Sheet Metal Worker salary in Ames, IA
Sheet Metal Workers in the Ames, IA metro area earn a median of $64,420 a year ($30.97 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,860 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $61,800. Pay here is 3% lower than the Iowa statewide median of $66,460. There are 1.1 sheet metal workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $64,400, close to the median.
Pay range for sheet metal workers in Ames, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,480 | $18.98 |
| 25th percentile | $47,260 | $22.72 |
| Median | $64,420 | $30.97 |
| 75th percentile | $79,500 | $38.22 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,860 | $44.65 |
| Average (mean) | $64,400 | $30.96 |
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 | $5,368.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,684.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,477.69 |
| Weekly | $1,238.85 |
| Hourly | $30.97 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Sheet Metal Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $82,090 | 190 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $75,440 | 300 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $72,380 | 440 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $67,350 | 50 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $66,000 | 350 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $63,240 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for sheet metal workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $98,550 |
| Hawaii | $96,350 |
| Alaska | $94,600 |
| New Jersey | $92,840 |
| Illinois | $86,630 |
| Massachusetts | $82,100 |
| Connecticut | $78,750 |
| Wisconsin | $77,760 |
| California | $76,590 |
| Ohio | $74,790 |
See Sheet Metal Worker pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Ames, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $49,810 | $23.95 |
| Carpenter | $55,640 | $26.75 |
| Electrician | $63,320 | $30.44 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $62,400 | $30.00 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,820 | $30.68 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $44,780 | $21.53 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $58,230 | $27.99 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $72,260 | $34.74 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $60,980 | $29.32 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $79,740 | $38.34 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Ames, IA
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 Ames, IA?
The median salary for sheet metal workers in the Ames, IA metro area is $64,420 a year, or $30.97 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,860 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sheet metal workers make in Ames, IA?
The top 10% of sheet metal workers in the Ames, IA metro area earn at least $92,860 a year. The top 25% earn $79,500 or more.
What is the starting pay for sheet metal workers in Ames, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,480 a year, and a quarter of sheet metal workers earn $47,260 or less.
How many sheet metal workers work in Ames, IA?
About 60 sheet metal workers are employed in the Ames, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.