Sheet Metal Workers

Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed

Fabricate, assemble, install, and repair sheet metal products and equipment, such as ducts, control boxes, drainpipes, and furnace casings. Work may involve any of the following: setting up and operating fabricating machines to cut, bend, and straighten sheet metal; shaping metal over anvils, blocks, or forms using hammer; operating soldering and welding equipment to join sheet metal parts; or inspecting, assembling, and smoothing seams and joints of burred surfaces. Includes sheet metal duct installers who install prefabricated sheet metal ducts used for heating, air conditioning, or other purposes.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $61,800/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$38,630$105,650

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: +2.4% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.

About 10,600 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingMonitoringCoordinationActive ListeningTime ManagementMathematicsSpeakingJudgment and Decision MakingInstructing

Top knowledge areas

MechanicalBuilding and ConstructionMathematicsDesignEnglish LanguageAdministration and ManagementEducation and TrainingProduction and Processing

Core tasks

• Maintain equipment, making repairs or modifications when necessary.

• Fabricate ducts for high efficiency heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to maximize efficiency of systems.

• Fasten seams or joints together with welds, bolts, cement, rivets, solder, caulks, metal drive clips, or bonds to assemble components into products or to repair sheet metal items.

• Transport prefabricated parts to construction sites for assembly and installation.

• Install assemblies, such as flashing, pipes, tubes, heating and air conditioning ducts, furnace casings, rain gutters, or downspouts in supportive frameworks.

• Hire, train, or supervise new employees or apprentices.

• Lay out, measure, and mark dimensions and reference lines on material, such as roofing panels, using calculators, scribes, dividers, squares, or rulers.

• Fabricate or alter parts at construction sites, using shears, hammers, punches, or drills.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Sheet Metal Workers?

The median pay for Sheet Metal Workers is $61,800 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Sheet Metal Workers?

Employment for Sheet Metal Workers is projected to change +2.4% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.

What education is typically required for Sheet Metal Workers?

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

How many job openings are there each year for Sheet Metal Workers?

About 10,600 openings per year, on average, over the decade.