What apprenticeships are available for sheet metal workers in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Arkansas Department of Career Education - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Sheet Metal Worker in Arkansas (2026)

Q: How much do sheet metal workers earn in Arkansas?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), sheet metal workers in Arkansas earned a median annual wage of approximately $45,820. Employment concentration in Arkansas is about 1.22 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for sheet metal workers in Arkansas?

Arkansas currently employs approximately 1,230 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.4% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Arkansas sheet metal workers earn a median annual wage of $45,820 ($22.03/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,230 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -25.9% below the national median of $61,800 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $45,820 ($22.03/hr)
25th percentile: $38,440 per year
75th percentile: $48,260 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $57,380 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $35,800 per year
Workers employed in Arkansas: 1,230
Versus national median: -25.9% below the U.S. median of $61,800
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.22 - this occupation is more concentrated in Arkansas than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

Arkansas employs about 1,230 sheet metal workers earning a median $45,820 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most sheet metal workers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Arkansas.

Arkansas employs approximately 1,230 sheet metal workers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $45,820 ¹. The state’s concentration of sheet metal worker jobs is 1.22x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, sheet metal worker employment is projected to grow 2.4% from 2024 to 2034, with about 10,600 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Sheet Metal Worker in Arkansas, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Arkansas): $45,820 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Sheet Metal Worker in Arkansas

How to become a Sheet Metal Worker in Arkansas? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for sheet metal workers in Arkansas.

How long does it take? Most paths into the sheet metal worker field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do sheet metal workers earn in Arkansas? The median annual wage for sheet metal workers in Arkansas is $45,820 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $35,800 and experienced professionals can earn $57,380 or more ¹.

How to Become a Sheet Metal Worker in Arkansas

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Arkansas training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Arkansas that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to sheet metal workers in Arkansas before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Sheet Metal Worker Apprenticeship Information in Arkansas

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Arkansas’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Arkansas Department of Career Education - Registered Apprenticeship ³.

Contact Information:

Office: Arkansas Office of Skills Development
Address: 1 Commerce Way, Little Rock, AR 72202
Phone: (501) 683-1152
Email: [email protected]

Sheet Metal Worker Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

Sheet Metal Workers Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), sheet metal workers wages in Arkansas vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway	380	$46,850	$47,860	$37,140	$57,380
Memphis	310	$60,780	$60,700	$39,580	$81,850
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers	250	$45,650	$45,350	$36,820	$56,680
Hot Springs	110	$38,980	$43,320	$38,270	$51,230
Fort Smith	60	$46,210	$45,440	$30,390	$78,540
Jonesboro	60	$43,260	$42,940	$25,030	$50,350
Texarkana	50	$49,090	$48,610	$29,890	$68,080

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for sheet metal workers in Arkansas? Arkansas currently employs approximately 1,230 sheet metal workers ¹. Nationally, sheet metal worker employment is projected to grow 2.4% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Arkansas? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Arkansas. You can also contact the Arkansas Department of Career Education - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do sheet metal workers earn in Arkansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for sheet metal workers in Arkansas is $45,820, which is $15,030 below the national median of $60,850 according to BLS data ¹.

In Arkansas

Best Trade Schools in Arkansas (2026)

Explore More Trades in Arkansas

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Arkansas Department of Career Education - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)