What apprenticeships are available for sheet metal workers in Illinois?

In Illinois, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Illinois Department of Employment Services - 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 Illinois (2026)

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

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), sheet metal workers in Illinois earned a median annual wage of approximately $86,630. Employment concentration in Illinois is roughly 0.69 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

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

Illinois currently employs approximately 3,260 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

Illinois sheet metal workers earn a median annual wage of $86,630 ($41.65/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 3,260 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 40.2% above the national median of $61,800 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $86,630 ($41.65/hr)
25th percentile: $59,400 per year
75th percentile: $105,330 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $117,910 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $42,220 per year
Workers employed in Illinois: 3,260
Versus national median: 40.2% above the U.S. median of $61,800
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.69 - this occupation is less concentrated in Illinois than the national average

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

Illinois employs about 3,260 sheet metal workers earning a median $86,630 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 Illinois.

Illinois employs approximately 3,260 sheet metal workers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $86,630 ¹. 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 Illinois, 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 (Illinois): $86,630 per year ¹

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

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

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 Illinois? The median annual wage for sheet metal workers in Illinois is $86,630 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $42,220 and experienced professionals can earn $117,910 or more ¹.

How to Become a Sheet Metal Worker in Illinois

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Illinois 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 Illinois 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 Illinois 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 Illinois

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

Contact Information:

Office: BEST, Inc
Address: 815 N. Orlando Smith Ave., Oglesby, IL 61348
Phone: (815) 224-0375
Email: [email protected]

Sheet Metal Worker Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

Sheet Metal Workers Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	2,430	$95,310	$85,620	$42,220	$122,330
St. Louis	1,050	$66,080	$73,310	$40,790	$107,570
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	440	$72,380	$70,520	$50,510	$85,490
Rockford	150	$78,640	$81,640	$44,700	$109,010
Peoria	120	$87,120	$81,490	$45,660	$110,260
Champaign-Urbana	110	$92,710	$81,120	$44,440	$100,530
Paducah	70	$79,020	$67,800	$38,620	$85,630
Cape Girardeau	50	$57,190	$67,820	$46,330	$111,010
Springfield	40	$90,330	$83,650	$45,970	$112,450

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 Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 3,260 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 Illinois? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Illinois. You can also contact the Illinois Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do sheet metal workers earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for sheet metal workers in Illinois is $86,630, which is $25,780 above the national median of $60,850 according to BLS data ¹.

In Illinois

Illinois Trade Schools 2026: Programs, Costs, Licensing

Explore More Trades in Illinois

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Illinois Department of Employment Services - 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)