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

The median sheet metal worker in Tennessee earns $59,170 a year, which works out to roughly $28.45 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That's the midpoint — half of workers in the state earn more, half earn less. If you're just starting out or still building your skill set, the 25th percentile sits at $45,230 annually ($21.75/hr). Experienced workers who've moved into complex HVAC fabrication, industrial ductwork, or architectural metal work regularly hit the 75th percentile at $73,640 a year ($35.40/hr). Those three numbers — $45,230, $59,170, and $73,640 — are the clearest benchmark range available for this trade in Tennessee, sourced from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025.

The gap between the 25th and 75th percentile is $28,410 a year, and that gap is not random. Sheet metal work rewards specialization. A worker who can read and execute complex shop drawings, operate CNC plasma cutters or laser tables, and run duct installations on large commercial or industrial projects earns significantly more than someone doing repetitive residential HVAC runs. In Tennessee, that distinction matters: the state has a strong mix of commercial construction in Nashville and Memphis, automotive and manufacturing plants in Middle and West Tennessee, and a growing industrial base that needs precision sheet metal fabrication — not just residential ductwork.

Geography within Tennessee does influence pay, even within these statewide figures. Nashville's metro area draws large commercial contractors who pay at or above the median. Knoxville and Chattanooga have steady industrial and commercial work as well. More rural parts of East and West Tennessee tend toward the lower end of the range, partly because the volume of large commercial projects is thinner and partly because cost of living shapes what local contractors offer.

Overtime is a real factor in this trade. Sheet metal workers frequently log 45–55-hour weeks during peak construction seasons, typically spring through fall. At the median base of $28.45/hr, a single overtime hour pays $42.68. A worker putting in 10 hours of overtime per week for 20 weeks adds roughly $8,500 in gross pay before taxes — enough to push a mid-range earner meaningfully above their base annual figure. The BLS wage data reflects straight-time hourly rates and does not capture overtime earnings, so real annual take-home for active workers can run higher than the benchmarks suggest.

Apprenticeship is the standard entry path into sheet metal work. Programs typically run four to five years and combine on-the-job hours with classroom instruction in blueprint reading, geometry, welding, and HVAC systems. Apprentice pay starts below the 25th percentile and steps up annually, reaching journeyworker rates at completion. Tennessee does not require a statewide sheet metal license for most commercial work, but individual counties and municipalities — Memphis and Nashville in particular — have their own mechanical contractor licensing requirements that affect who can pull permits and run jobs.

Certifications add leverage at the high end of the pay scale. EPA Section 608 certification is required for anyone handling refrigerants on HVAC systems — it's a baseline credential that many employers expect. OSHA 30 certification signals competency in job site safety, which larger general contractors increasingly require before allowing trade workers on their sites. Workers who add welding certifications (particularly AWS D1.3 for sheet metal) or become proficient in BIM coordination and shop fabrication software put themselves in position to move into foreman, estimating, or project management roles — all of which pay above the 75th percentile for field workers.

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

The BLS figures used here are statewide averages across all employer types, project sizes, and experience levels. They won't match every shop's pay scale exactly, but they're the most reliable public benchmark available for understanding where Tennessee sheet metal wages actually stand.