Sheet Metal Workers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,220 a year or less, while the top 10% make $122,330 or more. The middle half of sheet metal workers in Chicago earn between $60,410 and $108,380.
- $42K10th
- $60K25th
- $95KMedian
- $108K75th
- $122K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $85,620 | $7,135 | $41.16 |
| Median | $95,310 | $7,942 | $45.82 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,410 | $5,034 | $29.04 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $108,380 | $9,032 | $52.11 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Sheet Metal Workers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Sheet metal workers in Chicago earn 4% more than the Illinois average ($81,960) and 26% more than the U.S. average ($67,850). At the median the gap is +54% against the U.S. median of $61,800.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $85,620 | $95,310 | $42,220 | $122,330 | 2,430 |
| Illinois | $81,960 | $86,630 | $42,220 | $117,910 | 3,260 |
| United States | $67,850 | $61,800 | $38,630 | $105,650 | 119,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Sheet Metal Workers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $85,620, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $64,967 a year, or $5,414 a month and $2,499 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $66,525 | $5,544 |
| Working in IL | $64,967 | $5,414 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for sheet metal workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $85,620 buys what about $82,649 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Sheet Metal Workers salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 5 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$85,620
- Springfield$83,650
- Rockford$81,640
- Peoria$81,490
- Champaign$81,120
Highest-paying cities for sheet metal workers
Seattle, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($108,590).
- Seattle, WA$108,590
- San Francisco, CA$105,760
- San Jose, CA$105,710
- Olympia, WA$104,520
- Kennewick, WA$97,940
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Sheet Metal Workers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do sheet metal workers make an hour in Chicago?
$41.16 an hour on average, and $45.82 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level sheet metal workers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,220 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,410, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the sheet metal workers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $64,967 a year ($5,414 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $85,620.
Do sheet metal workers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% more than the U.S. average for this job ($67,850).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-2211; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.70, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.70).
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