Sheet Metal Worker Salary in Chicago, IL
Sheet Metal Workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $95,310 a year — 54% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $71,308 take-home, or $5,942 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sheet metal worker salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,138
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,909
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,382
- Illinois income tax$4,573
- Take-home pay$71,308
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Sheet Metal Worker pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,220 | $20.30 | $34,159 | $2,847 |
| 25th percentile | $60,410 | $29.04 | $47,874 | $3,989 |
| Median (50th) | $95,310 | $45.82 | $71,308 | $5,942 |
| 75th percentile | $108,380 | $52.11 | $79,855 | $6,655 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $122,330 | $58.81 | $88,968 | $7,414 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $95,310 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sheet metal worker's $71,308 take-home pay has the buying power of $68,833 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 less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.70), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for sheet metal workers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #1 of 6 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $95,310 | $71,308 | $68,833 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $76,730 | $59,263 | $52,649 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $72,710 | $56,432 | $49,691 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $56,240 | $47,369 | $45,949 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $51,870 | $43,858 | $44,467 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $51,230 | $42,271 | $40,915 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 6 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sheet metal worker make in Chicago, IL?
The median sheet metal worker salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $95,310 a year, or about $45.82 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,410 and $108,380.
What is a sheet metal worker’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $95,310 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $71,308 a year ($5,942 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,573 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a sheet metal worker?
Pay here is 54% above the national median of $61,800. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $68,833 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #1 of 6 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sheet metal worker afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 26% of a median sheet metal worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $111,260
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $103,380
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $103,100
- Electrician — $102,350
- Roofer — $82,090
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $81,020
- Carpenter — $80,440
- Highway Maintenance Worker — $76,220
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $61,740
- Construction Laborer — $60,890