Skilled Wages

Sheet metal worker salary in Wisconsin

Median $37.38 an hour for 3,180 sheet metal workers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$37.38/hrMedian hourly wageWisconsin, May data
$77,760/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$21.71 – $51.4710th to 90th percentilehourly range
3,180Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Sheet metal worker pay in Wisconsin: the full range

Wage percentiles, WisconsinMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrWisconsin: 10th $21.71 · 25th $24.21 · median $37.38 · 75th $46.79 · 90th $51.47Wisconsin$37.38$21.71$51.47United 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: Wisconsin vs United States, May 2025.

Wisconsin ranks 8th of 50 states for median sheet metal worker pay, and 6th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $39.72). 3,180 sheet metal workers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.4× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$21.71 – $24.21$45,160 – $50,350roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$24.21 – $46.79$50,350 – $97,320the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$46.79 – $51.47$97,320 – $107,060the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Sheet metal worker pay by metro in Wisconsin

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrDuluth: $41.65Duluth$41.65Sheboygan: $40.01Sheboygan$40.01Appleton: $39.14Appleton$39.14Milwaukee: $37.90Milwaukee$37.90Wausau: $37.18Wausau$37.18Green Bay: $36.91Green Bay$36.91Eau Claire: $36.56Eau Claire$36.56La Crosse: $36.15La Crosse$36.15Madison: $35.79Madison$35.79Minneapolis: $35.08Minneapolis$35.08Janesville: $33.72Janesville$33.72Oshkosh: $30.05Oshkosh$30.05
Median hourly wage for sheet metal workers by metro area in Wisconsin, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Duluth$22.68$41.65$46.90$50.2611011% above
Sheboygan$24.16$40.01$42.56$43.35407% above
Appleton$22.08$39.14$42.36$48.924005% above
Milwaukee$21.85$37.90$39.11$57.381,0201% above
Wausau$20.45$37.18$40.11$44.221701% below
Green Bay$21.40$36.91$39.65$47.412801% below
Eau Claire$19.17$36.56$39.40$44.84802% below
La Crosse$19.36$36.15$39.38$47.37603% below
Madison$22.67$35.79$36.78$51.583404% below
Minneapolis$23.08$35.08$33.47$56.862,3406% below
Janesville$19.23$33.72$35.99$44.983010% below
Oshkosh$22.17$30.05$32.35$45.637020% below

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

Sheet metal worker wages in Wisconsin over time

Wisconsin, 1999-2025WisconsinUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$37.38Wisconsin$29.71United States
Median hourly wage for sheet metal workers, Wisconsin vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearWisconsin $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$15.69$30.32$14.096,610
2000$16.83$31.47$15.316,360
2001$16.94$30.79$15.975,860
2002$17.36$31.07$16.625,770
2003$17.36$30.37$16.835,390
2004$19.37$33.01$17.094,820
2005$21.32$35.15$17.504,090
2006$23.45$37.45$17.964,040
2007$23.84$37.02$18.854,060
2008$23.89$35.72$19.374,000
2009$23.96$35.96$19.543,570
2010$22.22$32.81$20.054,230
2011$22.79$32.62$20.554,170
2012$23.10$32.39$20.814,310
2013$24.60$34.00$21.103,510
2014$24.55$33.39$21.673,240
2015$23.71$32.21$21.993,330
2016$23.65$31.72$22.573,350
2017$24.16$31.73$23.074,110
2018$24.92$31.95$23.303,580
2019$26.39$33.23$24.233,000
2020$28.59$35.56$24.702,740
2021$29.54$35.10$25.692,090
2022$34.97$38.47$26.612,250
2023$30.38$32.10$28.263,180
2024$36.53$37.49$29.262,990
2025$37.38$37.38$29.713,180

In today's dollars, the median sheet metal worker wage in Wisconsin changed by +16.1% over the last ten years of data and by +12.5% since 2019.

Are there more sheet metal worker jobs in Wisconsin?

+6.0%Jobs since 20193,000 then, 3,180 in 2025
-4.5%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
1.1Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.4× the US share, 12th of 50 states

Since 1999, the number of sheet metal workers counted in Wisconsin has changed by -51.9%, against -48.3% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +6.0%.

