U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsFabricate, assemble, install, and repair sheet metal products and equipment, such as ducts, control boxes, drainpipes, and furnace casings. Work may involve any of the following: setting up and operating fabricating machines to cut, bend, and straighten sheet metal; shaping metal over anvils, blocks, or forms using hammer; operating soldering and welding equipment to join sheet metal parts; or inspecting, assembling, and smoothing seams and joints of burred surfaces. Includes sheet metal duct installers who install prefabricated sheet metal ducts used for heating, air conditioning, or other purposes.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 131,600 | 2.2 % | $21.98 | $45,710 | 0.7 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $12.02 | $15.08 | $20.05 | $27.40 | $35.57 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $24,990 | $31,360 | $41,710 | $57,000 | $73,980 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Equipment Contractors | 62,340 | 3.78 | $23.28 | $48,420 |
| Architectural and Structural Metals Manufacturing | 15,240 | 4.69 | $19.42 | $40,390 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | 14,440 | 2.02 | $20.24 | $42,100 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 6,800 | 0.33 | $25.32 | $52,660 |
| Building Finishing Contractors | 3,400 | 0.51 | $22.32 | $46,430 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Structural Metals Manufacturing | 15,240 | 4.69 | $19.42 | $40,390 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 62,340 | 3.78 | $23.28 | $48,420 |
| Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing | 3,110 | 2.47 | $19.09 | $39,710 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | 14,440 | 2.02 | $20.24 | $42,100 |
| Ship and Boat Building | 1,930 | 1.54 | $20.22 | $42,060 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 50 | (7) | $36.45 | $75,820 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 90 | 0.06 | $33.44 | $69,560 |
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 330 | 0.01 | $29.46 | $61,290 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | 100 | (7) | $28.20 | $58,660 |
| Remediation and Other Waste Management Services | 120 | 0.10 | $28.08 | $58,400 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 12,600 | 0.90 | 0.87 | $27.13 | $56,440 |
| Texas | 11,190 | 1.11 | 1.07 | $17.35 | $36,090 |
| Georgia | 5,870 | 1.57 | 1.51 | $19.50 | $40,560 |
| Florida | 5,560 | 0.78 | 0.76 | $17.64 | $36,700 |
| Illinois | 5,360 | 0.97 | 0.94 | $28.02 | $58,280 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | 3,520 | 2.70 | 2.60 | $19.27 | $40,090 |
| Oklahoma | 3,540 | 2.38 | 2.30 | $20.57 | $42,780 |
| North Dakota | 710 | 1.99 | 1.92 | $19.18 | $39,900 |
| Montana | 710 | 1.67 | 1.62 | $19.20 | $39,940 |
| Wisconsin | 4,230 | 1.62 | 1.57 | $24.04 | $50,000 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 1,280 | 1.15 | 1.11 | $33.01 | $68,650 |
| New Jersey | 3,140 | 0.83 | 0.80 | $28.76 | $59,820 |
| Hawaii | 570 | 1.00 | 0.96 | $28.70 | $59,690 |
| Alaska | 360 | 1.16 | 1.12 | $28.04 | $58,320 |
| Illinois | 5,360 | 0.97 | 0.94 | $28.02 | $58,280 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX | 3,970 | 1.59 | 1.54 | $17.56 | $36,530 |
| New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 3,500 | 0.70 | 0.68 | $31.04 | $64,560 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL Metropolitan Division | 3,040 | 0.86 | 0.83 | $31.37 | $65,250 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 2,970 | 1.30 | 1.25 | $23.14 | $48,130 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 2,630 | 0.69 | 0.67 | $26.98 | $56,130 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 2,430 | 4.40 | 4.25 | $22.43 | $46,660 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA | 2,060 | 1.66 | 1.60 | $26.70 | $55,530 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 2,050 | 1.03 | 0.99 | $17.41 | $36,220 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA | 1,940 | 0.88 | 0.85 | $18.69 | $38,880 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 1,890 | 1.12 | 1.08 | $20.19 | $42,000 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warner Robins, GA | 1,440 | 25.35 | 24.49 | $23.48 | $48,830 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 2,430 | 4.40 | 4.25 | $22.43 | $46,660 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 650 | 3.76 | 3.63 | $24.26 | $50,460 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | 170 | 3.71 | 3.59 | $21.30 | $44,300 |
| Longview, WA | 120 | 3.63 | 3.50 | $33.11 | $68,880 |
| Ogden-Clearfield, UT | 660 | 3.48 | 3.37 | $24.12 | $50,180 |
| Wichita, KS | 960 | 3.46 | 3.34 | $16.08 | $33,440 |
| Mobile, AL | 550 | 3.30 | 3.19 | $14.94 | $31,080 |
| Pueblo, CO | 180 | 3.23 | 3.12 | $13.48 | $28,050 |
| Jefferson City, MO | 230 | 3.23 | 3.12 | $24.38 | $50,710 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division | 510 | 0.54 | 0.52 | $39.62 | $82,410 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 50 | 0.29 | 0.28 | $37.81 | $78,640 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | (8) | (8) | (8) | $36.23 | $75,350 |
| Olympia, WA | (8) | (8) | (8) | $35.51 | $73,870 |
| Las Vegas-Paradise, NV | 1,020 | 1.26 | 1.22 | $34.86 | $72,500 |
| Longview, WA | 120 | 3.63 | 3.50 | $33.11 | $68,880 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 180 | 1.86 | 1.80 | $32.82 | $68,260 |
| Napa, CA | 70 | 1.20 | 1.16 | $32.31 | $67,210 |
| Gary, IN Metropolitan Division | 170 | 0.67 | 0.65 | $31.82 | $66,180 |
| Flint, MI | 200 | 1.60 | 1.55 | $31.64 | $65,820 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 650 | 2.69 | 2.60 | $13.56 | $28,210 |
| Other North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 570 | 1.97 | 1.90 | $13.00 | $27,030 |
| Northeastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 490 | 2.77 | 2.68 | $23.17 | $48,190 |
| Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | 310 | 1.62 | 1.57 | $19.13 | $39,780 |
| Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | 300 | 1.46 | 1.41 | $14.15 | $29,430 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 490 | 2.77 | 2.68 | $23.17 | $48,190 |
| Western Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 650 | 2.69 | 2.60 | $13.56 | $28,210 |
| East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 170 | 2.15 | 2.08 | $15.82 | $32,910 |
| West Central North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 2.15 | 2.07 | $21.42 | $44,560 |
| Southwestern Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 130 | 2.05 | 1.98 | $15.05 | $31,300 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Washington nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $32.19 | $66,950 |
| South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.22 | 0.21 | $31.09 | $64,660 |
| Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $29.98 | $62,360 |
| Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 0.67 | 0.65 | $26.56 | $55,240 |
| Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | 230 | 1.34 | 1.29 | $26.28 | $54,670 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2010 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2010 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2010 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2010 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
List of Occupations in SOC Code Number Order
List of Occupations in Alphabetical Order
Download May 2010 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates in Zipped XLS files
Last Modified Date: May 17, 2011
