Sheet Metal Worker Salary in San Diego, CA
Sheet Metal Workers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $80,080 a year — 30% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,907 take-home, or $5,076 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sheet metal worker salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,788
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,965
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,161
- California income tax$3,218
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,041
- Take-home pay$60,907
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Sheet Metal Worker pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,440 | $22.81 | $38,785 | $3,232 |
| 25th percentile | $62,370 | $29.99 | $49,692 | $4,141 |
| Median (50th) | $80,080 | $38.50 | $60,907 | $5,076 |
| 75th percentile | $101,350 | $48.73 | $73,616 | $6,135 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $126,540 | $60.84 | $88,572 | $7,381 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $80,080 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sheet metal worker's $60,907 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,437 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 1.3× 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
San Diego, CA ranks #25 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 |
| 25 | San Diego, CA | $80,080 | $60,907 | $54,437 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $109,280
- San Francisco, CA — $102,660
- Sacramento, CA — $74,820
- Riverside, CA — $68,780
- Los Angeles, CA — $72,710
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sheet metal worker make in San Diego, CA?
The median sheet metal worker salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $80,080 a year, or about $38.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,370 and $101,350.
What is a sheet metal worker’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $80,080 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $60,907 a year ($5,076 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,259 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a sheet metal worker?
Pay here is 30% above the national median of $61,800. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,437 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #25 of 64 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sheet metal worker afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median sheet metal worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Construction and Building Inspector — $98,580
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $95,850
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $83,670
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $76,400
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer — $76,290
- Electrician — $76,160
- Carpenter — $73,200
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $72,510
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $66,530
- Glazier — $65,150
- Roofer — $62,180
- Solar Photovoltaic Installer — $61,340