What Does a Sheet Metal Worker Do?
A new air handler alone isn't likely to cool a lab if its ductwork leaks, but if the ducts are tight and well sized, the same unit can be what keeps the room comfortable and the fume hoods pulling. Sheet metal workers make and install that ductwork, along with gutters, flashing and roof edges, for contractors and the in-house shops of campuses and hospitals.
Also known as: Sheet Metal Technician
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Commercial Sheet Metal Service Installer, Field Installer, HVAC Sheet Metal Installer (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Sheet Metal Installer), HVAC Sheet Metal Specialist (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Sheet Metal Specialist), Sheet Metal Fabricator, Sheet Metal Installer, Sheet Metal Journeyman, Sheet Metal Layout Mechanic.
Sheet Metal Worker Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a sheet metal worker include:
- Fabricate ducts, fittings and transitions from galvanized steel using brakes, shears and rollers.
- Lay out patterns on flat stock from drawings, or with plasma-cutting software for complex pieces.
- Install ductwork, dampers and diffusers in ceilings and mechanical rooms, sealing every joint.
- Make and hang gutters, downspouts, roof flashing and copings to keep water out of buildings.
- Weld, braze or rivet stainless and aluminum parts for kitchens, labs and fume hood exhausts.
- Build equipment guards, enclosures and brackets for maintenance shops across the site.
- Repair storm-damaged roof edges, louvers and ductwork after inspections.
- Measure existing openings on site and bring back dimensions for shop fabrication.
- Operate press brakes, plasma cutters and seam-closing machines safely and keep them adjusted.
- Seal and test duct systems for leaks so air reaches the rooms it was designed for.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a sheet metal worker, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Pattern layout and geometry
- Brake, shear and roller operation
- MIG, TIG and spot welding
- Reading mechanical and architectural drawings
- CAD or plasma-cutting software for layouts
- Working safely at height on roofs and lifts
- Careful measuring on site
- Hand strength and dexterity with snips and seamers
Education and Training
SMART union locals and contractor associations run many of the apprenticeships that train sheet metal workers after high school, and a helper's job in a fabrication shop is a good way to get noticed by them. Take a welding class or two before you apply.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $47,830 - $81,610 per year, with a median of $61,800.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Sheet Metal Workers.
Employment of sheet metal workers is projected to grow about 2.5 percent from 2025 to 2035, according to BLS. Retirements should still create about 9,800 openings a year, the agency estimates. Although new construction rises and falls with the economy, repair and retrofit work on ducts, roofs and gutters keeps many shops busy through slow years.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Sheet metal workers.
Sheet Metal Worker Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $38,630 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $47,830 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $61,800 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $81,610 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $105,650 |
Highest-Paying States for Sheet Metal Workers
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are Washington ($98,550), Hawaii ($96,350), Alaska ($94,600), New Jersey ($92,840), Illinois ($86,630). Pay is lowest in Nevada ($46,730), Idaho ($46,350), Arkansas ($45,820).
Median pay in all 50 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $47,530 |
| Alaska | $94,600 |
| Arizona | $50,260 |
| Arkansas | $45,820 |
| California | $76,590 |
| Colorado | $57,880 |
| Connecticut | $78,750 |
| Delaware | $61,460 |
| Florida | $49,640 |
| Georgia | $56,800 |
| Hawaii | $96,350 |
| Idaho | $46,350 |
| Illinois | $86,630 |
| Indiana | $64,040 |
| Iowa | $66,460 |
| Kansas | $62,670 |
| Kentucky | $60,680 |
| Louisiana | $50,320 |
| Maine | $62,120 |
| Maryland | $62,560 |
| Massachusetts | $82,100 |
| Michigan | $64,490 |
| Minnesota | $72,970 |
| Mississippi | $49,500 |
| Missouri | $63,560 |
| Montana | $61,420 |
| Nebraska | $64,440 |
| Nevada | $46,730 |
| New Hampshire | $59,800 |
| New Jersey | $92,840 |
| New Mexico | $56,720 |
| New York | $73,760 |
| North Carolina | $50,730 |
| North Dakota | $65,180 |
| Ohio | $74,790 |
| Oklahoma | $65,640 |
| Oregon | $73,750 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,400 |
| Rhode Island | $65,100 |
| South Carolina | $49,920 |
| South Dakota | $47,800 |
| Tennessee | $59,170 |
| Texas | $54,240 |
| Utah | $63,140 |
| Vermont | $58,250 |
| Virginia | $52,220 |
| Washington | $98,550 |
| West Virginia | $72,390 |
| Wisconsin | $77,760 |
| Wyoming | $58,740 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as sheet metal workers about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 98% spend more than half the workday on their feet
- 95% wear safety gear such as gloves, safety glasses or a hard hat every day
- 94% use their hands on tools, objects or controls for more than half the day
- 85% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 63% bend or twist for more than half the day
- 58% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 50% work around hazardous equipment every day
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or GED | 49% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 44% |
| Less than high school | 7% |
Tools and Software Sheet Metal Workers Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy hands-on work with tools, machines or the outdoors as well as organized work with data, records and clear procedures.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Coordination, Active Listening, Speaking.
Knowledge areas used most: Mechanical, Building and Construction, Mathematics, Design, English Language.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 2 of 5, which means some preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
Applying for a Sheet Metal Worker Job
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 47-2211.00 (Sheet Metal Workers). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.