Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer Salary
This is the Data Center Headhunters salary guide.
BLS does not measure Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer as its own occupation, so this page uses Sheet Metal Workers (SOC 47-2211, closest proxy). The median annual wage in the United States was $61,800 (BLS, May 2025), and the middle half earned $47,830 to $81,610.
This is what we do all day: recruit data center professionals.
Closest proxy
Sheet Metal Workers is the closest occupational proxy based on the work described, not a separate data center wage series. BLS does not distinguish this title, experience level, shift, credentials or data center employers. Confirm the actual duties before using this comparison.
National pay range
| Point | Annual wage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,630 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $47,830 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median | $61,800 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $81,610 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $105,650 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $67,850 | Average wage. |
| Point | Hourly wage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18.57 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $22.99 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median | $29.71 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $39.24 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $50.79 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $32.62 | Average wage. |
What BLS wages include: base pay plus any guaranteed or production-based incentive pay. What they leave out: overtime, discretionary bonus, benefits, per diem and relocation.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 47-2211 Sheet Metal Workers, United States. View this release at BLS.
Pay relative to all occupations
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| This occupation, median | $61,800 |
| All occupations (SOC 00-0000), median | $50,980 |
| Relative wage | 1.21 times |
A ratio of 1.00 means the same median as all workers in the area. It is arithmetic on two BLS medians, not a BLS statistic.
Pay in industries that hire this occupation
| Industry (BLS name) | NAICS | Employment | Share of occupation | Median | P25 to P75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Equipment Contractors | 238200 | 53,690 | 44.8% | $69,850 | $51,260 to $92,450 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | 238220 | 51,680 | 43.1% | $69,830 | $51,290 to $92,560 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 236200 | 3,470 | 2.9% | $59,440 | $48,730 to $82,230 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors | 238210 | 900 | 0.8% | $65,580 | $49,850 to $80,170 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 541300 | 550 | 0.5% | $58,120 | $47,240 to $67,610 |
| Engineering Services | 541330 | 450 | 0.4% | $58,120 | $57,420 to $78,560 |
| Utility System Construction | 237100 | 170 | 0.1% | $74,450 | $60,930 to $154,040 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | 811300 | 110 | 0.1% | $60,170 | $44,320 to $78,030 |
| Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction | 237130 | 100 | 0.1% | $62,890 | $56,770 to $74,450 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 335900 | 60 | 0.1% | $56,620 | $48,300 to $64,380 |
| Facilities Support Services | 561200 | 50 | 0.0% | $76,360 | $65,490 to $124,810 |
These national industry rows cover privately owned establishments. Industry names are exact BLS NAICS titles. Industries overlap, so shares do not sum to 100%. An industry row does not mean the employer runs data centers.
Pay in target metros
| Metro area | Median | P25 to P75 | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $61,270 | $50,490 to $73,990 | 1,840 | 0.76 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $56,240 | $46,030 to $63,390 | 2,890 | 0.93 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $51,230 | $37,970 to $68,940 | 2,550 | 1.39 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $56,750 | $46,240 to $76,400 | 1,550 | 0.7 |
| Columbus, OH | $77,760 | $57,840 to $84,450 | 760 | 0.89 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $95,310 | $60,410 to $108,380 | 2,430 | 0.7 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $109,280 | $65,460 to $147,150 | 750 | 0.86 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $79,570 | $62,800 to $110,610 | 2,280 | 2.45 |
Location quotient measures job concentration, not pay. A value above 1 means the occupation makes up a larger share of local jobs than it does nationally. It says nothing about wages.
Highest and lowest paying metros
Ranked by published median annual wage among 275 metro areas with an exact median.
| Rank | Metro area | Median | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $109,830 | 2,190 | 1.36 |
| 2 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $109,280 | 750 | 0.86 |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $102,660 | 880 | 0.48 |
| 4 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $100,650 | 100 | 1.01 |
| 5 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $100,470 | 150 | 1.17 |
| 6 | Anchorage, AK | $98,070 | 160 | 1.17 |
| 7 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $96,000 | 190 | 1.88 |
| 8 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $95,310 | 2,430 | 0.7 |
| 9 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $93,380 | 440 | 1.27 |
| 10 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $93,350 | 50 | 1.67 |
| Rank | Metro area | Median | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 266 | Rapid City, SD | $44,280 | 70 | 1.26 |
| 267 | Abilene, TX | $43,590 | 60 | 1.01 |
| 268 | Jonesboro, AR | $43,260 | 60 | 1.2 |
| 269 | Valdosta, GA | $42,610 | 30 | 0.77 |
| 270 | Longview, TX | $41,820 | 90 | 0.97 |
| 271 | Joplin, MO-KS | $40,570 | 30 | 0.52 |
| 272 | Albany, GA | $39,540 | 30 | 0.73 |
| 273 | Hot Springs, AR | $38,980 | 110 | 3.56 |
| 274 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $37,780 | 40 | 0.66 |
| 275 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $28,340 | 180 | 0.33 |
Location quotient measures job concentration, not pay. A value above 1 means the occupation makes up a larger share of local jobs than it does nationally. It says nothing about wages.
