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

This is a material pay gap: Sheet Metal Workers earns $17,520 (21.6%) more per year than Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Washington. At standard 3% annual raises, it would take Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters roughly 7 years of above-average pay growth to close that gap.

Nationally, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters earn more than Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters at the median. In Washington, the ranking flips: Sheet Metal Workers leads Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters by $17,520. Inversions like this typically reflect concentrated demand for Sheet Metal Workers in Washington's dominant industries rather than a broad-market trend.

The gap is consistent across the career ladder in Washington — $8,160 at entry level and $7,400 at the top. Relative pay stays roughly proportional from first hire to senior veteran.

Both roles pay above their national medians in Washington, making it a net winner for either career path. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Washington pay +18.2% vs the U.S. median; Sheet Metal Workers in Washington pay +53.3% vs the U.S. median.

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters outnumber Sheet Metal Workers by roughly 4:1 in Washington — 12,470 vs 3,440 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 Washington: $1,010M for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters vs $339M for Sheet Metal Workers — a 3.0× ratio. The larger wage pool usually indicates deeper professional-services infrastructure (recruiters, training pipelines, specialized employers) around that role.