Sheet Metal Workers Salary
The median pay for a sheet metal workers in Iowa is $66,460/year ($31.95/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $91K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $74,792 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 24.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $66K get you in Iowa?
About sheet metal workers
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What this looks like in Iowa
Sheet metal workers pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $66K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 24.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Iowa
Entry-level sheet metal workers (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $66K. Top earners bring in $91K or more, a $48K spread from bottom to top.
Sheet Metal Workers salary by metro in Iowa
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $82K | +24% | 190 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $72K | +9% | 440 |
| Sioux City | $67K | +1% | 50 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $66K | -1% | 350 |
| Ames | $64K | -3% | 60 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $63K | -5% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track sheet metal workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a sheet metal worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $66K, rent takes 24.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for sheet metal workers in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sheet metal workers typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,626/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $66K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for sheet metal workers?
Iowa pays $66K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do sheet metal workers make in Iowa?
The median is $66,460 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,770, and experienced sheet metal workers can clear $91,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $66K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,315/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 24.7% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $74,792 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.