Where pay is highest relative to local wages
This compares the occupation's median with the all-occupations median in the same metro and on the same annual basis. It does not adjust for living costs. Only exact published medians are ranked. A top-coded lower bound cannot establish an exact rank.
| Metro | Occupation median | All-occupations median | Ratio | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $100,470 | $47,520 | 2.11 times | 150 | 1.17 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $93,350 | $45,540 | 2.05 times | 50 | 1.67 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $92,710 | $50,700 | 1.83 times | 110 | 1.34 |
| Flint, MI | $81,790 | $45,880 | 1.78 times | 240 | 2.27 |
| Visalia, CA | $79,910 | $45,130 | 1.77 times | 100 | 0.77 |
| Salinas, CA | $83,470 | $47,380 | 1.76 times | 60 | 0.4 |
| Peoria, IL | $87,120 | $49,590 | 1.76 times | 120 | 0.93 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $80,900 | $46,060 | 1.76 times | 150 | 3.03 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $83,060 | $47,350 | 1.75 times | 130 | 3.06 |
| Lawton, OK | $73,510 | $42,090 | 1.75 times | 40 | 1.1 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $81,270 | $46,540 | 1.75 times | 120 | 1.15 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $95,310 | $54,720 | 1.74 times | 2,430 | 0.7 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $73,030 | $42,000 | 1.74 times | 60 | 2.17 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $86,630 | $50,000 | 1.73 times | 110 | 1.12 |
| Toledo, OH | $83,240 | $48,220 | 1.73 times | 220 | 0.98 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $79,020 | $45,860 | 1.72 times | 70 | 1.88 |
| Mansfield, OH | $76,930 | $44,700 | 1.72 times | 30 | 0.81 |
| Springfield, IL | $90,330 | $52,670 | 1.72 times | 40 | 0.54 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $75,800 | $44,870 | 1.69 times | 80 | 1.53 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $96,000 | $57,290 | 1.68 times | 190 | 1.88 |
| Manhattan, KS | $76,750 | $45,900 | 1.67 times | 40 | 1.09 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $73,880 | $44,250 | 1.67 times | 60 | 1.34 |
| Rockford, IL | $78,640 | $47,120 | 1.67 times | 150 | 1.42 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $80,870 | $48,510 | 1.67 times | 160 | 1.65 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $82,090 | $49,360 | 1.66 times | 190 | 1.74 |
Location quotient measures job concentration, not pay. A value above 1 means the occupation makes up a larger share of local jobs than it does nationally. It says nothing about wages.
Source: BLS OEWS BLS, May 2025, SOC 47-2211 and SOC 00-0000, matching metro areas. The ratio is our arithmetic on those published medians, not a BLS statistic.
Change since the prior BLS release
| Reference period | Median |
|---|---|
| May 2024 | $60,850 |
| May 2025 | $61,800 |
| Difference | +$950 (+1.6%) |
Two published BLS values, shown as released. Not annualized, not adjusted for inflation, and BLS metro boundaries and survey panels can differ between releases.
Levels above and below this title
These are different jobs, not experience bands within one occupation. The figures are not a promised raise.
| Title | Relationship | BLS occupation | Median | Against Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman Pipefitter | Same job ladder | 47-2152 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,800 | Higher by $2,000 |
| Pipe Welder | Same job ladder | 51-4121 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $53,750 | Lower by $8,050 |
| HVAC Installer | Same job ladder | 49-9021 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $61,010 | Lower by $790 |
| Sheet Metal Foreman | Higher-scope title | 47-1011 First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $79,920 | Higher by $18,120 |
| Pipefitter Foreman | Higher-scope title | 47-1011 First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $79,920 | Higher by $18,120 |
What is inside the BLS pay figure
For construction and commissioning hires, separate expense reimbursements and overtime from straight-time pay. Check a project bonus on its actual terms. Guaranteed pay and production incentives count in BLS wages; discretionary nonproduction bonuses do not.
| Component | In the BLS figure? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Base rate and guaranteed pay | Included | BLS counts the "base rate" and "guaranteed pay". |
| Production and incentive pay | Included | BLS counts "incentive pay including commissions and production bonuses". |
| On-call pay | Included | BLS lists "on-call pay" and "hazardous-duty pay" as wages. |
| Overtime pay matters here | Left out | BLS excludes "overtime pay". Straight-time pay only. |
| Shift differentials | Left out | BLS excludes "shift differentials", so night and weekend premiums are not in the figure. |
| Project-completion and discretionary bonuses matters here | Depends on the terms | Guaranteed pay and production incentives are included. Discretionary nonproduction bonuses are excluded. Check how the payment is defined. |
| Per diem, travel and relocation matters here | Left out | BLS does not name these as wages. They are expense reimbursements and are not in the figure. |
| Benefits and employer costs | Left out | BLS excludes "employer costs for supplementary benefits". |
Recruiter's read
Qualitative, not from BLS data.
Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer candidates are usually screened on large duct and air handler installs; reading shop drawings; OSHA 10 or 30.
We usually find them through sheet metal and mechanical contractors; sheet metal union halls. We contact working people directly rather than relying on job applications.
Questions
What is the median pay for Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer?
The BLS median annual wage for Sheet Metal Workers nationally is $61,800 (BLS, May 2025).
What range do most Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer earn?
Per BLS, the middle half earned $47,830 to $81,610, and 10% earned less than $38,630.
Is this the exact job title?
Sheet Metal Workers is the closest occupational proxy based on the work described, not a separate data center wage series. BLS does not distinguish this title, experience level, shift, credentials or data center employers. Confirm the actual duties before using this comparison.
How many people are employed in this occupation?
BLS estimates 119,770 jobs nationally in Sheet Metal Workers across all industries.
What do BLS wages leave out?
They leave out overtime, shift differentials, discretionary bonus, benefits, per diem and relocation. Base pay, guaranteed pay, on-call pay and production-based incentive pay are included.
Hiring Market Brief
A one-page brief for Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer: BLS pay, mapping and caveats.
Hiring Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer?
Pay is one input. Scope, license and travel decide whether the person says yes.
Related
What the published rows say about Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States
Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States is represented here by Sheet Metal Workers, SOC 47-2211, in the May 2025 OEWS release. For Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States, data Center Headhunters uses the proxy crosswalk for this title; the occupation row, rather than a separate survey of Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer, supplies the figures on this page. For Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States, the published annual median is $61,800 and the middle-half endpoints are $47,830 and $81,610.
The Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States middle-half band spans $33,780 on the annual basis. For Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States, its lower quarter-to-median distance is $13,970, compared with $19,810 from the median to the upper quarter. For Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States, the upper interval is at least as wide as the other interval in this row. For Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States, for an offer against this Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer crosswalk, these are published reference points, not experience grades; the width does not establish a reason for differences between individual workers.
Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States can also be compared with New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where the annual median for Sheet Metal Workers is $76,730 in May 2025. For Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States, this comparison metro is selected by published occupation employment, not by a national geographic distance. For Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States, the Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer crosswalk comparison differs by $14,930 from the the United States median.
Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States can also be compared with Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, where the annual median for Sheet Metal Workers is $56,240 in May 2025. For Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States, this comparison metro is selected by published occupation employment, not by a national geographic distance. For Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States, the Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer crosswalk comparison differs by $5,560 from the the United States median.
Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States has no local industry-by-occupation wage breakdown in the loaded OEWS rows. For Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States, the highest published national industry medians loaded for SOC 47-2211 are Scientific Research and Development Services at $100,280 and Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences at $100,280. For Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States, these May 2025 observations describe the national Sheet Metal Workers occupation in those industries, not the pay of data center employers in the United States; they cannot support a local industry ranking.
The Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States matched median changed from $60,850 in May 2024 to $61,800 in May 2025, a difference of $950 up. For Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States, both observations use SOC 47-2211, area code 99 and the same annual wage basis. For Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States, this Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer comparison reports the released values without adjusting for inflation, annualizing the change or attributing it to a particular employer.
Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States uses the OEWS straight-time wage definition, not a complete cost-to-employ budget. For Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States, for an offer mapped to Sheet Metal Workers, separate overtime, shift differentials and expense reimbursements from the annual figures for the United States; BLS excludes those categories. For Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States, on-call pay, guaranteed pay and production incentives are included under the wage definition. For Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States, no Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer-specific per diem, travel allowance or relocation amount is observed in this row, so this May 2025 page adds no dollar allowance on top.
Questions about Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States
Which BLS row supports Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States?
Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer is mapped to SOC 47-2211, Sheet Metal Workers; the May 2025 the United States annual median is $61,800. The mapping is proxy, not a separate survey of this niche title.
Does the the United States figure show all offer costs for Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer?
Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer pay in the United States uses straight-time OEWS wages. Overtime and shift differentials are excluded; on-call and guaranteed pay are included. No allowance for travel or relocation is added to this 47-2211 observation.
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- methodology
Nearest-area selection uses Census Gazetteer internal points, not road distance. Source: 2025 Census Gazetteer.