Sheet Metal Worker.
Denver.
$62,000
median salary, 9% above the national average
$48,000 to $80,000. Updated for 2026.
The numbers.
Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.
Here is what Sheet Metal Workers actually make in Denver: $48,000 at the 25th percentile, $62,000 at the median, and $80,000 at the 75th. That is 9% above the national average. Denver has emerged as a secondary tech hub with strong aerospace, telecom, and outdoor industry employers. The number on your offer letter will depend on what you bring and how you ask.
Salary range
Tap to place your salary
How Denver compares
Denver, CO
$62,000
Cost of living: 8% above average
National Average
$57,000
Denver is $5,000 above
What you should know
Before you negotiate a Sheet Metal Worker offer in Denver, understand the terrain. Denver has emerged as a secondary tech hub with strong aerospace, telecom, and outdoor industry employers. The city attracts remote workers and relocating companies seeking lower costs than the coasts. Salaries have climbed steadily as national employers open satellite offices and compete for Denver's growing talent pool. Workers specializing in HVAC ductwork fabrication and architectural sheet metal earn the highest rates. CNC and CAD proficiency for precision fabrication adds 10 to 15% above hand-layout skills alone. Union sheet metal workers in major metropolitan areas benefit from prevailing wage requirements on commercial and government projects that push hourly rates well above open-shop competitors.
Sheet metal apprentices start at $32,000 to $40,000 during their four to five year apprenticeship. Journeymen earn $44,000 to $62,000, while foremen and shop supervisors reach $65,000 to $82,000. Estimators and project managers with sheet metal backgrounds command $80,000 to $110,000 at large mechanical contractors. In Denver, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Union SMWIA benefits add $15,000 to $25,000 annually in health, pension, and training fund contributions. Overtime on large commercial projects can add $6,000 to $14,000 per year. Tool and equipment allowances of $500 to $1,500 annually are common at union shops. And on the tax side: colorado has a flat 4.4% state income tax. Denver has no additional city income tax, making the overall tax burden lighter than most coastal metros. When someone quotes you $62,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Position yourself as a remote talent anchor. Many companies pay near coastal rates for Denver based employees to save on office costs while retaining top performers. The range for Sheet Metal Workers in Denver runs from $48,000 to $80,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Top industries in Denver
Negotiating in Denver
Position yourself as a remote talent anchor. Many companies pay near coastal rates for Denver based employees to save on office costs while retaining top performers.