How much does a metal worker make?
Answer: A typical metal worker in the United States makes $45,950 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 16,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Metal worker pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $35,350 | $45,950 | $65,510 | about 16,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $50,280 | about 510 |
| Oregon | $49,510 | about 570 |
| New Hampshire | $47,830 | about 790 |
| California | $47,380 | about 2,000 |
| Texas | $45,560 | about 1,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., more experience, special skills, and useful certificates can lead to better pay. Employer or industry, state, and overtime or night shifts also matter; fame usually matters little in this hands-on job.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a metal worker do?
All metal workers and plastic workers not listed separately.
What's a typical day like?
The work depends on the specialty: a galvanizer may clean a part, set up a coating machine, and dip it in a metal coating. They watch gauges and check for bubbles or bare spots before recording the result.
How to get this job
In the U.S., finish high school or earn a GED, then learn shop skills and safety on the job. This catch-all has no single route; trade classes, an apprenticeship, or a welding certificate can help.
Did you know?
Surprise: this is a catch-all job title; official examples include anodizers, galvanizers, and nickel platers, who coat metal parts.
What about Japan?
Nearly the same jobThe US figure is the median and the Japan figure is the average, so it's not a perfect comparison. Prices differ too.
Earn more in the same field
Production jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-4199.00
- www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/demo/guidance/industry-occupation/soc_2018_defi
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-4193.00
- www.bls.gov/ooh/production/welders-cutters-solderers-and-brazers.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.aws.org/careers
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY