjusting for Washington's cost of living (BEA price parity 107.0, US = 100).

What is the union sheet metal worker rate in Washington?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for sheet metal workers in 37 counties, with a typical package of $78.41 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many sheet metal workers work in Washington?

BLS counted 3,440 sheet metal workers in Washington in May 2025, 1.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.26; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is sheet metal worker work growing in Washington?

The BLS employer survey count of sheet metal workers in Washington went from 3,630 in 2015 to 3,440 in 2025, -5.2%, and -19.4% since 2019. Washington's labor market agency projects -0.1% growth for sheet metal workers between 2024 and 2034, from 4,360 to 4,350 jobs.

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

Washington projects about 350 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, Washington 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: Washington labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.