Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing — Average Employee Salary
The average employee in the sheet metal work manufacturing industry earns $65,593 per year ($31.54/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.
What Do Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing Workers Earn?
At $65,593/year (equivalent to $31.54/hour for a full-time worker), sheet metal work manufacturing wages are near the national average of ~$65,000.
The typical sheet metal work manufacturing business employs 25 people. These are larger operations where staffing represents a major cost center and management complexity.
Wages as a Percentage of Revenue
For the average sheet metal work manufacturing business generating $7.1M/year with 25 employees at $65,593 each, total payroll represents roughly 23.0% of revenue. Labor costs are relatively low compared to revenue — other costs (materials, equipment, overhead) dominate.
What This Means for Business Owners
If you're starting or running a sheet metal work manufacturingbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:
- Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $85,271/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
- Typical team size: 25 employees = ~$1,639,825/year in base payroll.
- Hourly equivalent: $31.54/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
- Revenue needed: With average revenue of $7.1M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.
See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.
View full Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing revenue benchmarks →Frequently Asked Questions
- How much do sheet metal work manufacturing employees make?
- The average sheet metal work manufacturing employee earns $65,593 per year, which is equivalent to $31.54/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
- How many people work in the sheet metal work manufacturing industry?
- The sheet metal work manufacturing industry employs 114,779 workers across 4,513 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 25 employees.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).