Sheet Metal Workers Salary
The median sheet metal workers salary in the United States is $61,800 per year ($29.71/hour). Salaries range from $38,630 at the entry level to $105,650+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 119,770 sheet metal workers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 2.4% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Salary Distribution
Job Growth (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
Education Required
Training Needed
Sheet Metal Workers Career Guide
Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for sheet metal workerss.
Sheet metal workers fabricate + install ductwork + roofing + gutters + industrial sheet metal. Apprentice $32-48k; journeyman $58-88k; foreman + specialty $85-125k; superintendent + shop owner $115-215k+. Union (SMART Local) pays significantly more with pension. Path is 4-5 year apprenticeship β journeyman β foreman β specialty (welding + CNC + specialty). Growing demand from HVAC + industrial + solar + data center construction.
Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For
How to Become a Sheet Metal Workers
- 1Get high school diploma or GEDSome algebra + geometry helpful. Some trade schools offer preparatory courses.
- 2Apply for apprenticeship (union or non-union)SMART/SMWIA union: 4-5 year apprenticeship + $35-52k starting + graduated raises. Non-union: 3-4 years + $30-42k.
- 3Complete apprenticeship + earn journeyman10,000 hours OJT + 720+ classroom hours + certifications (SMACNA + specialty welds). Journeyman status = full scale wage.
- 4Add specialty (welding + fabrication + install)AWS certifications + CNC + specialty (medical + clean room + industrial + solar) = 15-30% premium.
- 5Move to foreman + specialty + business owner5-10 years journeyman β foreman ($85-115k). Or start own shop + specialty contractor at 10-15 years.
Career Progression
- β’Support journeyman
- β’Learn fabrication + install
- β’Attend classroom
- β’Complete OJT hours
- β’Independent fabrication + install
- β’Read + interpret drawings
- β’Weld + specialty work
- β’Some crew supervision
- β’Crew supervision 4-15
- β’Schedule + coordination
- β’Client interface
- β’Quality control
- β’Project management
- β’Multiple crews + specialty
- β’Bidding + contracts
- β’Shop or business ownership
Interview Questions & Answers
5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 15 total plus resume bullets for every level.
Q1. Walk me through fabricating a rectangular offset duct.technical
Q2. How do you handle a plan discrepancy on job site?situational
Q3. Explain SMACNA duct construction standards.technical
Q4. Tell me about a challenging install.behavioral
Q5. Where do you see career in 5 years?closer
Resume Template β Apprentice (0-4 yrs)
Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.
- βΈCompleted 3 of 5 years SMART Local apprenticeship + 6,200 OJT hours + 480 classroom hours.
- βΈFabricated 220+ complex duct fittings for commercial HVAC using shop equipment + hand tools.
- βΈAssisted journeyman on $8M hospital HVAC install project + zero installation defects on assigned work.
- βΈEarned AWS D9.1 welding certification for stainless + specialty stainless duct welding.
What Gets You Rejected
- βCant handle physical demands or heights.
- βWeak math + blueprint reading.
- βSafety incidents.
- βPoor cross-functional relationships with other trades.
- βNo specialty focus or certification progress.
- βAttendance + reliability issues.
Salary Negotiation Levers
- βUnion scale (SMART Local) sets floor: journeyman $58-95k + benefits + pension + $10-20/hour pension contributions.
- βAWS welding certifications = $3-10k premium each.
- βSpecialty (medical + clean room + industrial + solar) = 15-25% premium.
- βForeman + superintendent = major pay bumps.
- βMetro premium at union locals: NYC + SF + Boston + Chicago = 25-40%.
- βOT + weekend + shift premiums common in construction.
- βShop owner + specialty contractor = highest earning potential ($150-300k+).
Sheet Metal Workers Resume Review β $29
Personalized resume review from someone who has hired sheet metal workerss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.
- β Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
- β Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
- β Missing skills / keywords flagged
- β Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
- β 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it
Sheet Metal Workers Career Kit β $19
- β All 15 interview questions with expert answers
- β 7 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
- β Interview format intel for 7 top employers
- β 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
- β Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
- β 30β60β90 day plan for your first role
- β Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
- β Detailed salary negotiation script
- β Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
- β Downloadable PDF for offline access
- β Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.
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Sheet Metal Workers Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) βSalary Map β Click a state for details
Top Paying States
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $98,550 | +59.5% |
| Hawaii | $96,350 | +55.9% |
| Alaska | $94,600 | +53.1% |
| New Jersey | $92,840 | +50.2% |
| Illinois | $86,630 | +40.2% |
| Massachusetts | $82,100 | +32.8% |
| Connecticut | $78,750 | +27.4% |
| Wisconsin | $77,760 | +25.8% |
| California | $76,590 | +23.9% |
| Ohio | $74,790 | +21.0% |
Sheet Metal Workers Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $109,830 | +77.7% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $109,280 | +76.8% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $102,660 | +66.1% |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $100,650 | +62.9% |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $100,470 | +62.6% |
| Anchorage, AK | $98,070 | +58.7% |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $96,000 | +55.3% |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $95,310 | +54.2% |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $93,380 | +51.1% |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $93,350 | +51.1% |