Average Sheet Metal Workers Salary in the United States
The national median salary for Sheet Metal Workers is $60,850 per year. The middle 50% earn between $47,290 and $79,620, with 117,470 workers employed nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2024 estimates . Data covers 51 states and 280 metro areas.
Wage range
Pay distribution
Here is how Sheet Metal Workers pay is distributed across workers nationally. The 10th percentile typically reflects entry-level or early-career pay, the median is the midpoint, and the 90th percentile represents the top earners in the field.
- 10th
- $38,030
- 25th
- $47,290
- Median
- $60,850
- 75th
- $79,620
- 90th
- $102,680
All values are percentiles of annual wages.
Sheet Metal Workers earn close to the national median for all US workers. Solidly middle-income.
Pay varies significantly across workers. Seniority, employer size, and specialization all move the needle, so it is normal for two sheet metal workers at different points in their careers to earn very different salaries.
BLS projections
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for sheet metal workers from 2024 to 2034. Growth is roughly in line with the US average of about 4% across all occupations.
- Projected growth
- +2.4%
- 3,100 net jobs over the projection period.
- Annual openings
- 10,600
- Includes growth plus replacements for workers who leave. Annual openings reflect typical replacement demand alongside any growth.
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Apprenticeship
A high-school diploma is typically sufficient for entry, with much of the training happening on the job.
Where Sheet Metal Workers earn the most
Location matters a lot. The gap between top-paying and bottom-paying states is large, so where sheet metal workers work can reshape their total compensation. Right now, the top-paying state is New Jersey at $94,310, about 55.0% above the national median. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA leads with a median of $115,970.
By state
Top-paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $94,310 | 1,690 |
| Illinois | $93,570 | 4,240 |
| Washington | $93,230 | 3,870 |
| Hawaii | $91,540 | 430 |
| Alaska | $82,750 | 210 |
| California | $79,630 | 9,180 |
| Massachusetts | $79,260 | N/A |
| North Dakota | $78,910 | 380 |
By metro
Top-paying metros
| Metro area | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $115,970 | 860 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $103,350 | 250 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $102,680 | 2,340 |
| Napa, CA | $100,950 | 30 |
| Salinas, CA | $99,110 | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $98,140 | 1,020 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $97,970 | 3,080 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $95,890 | 170 |
Compare two locations side by side
Pick two states or metros to see sheet metal workers pay in each, along with a cost-of-living adjusted view.
Salary trend and related occupations
Between 2019 and 2024, the national median salary for Sheet Metal Workers rose from $50,400 to $60,850, a gain of +20.7% in nominal dollars.
Over the same period, US consumer prices rose by +22.7%. Just to keep pace with inflation, the 2019 median of $50,400 would need to be worth $61,840 in 2024 dollars.
The actual 2024 median of $60,850 is −$990 below that inflation-adjusted benchmark, a real change of -1.6% in purchasing power.
Wages have roughly kept pace with inflation. Nominal pay rose by 20.7%, but inflation absorbed most of it.
- Nominal change
- +20.7%
- 2019–2024
- Cumulative inflation
- +22.7%
- US CPI, 2019–2024
- Real change
- -1.6%
- After adjusting for inflation
Annual history
Median salary over time
Sheet Metal Workers median pay by year, going back through the available BLS releases.
- 2019
- $50,400
- 2020
- $51,370
- 2021
- $53,440
- 2022
- $55,350
- 2023
- $58,780
- 2024
- $60,850
Similar jobs
Related occupations
Other occupations in the same field, with median pay for comparison.
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers
- $51,860
- Brickmasons And Blockmasons
- $60,800
- Electricians
- $62,350
- Carpenters
- $59,310
Common salary questions for Sheet Metal Workers
What does the median salary mean? +
The median is the midpoint of all wages. Half of Sheet Metal Workers workers earn more and half earn less. It is a better measure of typical pay than the average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
Why does pay vary so much by location? +
Local labor markets, cost of living, industry concentration, and employer competition all affect wages. High-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often pay more in nominal terms, though some of that premium is offset by higher living costs.
How current is this salary data? +
This page uses the May 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS publishes OEWS data once per year, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period.
What do the percentile ranges tell me? +
The 10th and 90th percentiles show the full pay band. The 25th to 75th percentile range, the middle 50%, is where most workers fall. A wide spread usually means experience, specialization, or location matter a lot for this occupation.