How much do sheet metal workers make in Florida in 2026?

Sheet metal workers in Florida earn a median of $49,640 per year, which works out to $23.87 per hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That figure comes from BLS OEWS data collected in May 2025 and covers workers across the full range of sheet metal work — HVAC duct fabrication and installation, architectural metalwork, industrial enclosures, and roofing systems.

The spread between entry-level and experienced pay is significant. Workers at the 25th percentile — those early in their careers or working in lower-wage markets — bring in $40,790 per year, or roughly $19.61 per hour. Workers at the 75th percentile earn $60,050 annually, which is $28.87 per hour. That $19,260 gap between the bottom and top quartiles tells you there is real earning progression in this trade. Getting from the 25th to the 75th percentile is largely a function of years in the trade, the complexity of work you can handle, and the sector you end up in.

Florida's construction market keeps sheet metal workers busy across multiple specialties. Commercial HVAC is the dominant employer — large mixed-use developments, hospital expansions, hotel renovations, and data centers all require extensive ductwork. Architectural sheet metal, including standing-seam roofing and ornamental facades, is another active segment, particularly in South Florida's high-end residential and commercial projects. Industrial work — plant ventilation, exhaust systems, and equipment enclosures — is concentrated near Tampa, Jacksonville, and the Space Coast.

Geography within Florida matters. The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach corridor and the Orlando metro tend to run higher on the pay scale due to project volume and the concentration of large commercial contractors. Rural or smaller-market areas in the Panhandle or Central Florida farming regions generally land closer to or below the state median. If maximizing pay is the priority, targeting contractors with active commercial or industrial pipelines in the major metros is the most direct route.

Overtime is a real factor in this trade's actual take-home pay. Sheet metal work often runs on project deadlines — a building commissioning date does not move because ductwork is behind. Workers who are willing to put in 50- to 55-hour weeks during peak project phases can substantially increase their annual earnings beyond what the base hourly rate suggests. The BLS figures above represent straight-time equivalent wages and do not capture overtime premiums.

Apprenticeship is the standard entry path. A typical program runs four to five years and combines on-the-job training with classroom instruction covering blueprint reading, layout, welding, and HVAC fundamentals. Workers completing an apprenticeship generally enter the journey-level workforce at or above the median, putting them on a faster track to the 75th percentile compared to workers who enter the trade informally. Florida does not require a statewide sheet metal license for workers (as opposed to contractors), but individual counties and municipalities may have registration requirements — check local building departments before starting work in an unfamiliar jurisdiction.

Certifications can push pay above the state median. EPA 608 certification is required to handle refrigerants and opens up HVAC service and commissioning work that not every sheet metal hand can take on. Welding certifications — particularly AWS D1.1 structural steel or stainless steel qualifications — add value on industrial projects where ductwork must meet pressure or contamination standards. Workers who can read complex shop drawings and run a small crew are consistently the ones contractors pay to retain.

Some workers in this trade may be covered by a collective bargaining agreement — check with your local for current rates.

The BLS figures here are a solid baseline, but they are a state-level average. They do not capture differences between large union signatory contractors, open-shop commercial firms, or residential HVAC subcontractors. They also do not include benefits, which can be a meaningful part of total compensation — health insurance, retirement contributions, and paid time off vary widely between employers and can be worth thousands of dollars annually on top of base wages.