Sheet Metal Workers Salary
The median pay for a sheet metal workers in North Carolina is $50,730/year ($24.39/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $54,749 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 37.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $51K get you in North Carolina?
About sheet metal workers
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for sheet metal workers in North Carolina runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $62K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,284/month, which is 38% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for sheet metal workerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level sheet metal workers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $41K spread from bottom to top.
Sheet Metal Workers salary by metro in North Carolina
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greensboro-High Point | $56K | +10% | 380 |
| Asheville | $52K | +2% | 110 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $51K | +0% | 700 |
| Jacksonville | $51K | -0% | 40 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $51K | -0% | 470 |
| Wilmington | $47K | -7% | 90 |
| Winston-Salem | $47K | -7% | 170 |
| Burlington | $47K | -7% | 50 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $47K | -8% | 70 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $46K | -9% | 80 |
| Fayetteville | $46K | -9% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
Compare to other states
Track sheet metal workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a sheet metal worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 38% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/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 North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sheet metal workers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,237/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 57% 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 North Carolina?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $51K here vs. $62K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for sheet metal workers?
North Carolina pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — below the national median.
How much do sheet metal workers make in North Carolina?
The median is $50,730 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,280, and experienced sheet metal workers can clear $78,020. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,376/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 38% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $54,749 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.