Sheet Metal Workers Salary
The median pay for a sheet metal workers in Wisconsin is $77,760/year ($37.38/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $107K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $82,434 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 23.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $78K get you in Wisconsin?
About sheet metal workers
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Wisconsin sits well above the national pay line for sheet metal workers, local pay runs about 26% higher than the U.S. median of $62K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 24% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Wisconsin offers a genuinely strong financial position for sheet metal workerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level sheet metal workers (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $107K or more, a $62K spread from bottom to top.
Sheet Metal Workers salary by metro in Wisconsin
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheboygan | $83K | +7% | 40 |
| Appleton | $81K | +5% | 400 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $79K | +1% | 1,020 |
| Wausau | $77K | -1% | 170 |
| Green Bay | $77K | -1% | 280 |
| Eau Claire | $76K | -2% | 80 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $75K | -3% | 60 |
| Madison | $74K | -4% | 340 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $70K | -10% | 30 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $63K | -20% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track sheet metal workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a sheet metal worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 24% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for sheet metal workers in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sheet metal workers typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,710/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Wisconsin?
Local pay is 26% above the national median — $78K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for sheet metal workers?
Wisconsin pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do sheet metal workers make in Wisconsin?
The median is $77,760 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,160, and experienced sheet metal workers can clear $107,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,001/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 24% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $82,434 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.