How much do sheet metal workers make in Virginia in 2026?
Government wage survey, BLS OEWS May 2025. Updated June 2026.
In 2026, sheet metal workers in Virginia earn a median of $52,220 per year ($25.11/hr), according to BLS OEWS (May 2025). Pay rises with experience, license tier, and specialty. Last updated June 2026.
$52,220/yr
Half of Virginia sheet metal workers earn between $44,620 and $63,390 per year.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Highest-paying state
- Washington · $98,550
- Workers in Virginia
- 4,520 (BLS 2025)
- Pay range (p25–p75)
- $44,620–$63,390
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| Median pay | $52,220/yr ($25.11/hr) |
|---|---|
| Pay range (25th–75th percentile) | $44,620 – $63,390/yr |
| Sheet Metal Workers employed in Virginia | 4,520 |
| Source | BLS OEWS May 2025 |
| Last updated | June 2026 |
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Wage benchmark for this trade
Different sources answer different questions. These figures are not a measured union versus non-union pay gap.
BLS median, all sheet metal workers in Virginia
$52,220/yr
All workers, including union and non-union. Middle 50%: $44,620/yr to $63,390/yr.
BLS does not separate union status in these occupational wage figures. A local journeyman scale may describe a different geography and experience level. Compare actual benefits, overtime, and job terms separately.
No published union scale is included for this pair. That does not mean the trade has no union workers.
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See the full kitSheet Metal Worker pay in Virginia
The median sheet metal worker pay in Virginia is $52,220 per year according to BLS OEWS May 2025. Half of workers earn less than the median and half earn more. The middle 50% fall between $44,620 to $63,390. These figures describe the occupation across the state, not one employer or city.
At 2,080 hours per year, the median converts to $25.11/hr. This is an hourly equivalent of annual wages, not a separately observed hourly wage. Overtime premiums, unpaid time, taxes, and benefits are not calculated by that conversion.
No published union scale is included for this trade and state. Missing scale data does not establish whether workers are union members.
BLS occupational wage percentiles do not identify apprenticeship year, license tier, or years of experience. The 25th percentile is not an entry wage or a pay floor; the 75th percentile is not a master-license rate. Location, employer, responsibilities, benefits, and hours need their own evidence.
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How Virginia compares
Sheet Metal Worker median by state
Sheet Metal Worker pay by metro in Virginia
Median pay by metro area (BLS OEWS metro data)
Other trades in Virginia
Median pay by trade
About this data
Wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program (May 2025), the authoritative public source for occupational pay. Union figures are journeyman scales from IBEW/UA locals (approximate). Member submissions, added anonymously, never with a raw email address, refine these numbers over time.
Cite or reuse this data
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TradesPays. "Sheet Metal Worker Salary in Virginia (2026): $52,220 Median." Based on BLS OEWS May 2025. https://tradespays.com/sheet-metal-worker/salary/virginia
Sheet Metal Worker pay in Virginia: FAQ
- What is the median sheet metal worker pay in Virginia?
- The median is $52,220 per year (BLS OEWS May 2025). This is the midpoint of the wage distribution, not the arithmetic average.
- What is the wage range for sheet metal workers in Virginia?
- The middle 50% of wages run from $44,620 to $63,390 per year. These are the 25th and 75th percentiles, not the lowest and highest wages (BLS OEWS May 2025).
- Does this data separate union and non-union workers?
- No. The BLS figures cover workers together, without a union-status split. No published union scale is included for this trade and state. Missing scale data does not establish whether workers are union members.
- What does the data say about entry-level and apprentice pay?
- BLS occupational wage percentiles do not identify apprenticeship year, license tier, or years of experience. The 25th percentile is not an entry wage or a pay floor; the 75th percentile is not a master-license rate. Location, employer, responsibilities, benefits, and hours need their own evidence.
- Can I use this number to negotiate a raise?
- Use it as a starting benchmark, not proof that your employer owes a particular rate. Compare the work, experience, geography, hours, and benefits. The free tool provides a benchmark-based opening script; it does not produce an experience-adjusted valuation.
- Are these wages specific to my city?
- No. They describe Virginia statewide. Where published metro figures are available, the page lists them separately. A state percentile cannot be assigned to a city without city-level data.
- How much do sheet metal workers make an hour in Virginia?
- The median sheet metal worker in Virginia earns about $25.11/hr, based on the $52,220/yr median (BLS OEWS May 2025, at 2,080 hours a year). Overtime and union scale can run higher.
- How much do sheet metal workers make a month in Virginia?
- That is about $4,352/mo before taxes, from the $52,220/yr median (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Sources
- Wage data: BLS OEWS: Virginia
- How we build these numbers
- Next data refresh: when BLS publishes its next annual OEWS release (typically the following spring).
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