What Sheet Metal Workers do
The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET database describes the work of Sheet Metal Workers this way: "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 core tasks O*NET records for this occupation include: "Install assemblies, such as flashing, pipes, tubes, heating and air conditioning ducts, furnace casings, rain gutters, or downspouts in supportive frameworks"; "Select gauges or types of sheet metal or nonmetallic material, according to product specifications"; "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"; "Fabricate or alter parts at construction sites, using shears, hammers, punches, or drills"; "Trim, file, grind, deburr, buff, or smooth surfaces, seams, or joints of assembled parts, using hand tools or portable power tools".
Education, experience and training
According to the BLS Employment Projections, the typical education needed to enter this occupation is high school diploma or equivalent. Typical on-the-job training to reach competency is apprenticeship.
Job outlook for Sheet Metal Workers
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 131,100 jobs in this occupation in 2025 and projects 134,400 in 2035, an increase of 3,300 jobs (+2.5%). That is slower than the 3.5% projected for all occupations.
About 9,800 openings a year are projected on average, counting both new positions and positions vacated by workers who retire or switch occupations. Relative to today's employment that is 7.5% a year, against 10.3% for all occupations. 8.4% of workers in this occupation are self-employed; the wage figures below cover wage and salary workers. BLS lists a national median annual wage of $61,800, compared with $50,980 for all occupations.
Where Sheet Metal Workers earn the most
Across the 2 states with published data, the employment-weighted average of local median wages for this occupation ranges from $73,977 in New York to $76,984 in New Jersey, a gap of $3,007 (1.04 times). 2 of those 2 states average above the BLS national median of $61,800 and 0 average at or below it.
New York employs the most people in this occupation among the states covered, 8,040, which is 50.3% of the 15,990 counted across them. New Jersey follows with 7,950.
Highest-paying states
New Jersey ($76,984) and New York ($73,977) lead the ranking, while New York ($73,977) and New Jersey ($76,984) are at the bottom. The table below lists every state with a link to its county-level detail.
Occupations related to Sheet Metal Workers
Other occupations in the same SOC minor group (47-2000) include Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, Electricians, Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators and Carpenters.
Frequently asked questions about Sheet Metal Workers
How much do Sheet Metal Workers earn in the United States?
BLS lists a national median annual wage of $61,800. Across the states covered here the average local median ranges from $73,977 to $76,984.
Which state pays Sheet Metal Workers the most?
New Jersey, with an employment-weighted average local median wage of $76,984. New York is next at $73,977.
Is Sheet Metal Workers a growing occupation?
BLS projects employment to grow by 2.5% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 9,800 openings a year.
What education do Sheet Metal Workers need?
The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent and apprenticeship, according to BLS.