Sheet Metal Worker Salary in San Jose, CA
Sheet Metal Workers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $109,280 a year — 77% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $78,354 take-home, or $6,530 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sheet metal worker salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$15,212
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,775
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,585
- California income tax$5,933
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,421
- Take-home pay$78,354
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Sheet Metal Worker pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,810 | $26.35 | $44,169 | $3,681 |
| 25th percentile | $65,460 | $31.47 | $51,901 | $4,325 |
| Median (50th) | $109,280 | $52.54 | $78,354 | $6,530 |
| 75th percentile | $147,150 | $70.75 | $100,475 | $8,373 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $155,470 | $74.75 | $105,280 | $8,773 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $109,280 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sheet metal worker's $78,354 take-home pay has the buying power of $70,958 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 San Jose, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for sheet metal workers, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #2 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 |
*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 Francisco, CA — $102,660
- San Diego, CA — $80,080
- 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 Jose, CA?
The median sheet metal worker salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $109,280 a year, or about $52.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $65,460 and $147,150.
What is a sheet metal worker’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $109,280 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $78,354 a year ($6,530 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,354 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a sheet metal worker?
Pay here is 77% above the national median of $61,800. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $70,958 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #2 of 64 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sheet metal worker afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median sheet metal worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- Construction and Building Inspector — $129,750
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $129,700
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $124,340
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $107,560
- Taper — $92,810
- Electrician — $91,030
- Carpenter — $80,190
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer — $79,430
- Roofer — $76,650
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $75,520
- Construction Laborer — $68,470
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $61,970