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

The median sheet metal worker in Massachusetts earns $82,100 a year, which works out to roughly $39.47 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That's a strong middle-of-the-road figure, but the range around it tells a more complete story about where you stand depending on experience, employer, and specialty.

At the 25th percentile — workers who are earlier in their careers or in lower-paying sectors — annual pay comes in at $52,760, or about $25.37 an hour. At the 75th percentile, sheet metal workers are pulling $92,630 a year, roughly $44.53 an hour. That $39,870 spread between the bottom and top quartiles is wide, and it reflects real differences in skill level, years on the job, and the type of work being done.

Massachusetts is a high-cost, high-wage state, and sheet metal work here tends to concentrate in commercial and industrial construction, HVAC fabrication and installation, and building envelope work. Boston and the Greater Boston metro area drive a lot of demand — large commercial projects, hospital construction, university expansions, and lab facilities have kept the trade busy. Workers in those urban corridors generally see better pay than those in more rural parts of the state like the Pioneer Valley or the Cape.

Experience is the single biggest lever on your pay. A first- or second-year apprentice will land near or below that $52,760 floor. By the time you've completed a standard four- or five-year apprenticeship and put in a few more years in the field, you're likely pushing toward the median or above. Veterans with sheet metal fabrication skills — particularly in precision or architectural work — can reach and exceed the 75th percentile.

Overtime matters here too. Massachusetts construction schedules are compressed by winters that limit outdoor work, which can push more hours into spring and fall. Sheet metal workers in commercial HVAC who service large facilities may also pick up weekend and emergency call hours. A worker at the median who logs 200 hours of overtime at time-and-a-half is adding roughly $11,800 to their annual take-home on top of that $82,100 base.

The type of employer shapes pay significantly. Large mechanical contractors on commercial jobs typically pay more than residential HVAC shops. Fabrication shops — where workers cut, bend, and assemble ductwork — can pay differently than field installation crews. Some workers may be covered by a collective bargaining agreement — check with your local for current rates.

To move up the pay scale, the clearest paths are: completing your apprenticeship and getting your hours documented, picking up certifications in areas like welding, HVAC systems, or architectural sheet metal, and targeting employers with large commercial or industrial project pipelines. Supervisory roles — foreman, general foreman, project superintendent — can also push pay well past the 75th percentile, though those numbers aren't captured separately in this dataset.

All figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. BLS collects data from employer payroll records and represents base wages — it does not include overtime pay, bonuses, or the value of benefits like health insurance and retirement contributions. Your actual total compensation will likely be higher.