Sheet Metal Worker Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Sheet Metal Workers in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $78,840 a year — 28% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,496 take-home, or $5,125 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sheet metal worker salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,515
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,888
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,143
- Wisconsin income tax$2,798
- Take-home pay$61,496
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.30% state
Sheet Metal Worker pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,450 | $21.85 | $37,480 | $3,123 |
| 25th percentile | $52,180 | $25.09 | $42,592 | $3,549 |
| Median (50th) | $78,840 | $37.90 | $61,496 | $5,125 |
| 75th percentile | $101,860 | $48.97 | $76,470 | $6,373 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $119,350 | $57.38 | $87,848 | $7,321 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,840 buys in Milwaukee, WI
Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sheet metal worker's $61,496 take-home pay has the buying power of $63,439 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Milwaukee, WI has 1.6× the national concentration of sheet metal worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for sheet metal workers, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Milwaukee, WI | $78,840 | $61,496 | $63,439 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 64 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sheet metal worker make in Milwaukee, WI?
The median sheet metal worker salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $78,840 a year, or about $37.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $52,180 and $101,860.
What is a sheet metal worker’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $78,840 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $61,496 a year ($5,125 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,798 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a sheet metal worker?
Pay here is 28% above the national median of $61,800. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $63,439 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #9 of 64 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sheet metal worker afford rent in Milwaukee, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Milwaukee, WI is $1,119 a month ($1,338 for two bedrooms) — 22% of a median sheet metal worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Milwaukee, WI
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $91,760
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $84,700
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $79,430
- Electrician — $77,800
- Construction and Building Inspector — $77,220
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $74,730
- Carpenter — $63,910
- Highway Maintenance Worker — $60,660
- Roofer — $60,140
- Construction Laborer — $57,430
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $50,620