Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters vs Sheet Metal Workers Salary in Illinois

This is a material pay gap: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters earns $13,320 (15.4%) more per year than Sheet Metal Workers in Illinois. At standard 3% annual raises, it would take Sheet Metal Workers roughly 5 years of above-average pay growth to close that gap.

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay dominates in both Illinois and the broader U.S. market, so this is not a location-dependent ranking. Candidates weighing offers don't need to factor in state-level inversions when comparing these two titles.

The gap is consistent across the career ladder in Illinois — $8,030 at entry level and $8,520 at the top. Relative pay stays roughly proportional from first hire to senior veteran.

Both roles pay above their national medians in Illinois, making it a net winner for either career path. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Illinois pay +45.8% vs the U.S. median; Sheet Metal Workers in Illinois pay +34.7% vs the U.S. median.

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters outnumber Sheet Metal Workers by roughly 5:1 in Illinois — 16,750 vs 3,260 workers. The dominant role faces steeper internal competition but also offers more horizontal mobility; the niche role commands scarcity pricing when openings appear.

Multiplying employment by median pay gives the approximate total wages flowing into each occupation in Illinois: $1,674M for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters vs $282M for Sheet Metal Workers — a 5.9× ratio. The larger wage pool usually indicates deeper professional-services infrastructure (recruiters, training pipelines, specialized employers) around that role.