Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Apprenticeship
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Sheet metal workers build a career around precision, hands-on work, and strong mechanical ability. Nationally, this occupation employs about 127,000 people and offers a median annual salary of $60,850, providing a solid earnings base for people who enjoy physical, detail-oriented work. Projected employment growth of 2.4% and about 11,000 annual openings indicate a steady flow of opportunities over time. The role draws on a blend of mechanical skills, mathematics, and fine motor abilities, supported by physical strength and stamina. Success can also be supported by leadership and project management skills, especially for those interested in coordinating work or supervising teams. Customer service, creativity, and innovation can help workers respond to project needs and client expectations. For students, career changers, and experienced tradespeople, sheet metal work offers a clear pathway into a skilled trade that values both technical aptitude and reliability, with options to explore different regions and workplaces.
Sheet metal workers earn a national median salary of $60,850, creating a solid earnings foundation for a career based on skilled manual and mechanical work. Pay varies significantly by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, median salaries range from $57,880 in Colorado up to $98,550 in Washington, with California and New York also above the national median. Massachusetts stands out with a median of $82,100. At the metro level, pay can be even higher. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, leads with a median salary of $109,280, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, reaches $102,660. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, also show medians above the national level. These differences suggest that location choice can play a major role in long-term earning potential within this trade.
Sheet metal workers have a national employment base of about 127,000 workers, with projected employment growth of 2.4%. This projected growth, combined with approximately 11,000 annual openings, points to ongoing opportunities for both new entrants and experienced workers. The consistent growth rate of 2.4% appears across the highlighted states and metro areas, indicating a steady outlook rather than sharp regional differences in projected change. For job seekers, the combination of existing workforce size and annual openings suggests regular turnover and hiring needs, which may come from a mix of new positions and replacement of workers leaving the occupation. People considering this path can expect a career environment where openings recur each year, supporting both entry-level access and the potential to move between employers or regions while staying within the same occupation.
Location can significantly shape the experience and options of sheet metal workers. Among states with strong CareerGPS opportunity scores, Washington offers the highest listed median salary at $98,550, while California, Massachusetts, and New York also provide medians above the national level. Colorado’s median salary of $57,880 is just under the national median, but it still appears among the top states by opportunity score, reflecting a combination of pay, employment, and growth. Employment levels vary, from 8,390 in California and 6,570 in New York to under 3,000 in Massachusetts and Washington, suggesting differences in market size. Metro data show even sharper contrasts. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, has the highest median salary at $109,280 and the top metro opportunity score. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, combines a high opportunity score with 6,080 jobs. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, also rank strongly, giving workers multiple high-opportunity urban markets to consider.
The typical education requirement for sheet metal workers is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the occupation accessible to people who complete secondary education and want to move directly into a skilled trade. While formal postsecondary education is not listed as typical, the job relies on a well-developed set of abilities. Mechanical aptitude, physical strength and stamina, and fine motor skills support the hands-on aspects of the work. Mathematics and science skills provide a foundation for accurate measurements and problem solving. Being detail oriented helps ensure precision and quality. Leadership and project management abilities can become increasingly important for workers who coordinate tasks or oversee projects. Customer service skills support interactions with clients or other stakeholders, while creativity and innovation can help in approaching unique or complex assignments. Together, these skills complement the basic educational requirement and can support advancement over time.
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