Sheet Metal Worker salary in the U.S.
Sheet Metal Workers in the U.S. earn a median of $61,800 a year ($29.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 119,770 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $105,650 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $67,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sheet metal workers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,630 | $18.57 |
| 25th percentile | $47,830 | $22.99 |
| Median | $61,800 | $29.71 |
| 75th percentile | $81,610 | $39.24 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $105,650 | $50.79 |
| Average (mean) | $67,850 | $32.62 |
Half of sheet metal workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,150 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,575 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,376.92 |
| Weekly | $1,188.46 |
| Hourly | $29.71 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Sheet Metal Worker salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $98,550 | 3,440 |
| Hawaii | $96,350 | 490 |
| Alaska | $94,600 | 240 |
| New Jersey | $92,840 | 2,790 |
| Illinois | $86,630 | 3,260 |
| Massachusetts | $82,100 | 2,890 |
| Connecticut | $78,750 | 1,480 |
| Wisconsin | $77,760 | 3,180 |
| California | $76,590 | 8,390 |
| Ohio | $74,790 | 4,180 |
| New York | $73,760 | 6,570 |
| Oregon | $73,750 | 3,250 |
| Minnesota | $72,970 | 2,980 |
| West Virginia | $72,390 | 540 |
| Iowa | $66,460 | 1,650 |
| Oklahoma | $65,640 | 2,820 |
| North Dakota | $65,180 | 290 |
| Rhode Island | $65,100 | 370 |
| Michigan | $64,490 | 4,000 |
| Nebraska | $64,440 | 440 |
| Indiana | $64,040 | 4,580 |
| Missouri | $63,560 | 2,640 |
| Utah | $63,140 | 1,810 |
| Kansas | $62,670 | 1,730 |
| Maryland | $62,560 | 1,940 |
| Maine | $62,120 | 830 |
| Delaware | $61,460 | 440 |
| Montana | $61,420 | 410 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,400 | 3,260 |
| Kentucky | $60,680 | 2,210 |
| New Hampshire | $59,800 | 760 |
| Tennessee | $59,170 | 1,850 |
| Wyoming | $58,740 | 160 |
| Vermont | $58,250 | 370 |
| Colorado | $57,880 | 1,660 |
| Georgia | $56,800 | 3,590 |
| New Mexico | $56,720 | 640 |
| Texas | $54,240 | 9,540 |
| Virginia | $52,220 | 4,520 |
| North Carolina | $50,730 | 2,780 |
| Louisiana | $50,320 | 1,080 |
| Arizona | $50,260 | 3,060 |
| South Carolina | $49,920 | 1,710 |
| Florida | $49,640 | 8,040 |
| Mississippi | $49,500 | 1,260 |
| South Dakota | $47,800 | 320 |
| Alabama | $47,530 | 1,450 |
| Nevada | $46,730 | 1,270 |
| Idaho | $46,350 | 1,290 |
| Arkansas | $45,820 | 1,230 |
| Guam | $37,770 | 140 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,340 | 210 |
Best-paying metro areas for sheet metal workers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $109,830 | 2,190 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $109,280 | 750 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $102,660 | 880 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $100,650 | 100 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $100,470 | 150 |
| Anchorage, AK | $98,070 | 160 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $96,000 | 190 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $95,310 | 2,430 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $93,380 | 440 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $93,350 | 50 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $92,710 | 110 |
| Bellingham, WA | $90,840 | 100 |
| Springfield, IL | $90,330 | 40 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $88,730 | 180 |
| Peoria, IL | $87,120 | 120 |
Metro areas with the most sheet metal workers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 6,080 | $76,730 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,890 | $56,240 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2,610 | $51,870 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2,550 | $51,230 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,440 | $72,710 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,430 | $95,310 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 2,340 | $72,970 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 2,330 | $82,550 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2,280 | $79,570 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,190 | $109,830 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 2,080 | $63,390 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 2,070 | $68,140 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,840 | $61,270 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,780 | $51,700 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,640 | $75,120 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| Electrician | $63,190 | $30.38 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $59,850 | $28.78 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,800 | $30.67 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $57,020 | $27.41 |
| Roofer | $55,440 | $26.65 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $58,930 | $28.33 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $62,780 | $30.18 |
| Glazier | $57,080 | $27.44 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $62,120 | $29.87 |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | $49,120 | $23.62 |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $53,340 | $25.64 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2211. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sheet metal worker make in the U.S.?
The median salary for sheet metal workers in the U.S. is $61,800 a year, or $29.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $105,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sheet metal workers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of sheet metal workers in the U.S. earn at least $105,650 a year. The top 25% earn $81,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for sheet metal workers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,630 a year, and a quarter of sheet metal workers earn $47,830 or less.
How many sheet metal workers work in the U.S.?
About 119,770 sheet metal workers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.