Sheet Metal Workers Salary
The median pay for a sheet metal workers in North Dakota is $65,180/year ($31.34/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $85K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $73,327 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 23.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $65K get you in North Dakota?
About sheet metal workers
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What this looks like in North Dakota
Sheet metal workers pay in North Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $65K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,034/month, 23.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (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, North Dakota
Entry-level sheet metal workers (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $65K. Top earners bring in $85K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Sheet Metal Workers salary by metro in North Dakota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $80K | +23% | 100 |
| Grand Forks | $61K | -6% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track sheet metal workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a sheet metal worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $65K, rent takes 23.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for sheet metal workers in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sheet metal workers typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,885/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $65K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for sheet metal workers?
North Dakota pays $65K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $73K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do sheet metal workers make in North Dakota?
The median is $65,180 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,080, and experienced sheet metal workers can clear $84,740. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $65K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,414/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 23.4% 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 North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $73,327 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.