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

The median sheet metal worker in Minnesota earns $72,970 per year, which works out to about $35.08 per hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That's a solid middle-of-the-road number, but the range is wide — and where you land on it depends heavily on experience, specialization, and who you work for.

At the 25th percentile, sheet metal workers in Minnesota take home $51,570 annually, or roughly $24.79 per hour. These are typically workers early in their careers, still building speed and breadth of skill, or those doing less technically demanding work like basic ductwork fabrication and installation. It's a livable wage, but it leaves room to grow — and grow is exactly what workers at this level should be planning to do.

The 75th percentile sits at $106,870 per year — about $51.38 per hour. That's more than double the entry-level figure, and it represents workers who have accumulated real expertise: complex architectural sheet metal, industrial HVAC systems, precise layout work, welding certifications, or supervisory responsibility on large commercial and industrial jobs. The gap between the 25th and 75th percentile is over $55,000 annually, which tells you this trade rewards skill accumulation aggressively.

Minnesota's sheet metal workforce is spread across a range of sectors. The Twin Cities metro — Minneapolis, St. Paul, and surrounding suburbs — drives the bulk of employment, with commercial construction, hospital and healthcare facility work, and industrial manufacturing all generating consistent demand. Workers in the metro corridor typically have access to larger, more complex projects that push pay toward the upper end of the scale. Outstate Minnesota — Duluth, Rochester, St. Cloud, and smaller markets — tends to run leaner on volume, which can mean tighter wages or more travel requirements to keep a full schedule.

Seasonality matters here, but less than in outdoor trades. Sheet metal work is tied to construction cycles, but ductwork and HVAC installation happens indoors, which buffers the harshest Minnesota winters. That said, heavy new construction does slow in the coldest months, and workers who pick up service-and-repair skills or industrial maintenance accounts can maintain steadier year-round hours than those purely dependent on new builds.

Overtime is a real earnings lever for sheet metal workers. On active commercial or industrial projects, 50- to 60-hour weeks are common during peak phases. At $35.08 straight time, an hour of overtime at time-and-a-half brings in $52.62. A worker putting in 10 hours of OT per week for 20 weeks adds roughly $10,500 to their annual gross — enough to push a median-wage worker meaningfully closer to the 75th percentile for that year.

Specialization is one of the clearest paths to higher pay in this trade. Workers who add welding certifications — particularly certified welding inspector credentials or specific process certs like TIG welding on stainless — can command premium rates on industrial and food-processing facility projects. Architectural sheet metal (custom flashings, cornices, gutters, decorative panels) is another specialty that skews toward higher hourly rates because it demands precision layout skills and hands-on craftsmanship that can't easily be templated.

Apprenticeship is the standard entry path for sheet metal workers in Minnesota. Programs typically run four to five years and combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction covering blueprint reading, geometry for layout, HVAC fundamentals, and welding. Apprentice wages scale up progressively through the program, starting below the 25th percentile and reaching journeyworker rates upon completion. Workers who finish an apprenticeship and earn their journeyworker card typically jump straight into the median wage band or above, depending on their employer and the work type.

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

The BLS OEWS figures used here capture base wages reported by employers. They do not include overtime earnings, shift differentials, per diem payments for travel work, or the value of employer-paid benefits like health insurance, pension contributions, or paid time off. A worker earning $72,970 in base wages with solid benefits and regular overtime is effectively earning considerably more in total compensation. Keep that in mind when comparing these numbers to job postings or offers that may quote total package differently.

All figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.