Sheet Metal Workers Salary
The median pay for a sheet metal workers in Illinois is $86,630/year ($41.65/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $118K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $92,307 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 25.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $87K get you in Illinois?
About sheet metal workers
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois sits well above the national pay line for sheet metal workers, local pay runs about 40% higher than the U.S. median of $62K. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Illinois
Entry-level sheet metal workers (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $118K or more, a $76K spread from bottom to top.
Sheet Metal Workers salary by metro in Illinois
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $95K | +10% | 2,430 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $93K | +7% | 110 |
| Springfield | $90K | +4% | 40 |
| Peoria | $87K | +1% | 120 |
| Rockford | $79K | -9% | 150 |
Compare to other states
Track sheet metal workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a sheet metal worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $87K, rent takes 26% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for sheet metal workers in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sheet metal workers typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,533/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Illinois?
Local pay is 40% above the national median — $87K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for sheet metal workers?
Illinois pays $87K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +40%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $92K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do sheet metal workers make in Illinois?
The median is $86,630 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,220, and experienced sheet metal workers can clear $117,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,420/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 26% 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 Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $92,307 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.