How much do sheet metal workers make in New York in 2026?

Sheet metal workers in New York have a median annual wage of $73,760, which works out to roughly $35.46 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That number sits in the middle of a wide range — entry-level and lower-experience workers at the 25th percentile earn around $49,920 a year ($24.00/hr), while experienced workers in the top quarter pull in $96,120 or more ($46.21/hr). That's a spread of more than $46,000 between the bottom and top quartiles, which tells you this is a trade where experience and specialization make a real difference.

New York is one of the busiest states in the country for sheet metal work. The five boroughs alone generate a constant flow of commercial construction, HVAC system installation, ductwork fabrication, and industrial projects. Demand is also strong in the Hudson Valley, Long Island, Albany, Buffalo, and Rochester. Where you work within the state matters — wages in New York City and its surrounding metro area generally run higher than upstate, reflecting both the cost of living and the volume of large-scale commercial and institutional projects.

The work itself covers a broad range of tasks: fabricating and installing ductwork and ventilation systems, roofing and cladding, gutters, flashing, and custom architectural metalwork. Workers who can handle HVAC system layout and installation, read complex blueprints, and operate computerized plasma or laser cutting equipment tend to command pay at or above the median. Specializing in industrial or clean-room HVAC, architectural metal, or large commercial builds can push your earnings toward the 75th percentile and beyond.

Getting into the trade typically starts with an apprenticeship, which in New York usually runs four to five years and combines on-the-job hours with classroom instruction in layout, blueprint reading, and material science. Apprentices start below the 25th percentile and step up in pay as they complete program levels. Once journeyman status is reached, wages move quickly into the median range for workers who stay active on commercial and industrial jobs.

Overtime is a genuine pay multiplier in this trade. Sheet metal workers on large construction projects often log 50 or more hours per week during active build phases. At the median hourly rate of $35.46, every overtime hour pays $53.19. A worker averaging 10 overtime hours per week for 30 weeks adds roughly $15,935 to their annual base — that kind of volume is common enough in New York that it meaningfully separates total take-home pay from the BLS base figures, which are based on straight-time wages.

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

Employers range from specialty sheet metal contractors and HVAC firms to general contractors and in-house facilities departments at hospitals, universities, and manufacturing plants. Sheet metal workers employed by large commercial contractors on prevailing-wage public projects are often paid at rates above the open-shop median, since prevailing wage schedules are set by the New York Department of Labor for public works jobs.

If you're looking to raise your pay, the clearest paths are accumulating years of journeyman experience, picking up certifications in HVAC systems or architectural metal, moving into estimating or project foreman roles, or targeting prevailing-wage and large commercial work. New York's construction pipeline — particularly in infrastructure, healthcare, and commercial development — keeps demand for experienced sheet metal workers consistently high, which gives skilled workers real leverage when negotiating rates.

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