Sheet Metal Worker salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Sheet Metal Workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $95,310 a year ($45.82 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,430 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $122,330 for the top 10%. That is 54% higher than the national median of $61,800. Pay here is 10% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $86,630. There are 0.54 sheet metal workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.70). The average (mean) salary is $85,620, close to the median.
Pay range for sheet metal workers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,220 | $20.30 |
| 25th percentile | $60,410 | $29.04 |
| Median | $95,310 | $45.82 |
| 75th percentile | $108,380 | $52.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $122,330 | $58.81 |
| Average (mean) | $85,620 | $41.16 |
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 | $7,942.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,971.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,665.77 |
| Weekly | $1,832.88 |
| Hourly | $45.82 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $93,350 | 50 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $92,710 | 110 |
| Springfield, IL | $90,330 | 40 |
| Peoria, IL | $87,120 | 120 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $81,270 | 120 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $79,020 | 70 |
| Rockford, IL | $78,640 | 150 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $75,800 | 80 |
| Evansville, IN | $74,120 | 120 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $73,690 | 910 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $72,380 | 440 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $66,080 | 1,050 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $65,840 | 1,480 |
| Columbus, IN | $65,010 | 50 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $62,900 | 140 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $61,430 | n/a |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $61,340 | 650 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $61,010 | 970 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $57,190 | 50 |
| Muncie, IN | $55,280 | 40 |
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 Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $60,890 | $29.27 |
| Electrician | $102,350 | $49.21 |
| Carpenter | $80,440 | $38.68 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $103,380 | $49.70 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $103,100 | $49.57 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $61,740 | $29.68 |
| Roofer | $82,090 | $39.47 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $81,020 | $38.95 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $89,980 | $43.26 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $102,350 | $49.21 |
| Glazier | $61,530 | $29.58 |
| Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | $70,370 | $33.83 |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | $103,690 | $49.85 |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $80,340 | $38.63 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for sheet metal workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $95,310 a year, or $45.82 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $122,330 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sheet metal workers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of sheet metal workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $122,330 a year. The top 25% earn $108,380 or more.
What is the starting pay for sheet metal workers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,220 a year, and a quarter of sheet metal workers earn $60,410 or less.
How many sheet metal workers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 2,430 sheet metal workers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.