Sheet Metal Worker Salary in Buffalo, NY
Sheet Metal Workers in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $72,580 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $56,568 take-home, or $4,714 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sheet metal worker salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,138
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,500
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,052
- New York income tax$3,322
- Take-home pay$56,568
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.40% state
Sheet Metal Worker pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,630 | $21.46 | $36,227 | $3,019 |
| 25th percentile | $49,820 | $23.95 | $40,117 | $3,343 |
| Median (50th) | $72,580 | $34.89 | $56,568 | $4,714 |
| 75th percentile | $88,650 | $42.62 | $67,005 | $5,584 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $111,500 | $53.61 | $81,732 | $6,811 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $72,580 buys in Buffalo, NY
Prices in Buffalo, NY are 4.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 19% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sheet metal worker's $56,568 take-home pay has the buying power of $59,021 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Sheet Metal Worker jobs are about as common in Buffalo, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for sheet metal workers, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #15 of 64 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $109,830 | $86,095 | $77,471 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $109,280 | $78,354 | $70,958 |
| 3 | Kansas City, MO | $82,830 | $64,145 | $69,314 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $95,310 | $71,308 | $68,833 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $77,410 | $61,942 | $65,949 |
| 6 | Columbus, OH | $77,760 | $62,178 | $65,129 |
| 7 | Davenport, IA | $72,380 | $57,651 | $64,719 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $102,660 | $74,399 | $64,352 |
| 15 | Buffalo, NY | $72,580 | $56,568 | $59,021 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 64 metros →
Sheet Metal Worker salaries elsewhere in New York
- New York, NY — $76,730
- Rochester, NY — $63,710
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sheet metal worker make in Buffalo, NY?
The median sheet metal worker salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $72,580 a year, or about $34.89 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,820 and $88,650.
What is a sheet metal worker’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $72,580 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $56,568 a year ($4,714 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,322 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a sheet metal worker?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $61,800. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $59,021 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #15 of 64 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sheet metal worker afford rent in Buffalo, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Buffalo, NY is $1,139 a month ($1,343 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median sheet metal worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Buffalo, NY
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $82,190
- Electrician — $77,930
- Construction and Building Inspector — $77,040
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $73,650
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $72,230
- Carpenter — $63,500
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $62,640
- Roofer — $62,590
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $53,340
- Highway Maintenance Worker — $51,210
- Construction Laborer — $50,620