Sheet Metal Workers pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $126,540 or more. The middle half of sheet metal workers in San Diego earn between $62,370 and $101,350.
- $47K10th
- $62K25th
- $80KMedian
- $101K75th
- $127K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,620 | $6,885 | $39.72 |
| Median | $80,080 | $6,673 | $38.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,370 | $5,198 | $29.99 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $101,350 | $8,446 | $48.73 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Sheet Metal Workers pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Sheet metal workers in San Diego earn 3% less than the California average ($85,580) and 22% more than the U.S. average ($67,850). At the median the gap is +30% against the U.S. median of $61,800.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $82,620 | $80,080 | $47,440 | $126,540 | 1,480 |
| California | $85,580 | $76,590 | $47,410 | $132,190 | 8,390 |
| United States | $67,850 | $61,800 | $38,630 | $105,650 | 119,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Sheet Metal Workers salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $82,620, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $63,362 a year, or $5,280 a month and $2,437 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for sheet metal workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $82,620 buys what about $73,842 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 11.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Sheet Metal Workers salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 6th of 17 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($105,760).
- San Francisco$105,760
- San Jose$105,710
- Salinas$93,110
- Santa Rosa$90,490
- Sacramento$83,490
- San Diego$82,620
- Visalia$81,900
- Los Angeles$81,680
- Fresno$81,390
- Bakersfield$79,330
Highest-paying cities for sheet metal workers
Seattle, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($108,590).
- Seattle, WA$108,590
- San Francisco, CA$105,760
- San Jose, CA$105,710
- Olympia, WA$104,520
- Kennewick, WA$97,940
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Sheet Metal Workers salary in San Diego: questions
How much do sheet metal workers make an hour in San Diego?
$39.72 an hour on average, and $38.50 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level sheet metal workers salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,370, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the sheet metal workers take-home pay in San Diego?
About $63,362 a year ($5,280 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,620. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do sheet metal workers earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% more than the U.S. average for this job ($67,850).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-2211; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.25, this job is 1.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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