Sheet Metal Workers
SOC code 47-2211 · O*NET-SOC 47-2211.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Skilled trades
Sheet Metal Workers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$61,800
a year
Hourly
$29.71
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$67,850
$32.62 per hour
Middle 50%
$47,830 – $81,610
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$38,630 – $105,650
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
119,770
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $38,630
- $18.57/hr
- 25th percentile
- $47,830
- $22.99/hr
- Median percentile
- $61,800
- $29.71/hr
- 75th percentile
- $81,610
- $39.24/hr
- 90th percentile
- $105,650
- $50.79/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+2%
Growing about as fast as average
127,000
jobs in 2024
130,100
projected for 2034
About 3,100 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What does a sheet metal worker do?
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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Inspect individual parts, assemblies, or installations, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, scales, or micrometers.
- 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.
How to become a sheet metal worker
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 49% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)49%
- Post-Secondary Certificate44%
- Less than a High School Diploma7%
Common questions
How much does a sheet metal worker earn?
The national median is $61,800 a year. The full range runs from $38,630 at the 10th percentile to $105,650 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a sheet metal worker without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Is sheet metal worker in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 2% between 2024 and 2034 — growing about as fast as average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension3.1/5
- Critical Thinking3.1/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Mathematics3.0/5
- Active Learning2.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical4.2/5
- Building and Construction3.8/5
- Mathematics3.8/5
- Design3.6/5
- English Language3.4/5
- Administration and Management3.1/5
- Education and Training3.1/5
- Production and Processing3.1/5
Transferable strengths: Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management.