Sheet Metal Workers Salary
The median pay for a sheet metal workers in Alabama is $47,530/year ($22.85/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $71K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $53,791 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,085/month, about 33.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in Alabama?
About sheet metal workers
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What this looks like in Alabama
Pay for sheet metal workers in Alabama runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $62K. Rent runs $1,085/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level sheet metal workers (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $71K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Sheet Metal Workers salary by metro in Alabama
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | $51K | +8% | 140 |
| Montgomery | $51K | +8% | 80 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $49K | +3% | 60 |
| Tuscaloosa | $48K | +1% | 30 |
| Birmingham | $48K | +1% | 530 |
| Decatur | $47K | -1% | 50 |
| Dothan | $46K | -4% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track sheet metal workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a sheet metal worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 34.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for sheet metal workers in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sheet metal workers typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,131/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 51% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is sheet metal worker a high-paying job in Alabama?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $48K here vs. $62K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for sheet metal workers?
Alabama pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do sheet metal workers make in Alabama?
The median is $47,530 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,510, and experienced sheet metal workers can clear $71,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,168/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 34.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a sheet metal workers salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median sheet metal workers salary is worth about $53,791 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do sheet metal workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.