Sheet Metal Worker Salary in Philadelphia, PA: 2026
Sheet Metal Worker salary data for Philadelphia, PA, adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.
The estimated median Sheet Metal Worker salary in Philadelphia, PA is $63,036 per year ($5,253/month, $30/hr). This modeled estimate scales Salario's national benchmark (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median) by the local cost of living index of 102, which is 2% above the national average.
All four figures are Salario estimates (national benchmark scaled by Philadelphia's cost-of-living index); BLS does not publish a metro median for this title here.
Sheet Metal Worker Take-Home Pay in Philadelphia
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $63,036 |
| Federal Tax | -$5,384 |
| State Tax (3.1% eff.) | -$1,935 |
| Local Tax (3.8%) | -$2,389 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$4,822 |
| Annual Take-Home | $48,505 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $4,042 |
Living Cost Comparison
Sheet Metal Worker Requirements
Key Skills
Sheet Metal Worker salary search terms in Philadelphia
People comparing Sheet Metal Worker pay in Philadelphia, PA may use related job-title wording. Salario keeps the main estimate tied to the Sheet Metal Worker role, then treats the terms below as comparison phrases that should be checked for licensing, employer type, seniority, and role scope.
| Comparison point | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Primary local answer | $63,036 median salary, $43,554-$89,352 modeled range, and $48,505 estimated take-home pay in Philadelphia. |
| Title variants | sheet metal mechanic, HVAC sheet metal worker, ductwork installer, metal fabrication worker can point to similar searches, but some variants may represent a narrower specialty or a higher/lower seniority band. |
| Offer comparison | Compare base salary, hourly equivalent, take-home pay, certifications, local cost of living, and whether the job is employee, contractor, public-sector, commission-heavy, or management-level. |
Philadelphia Job Market Overview
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has a population of 1,603,797 and an unemployment rate of 4.5%. The top industries are Healthcare, Education, Finance. The local job growth rate is 1.5%, and the average commute time is 33minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.
Related Trades Salaries in Philadelphia
Salary Percentile Breakdown: Sheet Metal Worker in Philadelphia
Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Sheet Metal Worker in Philadelphia, PA, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $43,554 | $21/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $53,295 | $26/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $63,036 | $30/hr | Mid-career, 4-5 years |
| 75th | $89,352 | $43/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $108,834 | $52/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
Percentiles are approximations, not measured local percentiles: P10, P50, P75, and P90 map to Salario's entry, median, senior, and top salary tiers scaled by the local cost-of-living index, and P25 is interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Philadelphia's Healthcare sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Salario's national dataset models approximately 3.0% salary growth for Sheet Metal Workers over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Philadelphia estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:
Year-over-year, an average Sheet Metal Worker can expect a 9.4% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 8 years in Philadelphia. Negotiation, certifications (Journeyman Certification), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Philadelphia vs National Average
The national median Sheet Metal Worker salary is $61,800 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Sheet Metal Workers). In Philadelphia, the cost-of-living-adjusted median of $63,036 is 2.0% above the national figure. This reflects Philadelphia's cost of living index of 102 (higher than the national average of 100).
For Sheet Metal Workers, this means: rent typically consumes 34.6% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered rent-burdened), and a median home in Philadelphia costs about 4.7× annual take-home. Homeownership is relatively attainable on this salary in Philadelphia.
Industry Context: Healthcare in Philadelphia
Philadelphia's economy is anchored by Healthcare, Education, Finance, with 1,603,797 residents and an unemployment rate of 4.5% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Sheet Metal Workers can differ by sector, so compare Healthcare employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 1.5%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 4.0% growth outlook for Sheet Metal Worker roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Sheet Metal Worker salaries in Philadelphia, PA:
- Base salary model starts with Salario occupation data and public wage references, including BLS OEWS and O*NET when a direct or related occupational crosswalk is available (the national median is calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for Sheet Metal Workers). For niche titles, we do not treat a broader SOC family as an exact job-title wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment applied using the Philadelphia index of 102 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs stored separately in Salario's city dataset.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), PA 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 3.1%), Philadelphia local tax of 3.8%, and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine, occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation data (CPI measures price changes, not city-to-city price levels)
- U.S. Census Bureau, Philadelphia QuickFacts, population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary, 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, official local unemployment rates to verify the Philadelphia figure above
Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. Sheet Metal Worker salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Healthcare vs others in Philadelphia), specific skill set (Metal Fabrication, HVAC Ductwork, Welding), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Sheet Metal Worker salary in Philadelphia, PA?
How much does a Sheet Metal Worker take home in Philadelphia after taxes?
Is Philadelphia a good city for Sheet Metal Workers?
What skills are needed for a Sheet Metal Worker in Philadelphia?
How does Sheet Metal Worker salary in Philadelphia compare to the national average?
What job titles are similar to Sheet Metal Worker in Philadelphia?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Sheet Metal Worker salary in Philadelphia, PA?
Salario estimates the median Sheet Metal Worker salary in Philadelphia, PA at $63,036 per year for 2026. This is a modeled figure: Salario's national Sheet Metal Worker benchmark scaled by the local cost of living index of 102, not a measured local wage survey. The modeled entry-level estimate is around $43,554, and the senior estimate is $89,352 or more.
How much does a Sheet Metal Worker take home in Philadelphia after taxes?
A Sheet Metal Worker earning the median salary of $63,036 in Philadelphia, PA takes home approximately $48,505 per year ($4,042/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 23.1%.
Is Philadelphia a good city for Sheet Metal Workers?
Philadelphia, PA has a cost of living index of 102 (above national average). Sheet Metal Workers here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 4.5% and top industries include Healthcare, Education, Finance.
What skills are needed for a Sheet Metal Worker in Philadelphia?
Key skills for Sheet Metal Workers include Metal Fabrication, HVAC Ductwork, Welding, Blueprint Reading, CAD. Typical education requirement is Apprenticeship. Valuable certifications include Journeyman Certification.
How does Sheet Metal Worker salary in Philadelphia compare to the national average?
Salario's national median benchmark for Sheet Metal Worker is $61,800 (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median). In Philadelphia, the cost-of-living-adjusted estimate is $63,036, which is 2.0% higher than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.
What job titles are similar to Sheet Metal Worker in Philadelphia?
Related search terms for Sheet Metal Worker in Philadelphia, PA include sheet metal mechanic, HVAC sheet metal worker, ductwork installer, metal fabrication worker. Use them as comparison terms, not always exact matches: licensing, employer type, seniority, public-sector rules, and whether the role is W-2, contractor, clinical, technical, management, or sales-focused can change the salary range.