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Sheet Metal Workers Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks

SOC 47-2211 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data

Median Annual Salary
$61,797
$29.71/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Sheet Metal Workers is $61,797 per year ($29.71/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $47,819 and $81,619 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $105,643 per year. There are approximately 119,770 sheet metal workers employed in the United States.

About This Role

BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018

Fabricate, assemble, install, and repair sheet metal products and equipment, such as ducts, control boxes, drainpipes, and furnace casings. Work may involve any of the following: setting up and operating fabricating machines to cut, bend, and straighten sheet metal; shaping metal over anvils, blocks, or forms using hammer; operating soldering and welding equipment to join sheet metal parts; or inspecting, assembling, and smoothing seams and joints of burred surfaces. Includes sheet metal duct installers who install prefabricated sheet metal ducts used for heating, air conditioning, or other purposes.

Career Outlook

BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+2.4%
About as fast as average
Annual openings
11K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
127K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
3% from new growth97% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Apprenticeship

Industry Wage Breakdown

Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
IndustryWorkforce Median Pay
Building Equipment Contractors
NAICS 238200
54K$69,850
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only)
NAICS 3320A2
21K$49,780
Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors
NAICS 238100
16K$51,790
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
NAICS 999100
5K$70,640
Nonresidential Building Construction
NAICS 236200
3K$59,440
Wage range across top 5 industries: $49,780 to $70,640 (42% spread)

Wage Percentiles

Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
PercentileHourly RateAnnual Salary
P10$18.57$38,626
P25$22.99$47,819
P50MEDIAN$29.71$61,797
P75$39.24$81,619
P90$50.79$105,643

Market Context Signal

JOLTS · manufacturing sector
Stable
Openings Rate
3.5%
Quits Rate
1.4%

Manufacturing openings ticked up to 462K (+19K) in March, with the rate at 3.5%. Hires rose to 310K. The sector has stabilized after late-2025 softening.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average sheet metal workers salary?

The national median salary for Sheet Metal Workers is $61,797 per year ($29.71/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $47,819 and $81,619 annually.

How much do top-earning sheet metal workers make?

The 90th percentile salary for Sheet Metal Workers is $105,643 per year ($50.79/hr). The 75th percentile is $81,619 per year.

What is the entry-level salary for sheet metal workers?

Entry-level Sheet Metal Workers (10th percentile) earn approximately $38,626 per year ($18.57/hr). The 25th percentile is $47,819 per year.

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Sheet Metal Workers Salary by State

Top 5 states by employment
Texas9,540 workersCalifornia8,390 workersFlorida8,040 workersNew York6,570 workersIndiana4,580 workers

About This Data

Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.

P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.

Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.

Next OEWS release: May 2027Verify on BLS.gov →

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