Sheet metal workers in Wisconsin vs United States, 1999 = 100WisconsinUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages025507510012520002005201020152020202552United States48Wisconsin
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Wisconsin vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearWisconsin jobsWisconsin indexUS index
19996,610100100
20006,3609694
20015,8608990
20025,7708785
20035,3908282
20044,8207380
20054,0906275
20064,0406177
20074,0606172
20084,0006071
20093,5705463
20104,2306457
20114,1706356
20124,3106558
20133,5105358
20143,2404957
20153,3305058
20163,3505158
20174,1106257
20183,5805457
20193,0004557
20202,7404255
20212,0903253
20222,2503452
20233,1804850
20242,9904551
20253,1804852

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 Wisconsin

+7.5%Projected growth in Wisconsin2024–2034, state agency
290Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
3,190Jobs in 20243,420 projected for 2034
+2.5%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Wisconsin's labor market agency projects the number of sheet metal workers in the state to change by +7.5% between 2024 and 2034, from 3,190 to 3,420, with about 290 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +2.5% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 3,180 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin

On federally funded construction in Wisconsin, contractors must pay sheet metal workers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 72 of the 72 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $87.13 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $37.38.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, WIAdams: $87.13 (union)Ashland: $87.13 (union)Barron: $87.13 (union)Bayfield: $87.13 (union)Brown: $77.80 (union)Buffalo: $87.13 (union)Burnett: $87.13 (union)Calumet: $76.11 (union)Chippewa: $73.56 (union)Clark: $87.13 (union)Columbia: $87.13 (union)Crawford: $87.13 (union)Dane: $86.70 (union)Dodge: $87.13 (union)Door: $87.13 (union)Douglas: $48.13 (union)Dunn: $87.13 (union)Eau Claire: $73.56 (union)Florence: $87.13 (union)Fond du Lac: $87.13 (union)Forest: $87.13 (union)Grant: $87.13 (union)Green: $87.13 (union)Green Lake: $87.13 (union)Iowa: $87.13 (union)Iron: $87.13 (union)Jackson: $87.13 (union)Jefferson: $87.13 (union)Juneau: $87.13 (union)Kenosha: $87.13 (union)Kewaunee: $87.13 (union)La Crosse: $74.65 (union)Lafayette: $87.13 (union)Langlade: $87.13 (union)Lincoln: $87.13 (union)Manitowoc: $87.13 (union)Marathon: $75.37 (union)Marinette: $87.13 (union)Marquette: $87.13 (union)Menominee: $87.13 (union)Milwaukee: $88.01 (union)Monroe: $87.13 (union)Oconto: $87.13 (union)Oneida: $87.13 (union)Outagamie: $76.11 (union)Ozaukee: $88.01 (union)Pepin: $87.13 (union)Pierce: $73.56 (union)Polk: $87.13 (union)Portage: $87.13 (union)Price: $87.13 (union)Racine: $87.13 (union)Richland: $87.13 (union)Rock: $84.37 (union)Rusk: $87.13 (union)St. Croix: $73.56 (union)Sauk: $87.13 (union)Sawyer: $87.13 (union)Shawano: $87.13 (union)Sheboygan: $76.11 (union)Taylor: $87.13 (union)Trempealeau: $87.13 (union)Vernon: $87.13 (union)Vilas: $87.13 (union)Walworth: $87.13 (union)Washburn: $87.13 (union)Washington: $88.01 (union)Waukesha: $88.01 (union)Waupaca: $87.13 (union)Waushara: $87.13 (union)Winnebago: $76.11 (union)Wood: $87.13 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$87.13
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$40$60$80$100/hrColumbia (Madison): market median $35.79, prevailing (union) $87.13, gap +$51.34Columbia (Madison)+$51.34Vernon (La Crosse): market median $36.15, prevailing (union) $87.13, gap +$50.98Vernon (La Crosse)+$50.98Rock (Janesville): market median $33.72, prevailing (union) $84.37, gap +$50.65Rock (Janesville)+$50.65Kewaunee (Green Bay): market median $36.91, prevailing (union) $87.13, gap +$50.22Kewaunee (Green Bay)+$50.22Milwaukee (Milwaukee): market median $37.90, prevailing (union) $88.01, gap +$50.11Milwaukee (Milwaukee)+$50.11Fond du Lac (Wisconsin): market median $37.38, prevailing (union) $87.13, gap +$49.75Fond du Lac (Wisconsin)+$49.75Winnebago (Oshkosh): market median $30.05, prevailing (union) $76.11, gap +$46.06Winnebago (Oshkosh)+$46.06Pierce (Minneapolis): market median $35.08, prevailing (union) $73.56, gap +$38.48Pierce (Minneapolis)+$38.48Marathon (Wausau): market median $37.18, prevailing (union) $75.37, gap +$38.19Marathon (Wausau)+$38.19Chippewa (Eau Claire): market median $36.56, prevailing (union) $73.56, gap +$37.00Chippewa (Eau Claire)+$37.00Calumet (Appleton): market median $39.14, prevailing (union) $76.11, gap +$36.97Calumet (Appleton)+$36.97Sheboygan (Sheboygan): market median $40.01, prevailing (union) $76.11, gap +$36.10Sheboygan (Sheboygan)+$36.10Douglas (Duluth): market median $41.65, prevailing (union) $48.13, gap +$6.48Douglas (Duluth)+$6.48
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for sheet metal workers, metro counties in Wisconsin.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
MilwaukeeUnion SHEE0018-001 2025-06-01$58.03$29.98$88.01WI20260001
OzaukeeUnion SHEE0018-001 2025-06-01$58.03$29.98$88.01WI20260001
WashingtonUnion SHEE0018-001 2025-06-01$58.03$29.98$88.01WI20260001
WaukeshaUnion SHEE0018-001 2025-06-01$58.03$29.98$88.01WI20260001
AdamsUnion SHEE0018-015 2025-09-01$48.92$38.21$87.13WI20260011
AshlandUnion SHEE0018-015 2025-09-01$48.92$38.21$87.13WI20260011
BarronUnion SHEE0018-015 2025-09-01$48.92$38.21$87.13WI20260011
BayfieldUnion SHEE0018-015 2025-09-01$48.92$38.21$87.13WI20260011
BuffaloUnion SHEE0018-015 2025-09-01$48.92$38.21$87.13WI20260011
BurnettUnion SHEE0018-015 2025-09-01$48.92$38.21$87.13WI20260011
ClarkUnion SHEE0018-015 2025-09-01$48.92$38.21$87.13WI20260011
ColumbiaUnion SHEE0018-015 2025-09-01$48.92$38.21$87.13WI20260011
CrawfordUnion SHEE0018-015 2025-09-01$48.92$38.21$87.13WI20260011
DodgeUnion SHEE0018-015 2025-09-01$48.92$38.21$87.13WI20260011
DoorUnion SHEE0018-015 2025-09-01$48.92$38.21$87.13WI20260011

