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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The gap between the highest and lowest-paying cities is striking. The national median salary for Sheet Metal Workers in 2026 is $64,014, with entry-level positions averaging $46,090 and senior roles reaching $90,900. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $116,600, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
A career as a Sheet Metal Worker sits at the intersection of Construction and Construction & Trades. Most professionals enter with Apprenticeship, and the field is characterized by growing. The work itself is shop/site. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$70,950 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Sheet Metal Worker in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $116,600 — $70,950 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($45,650). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The salary distribution for Sheet Metal Workers reveals a $44,810 spread from entry to senior. At $64,014, the median sits $16,353 below the national median household income of $80,367. Context matters: this is an individual salary, compared against household income. The P10 floor of $46,090 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $90,900 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $108,900, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $46,017. The $62,883 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Sheet Metal Worker in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $116,600 — $70,950 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($45,650). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Sheet Metal Worker is $46,090, while senior-level (P90) earners average $90,900. That $44,810 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $46,090 | $64,014 | $90,900 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £25,333 | £35,185 | £49,963 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$40,038 | CA$55,608 | CA$78,963 |
| Australia | 13 | A$49,647 | A$68,954 | A$97,915 |
| Sweden | 24 | 274,209 kr | 380,846 kr | 540,802 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $55,628 | $77,261 | $109,711 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $53,757 | $74,663 | $106,021 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $53,460 | $74,250 | $105,435 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $49,500 | $68,750 | $97,625 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $48,906 | $67,925 | $96,454 |
| Washington | 8 | $47,966 | $66,619 | $94,599 |
| New York | 5 | $45,144 | $62,700 | $89,034 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $45,144 | $62,700 | $89,034 |
| Florida | 22 | $44,802 | $62,225 | $88,360 |
| Colorado | 11 | $44,028 | $61,150 | $86,833 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $43,956 | $61,050 | $86,691 |
| Nevada | 5 | $43,877 | $60,940 | $86,535 |
| Arizona | 12 | $43,659 | $60,638 | $86,105 |
| Oregon | 5 | $43,560 | $60,500 | $85,910 |
| Idaho | 3 | $43,428 | $60,317 | $85,650 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $43,085 | $59,840 | $84,973 |
| Utah | 4 | $42,966 | $59,675 | $84,739 |
| Virginia | 7 | $42,259 | $58,693 | $83,344 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $41,712 | $57,933 | $82,265 |
| Alaska | 1 | $41,580 | $57,750 | $82,005 |
| Illinois | 5 | $41,105 | $57,090 | $81,068 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $40,084 | $55,672 | $79,055 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $39,600 | $55,000 | $78,100 |
| Montana | 1 | $39,600 | $55,000 | $78,100 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $39,468 | $54,817 | $77,840 |
| Texas | 40 | $39,273 | $54,546 | $77,456 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $39,204 | $54,450 | $77,319 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $39,006 | $54,175 | $76,929 |
| Georgia | 6 | $38,874 | $53,992 | $76,668 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $38,808 | $53,900 | $76,538 |
| Kansas | 4 | $38,610 | $53,625 | $76,148 |
| Michigan | 6 | $38,478 | $53,442 | $75,887 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $38,016 | $52,800 | $74,976 |
| Maryland | 1 | $38,016 | $52,800 | $74,976 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $37,620 | $52,250 | $74,195 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $37,620 | $52,250 | $74,195 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $36,630 | $50,875 | $72,243 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $36,432 | $50,600 | $71,852 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $35,937 | $49,913 | $70,876 |
| Missouri | 4 | $35,937 | $49,913 | $70,876 |
| Alabama | 5 | $35,798 | $49,720 | $70,602 |
| Indiana | 3 | $35,244 | $48,950 | $69,509 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $35,244 | $48,950 | $69,509 |
| Iowa | 2 | $34,848 | $48,400 | $68,728 |
| Ohio | 6 | $34,782 | $48,308 | $68,598 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $33,264 | $46,200 | $65,604 |
Geography shapes Sheet Metal Worker pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $77,261 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($116,600 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $55,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $116,600 | 212 | $55,000 | $71,146 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $108,900 | 198 | $55,000 | $66,907 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $101,200 | 184 | $55,000 | $62,668 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $99,550 | 181 | $55,000 | $61,740 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $97,900 | 178 | $55,000 | $60,799 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $97,350 | 177 | $55,000 | $60,485 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $97,350 | 177 | $55,000 | $60,485 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $95,150 | 173 | $55,000 | $59,230 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $95,150 | 173 | $55,000 | $59,230 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $92,950 | 169 | $55,000 | $57,975 |
The $44,810 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Sheet Metal Worker career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Construction & Trades sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Sheet Metal Workers is $64,014 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $46,090, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $90,900.
The highest-paying city for Sheet Metal Workers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $116,600. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($116,600), Santa Clara ($108,900), Irvine ($101,200). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Sheet Metal Worker salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $45,650. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Sheet Metal Workers (10th percentile) average $46,090 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $83,952. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Sheet Metal Workers average $90,900 nationally — $44,810 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Sheet Metal Workers can earn up to $165,572.
The top-paying states for Sheet Metal Workers are California ($77,261 median), Massachusetts ($74,663 median), Hawaii ($74,250 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Sheet Metal Worker involves Apprenticeship. The field is in the Construction & Trades sector (Construction), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically shop/site.
With a national median of $64,014 and representation across 288 metro areas, Sheet Metal Worker offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $44,810 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.