Best States for Sheet Metal Workers

Ranked by median salary, with cost-of-living adjustments. Find where sheet metal workers earn the most and have the best purchasing power.

+5.2% projected growth

Faster than average (national avg: +4%, +1.2pp)

State Rankings

Rank	State	Median	COL-Adjusted	Employment
1	New JerseyNJ	$94,310	$83,386	1,690
2	IllinoisIL	$93,570	$94,515	4,240
3	WashingtonWA	$93,230	$86,887	3,870
4	HawaiiHI	$91,540	$76,731	430
5	AlaskaAK	$82,750	$78,510	210
6	CaliforniaCA	$79,630	$70,345	9,180
7	MassachusettsMA	$79,260	$71,729	0
8	North DakotaND	$78,910	$85,032	380
9	District of ColumbiaDC	$76,450	$65,230	150
10	WisconsinWI	$75,970	$81,513	2,990
11	New YorkNY	$73,470	$63,555	6,190
12	West VirginiaWV	$71,800	$81,963	430
13	PennsylvaniaPA	$69,240	$70,798	2,340
14	MissouriMO	$66,340	$74,372	3,740
15	IdahoID	$65,680	$67,921	560
16	OregonOR	$65,190	$64,481	2,920
17	OklahomaOK	$64,420	$72,301	2,690
18	DelawareDE	$63,850	$62,721	290
19	OhioOH	$62,940	$69,317	5,350
20	MinnesotaMN	$62,550	$63,310	2,230
21	ConnecticutCT	$62,360	$58,063	1,120
22	MontanaMT	$61,940	$64,187	520
23	MichiganMI	$61,680	$66,251	4,590
24	MarylandMD	$61,630	$56,180	2,230
25	IowaIA	$61,620	$68,619	1,590
26	UtahUT	$60,490	$61,662	1,870
27	MaineME	$60,320	$60,868	880
28	IndianaIN	$59,600	$65,351	3,570
29	New MexicoNM	$59,220	$63,067	650
30	NebraskaNE	$58,560	$64,352	480
31	VirginiaVA	$58,490	$56,512	3,870
32	ColoradoCO	$57,870	$55,114	1,620
33	Rhode IslandRI	$56,950	$56,554	410
34	VermontVT	$56,890	$55,073	480
35	TexasTX	$55,840	$57,865	10,270
36	LouisianaLA	$54,870	$60,297	880
37	GeorgiaGA	$53,960	$57,959	3,850
38	TennesseeTN	$53,680	$58,667	2,040
39	New HampshireNH	$53,380	$49,935	750
40	North CarolinaNC	$52,370	$56,071	2,860
41	ArizonaAZ	$51,440	$52,651	2,990
42	WyomingWY	$51,240	$53,486	170
43	KansasKS	$50,920	$56,327	1,610
44	South DakotaSD	$49,780	$54,404	540
45	FloridaFL	$49,170	$49,170	9,470
46	KentuckyKY	$49,100	$55,169	890
47	MississippiMS	$49,020	$57,468	1,140
48	NevadaNV	$47,590	$47,495	1,130
49	AlabamaAL	$46,100	$52,446	1,630
50	South CarolinaSC	$46,080	$50,637	1,460
51	ArkansasAR	$42,640	$49,068	850

Analysis

The top three states for sheet metal workers by median salary are New Jersey, Illinois, and Washington. However, when adjusted for cost of living, the rankings may shift — states with lower living costs can offer greater real purchasing power even with lower nominal salaries.

Explore by State

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