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

Is construction work growing in Wisconsin?

160.1kConstruction jobsWisconsin, 2026-09
+5.0%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025160kSep 2026
Construction employment in Wisconsin (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 65 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 67,193 in 2015 to 92,281 in 2025, +37.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Racine County70976$119,609$2,300
Milwaukee County1493,403$105,764$2,034
Fond du Lac County40860$102,582$1,973
Outagamie County882,339$96,114$1,848
Wood County24482$92,321$1,775
Waukesha County2023,235$91,995$1,769
Dane County1323,440$89,652$1,724
Dunn County19284$89,438$1,720
Ozaukee County36282$87,660$1,686
Chippewa County22258$85,901$1,652
Pierce County10106$85,759$1,649
Brown County801,713$84,854$1,632

Keep comparing

Sheet metal worker pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Wisconsin

More on Wisconsin

Questions this page answers

How much do sheet metal workers make in Wisconsin?

The median sheet metal worker in Wisconsin earned $37.38 an hour ($77,760 a year) in May 2025, 26% above the national median of $29.71. The middle half earn $24.21–$46.79; the top 10% earn more than $51.47.

Where does Wisconsin rank for sheet metal worker pay?

Wisconsin ranks 8th of 50 states for sheet metal worker pay, with a median of $37.38 an hour, and 6th after adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.1, US = 100).

What is the union sheet metal worker rate in Wisconsin?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for sheet metal workers in 72 counties, with a typical package of $87.13 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many sheet metal workers work in Wisconsin?

BLS counted 3,180 sheet metal workers in Wisconsin in May 2025, 1.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.40; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is sheet metal worker work growing in Wisconsin?

The BLS employer survey count of sheet metal workers in Wisconsin went from 3,330 in 2015 to 3,180 in 2025, -4.5%, and +6.0% since 2019. Wisconsin's labor market agency projects +7.5% growth for sheet metal workers between 2024 and 2034, from 3,190 to 3,420 jobs.

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

Wisconsin projects about 290 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, Wisconsin 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: Wisconsin labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.