Sheet Metal Workers Salary in Ames, IA
The median pay for a sheet metal workers in Ames, IA is $63,240/year ($30.4/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.83), which stretches that salary to about $71,192 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,153/month, or 27.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $63K get you in Ames?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Ames’s Regional Price Parity (88.83). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About sheet metal workers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ames, IA
Entry-level sheet metal workers (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Sheet Metal Workers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $94K | +55% | 1,690 |
| Illinois | $94K | +54% | 4,240 |
| Washington | $93K | +53% | 3,870 |
| Hawaii | $92K | +50% | 430 |
| Alaska | $83K | +36% | 210 |
| California | $80K | +31% | 9,180 |
| Massachusetts | $79K | +30% | N/A |
| North Dakota | $79K | +30% | 380 |
| District of Columbia | $76K | +26% | 150 |
| Wisconsin | $76K | +25% | 2,990 |
| New York | $73K | +21% | 6,190 |
| West Virginia | $72K | +18% | 430 |
| Pennsylvania | $69K | +14% | 2,340 |
| Missouri | $66K | +9% | 3,740 |
| Idaho | $66K | +8% | 560 |
| Oregon | $65K | +7% | 2,920 |
| Oklahoma | $64K | +6% | 2,690 |
| Delaware | $64K | +5% | 290 |
| Ohio | $63K | +3% | 5,350 |
| Minnesota | $63K | +3% | 2,230 |
| Connecticut | $62K | +2% | 1,120 |
| Montana | $62K | +2% | 520 |
| Michigan | $62K | +1% | 4,590 |
| Maryland | $62K | +1% | 2,230 |
| Iowa | $62K | +1% | 1,590 |
| Utah | $60K | -1% | 1,870 |
| Maine | $60K | -1% | 880 |
| Indiana | $60K | -2% | 3,570 |
| New Mexico | $59K | -3% | 650 |
| Nebraska | $59K | -4% | 480 |
| Virginia | $58K | -4% | 3,870 |
| Rhode Island | $57K | -6% | 410 |
| Vermont | $57K | -7% | 480 |
| Texas | $56K | -8% | 10,270 |
| Louisiana | $55K | -10% | 880 |
| Georgia | $54K | -11% | 3,850 |
| Tennessee | $54K | -12% | 2,040 |
| New Hampshire | $53K | -12% | 750 |
| North Carolina | $52K | -14% | 2,860 |
| Arizona | $51K | -15% | 2,990 |
| Wyoming | $51K | -16% | 170 |
| Kansas | $51K | -16% | 1,610 |
| South Dakota | $50K | -18% | 540 |
| Florida | $49K | -19% | 9,470 |
| Kentucky | $49K | -19% | 890 |
| Mississippi | $49K | -19% | 1,140 |
| Nevada | $48K | -22% | 1,130 |
| Alabama | $46K | -24% | 1,630 |
| South Carolina | $46K | -24% | 1,460 |
| Arkansas | $43K | -30% | 850 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track sheet metal workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ames numbers change.
Related careers in Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
How much do sheet metal workers make in Ames, IA?
The median is $63,240 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,470, and experienced sheet metal workers can clear $75,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Ames?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,139/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,153/month, which eats 27.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a sheet metal workers salary go in Ames?
Ames has a Regional Price Parity of 88.83 (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 $71,192 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.