Sheet Metal Workers
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.
How to read this profile
BLS projects U.S. employment for Sheet Metal Workers to increase by 2.5% between 2024 and 2034, from 131,100 to 134,400 jobs. Its estimate of 9,800 annual openings includes replacement needs, so it does not represent current vacancies, contract postings, or freelance demand. The wage ($61,800), education (High school diploma or equivalent), and related experience (None) figures on this profile describe typical U.S. employees. O*NET skills describe the occupation; they do not assess an individual worker's proficiency.
Base employment (2024)
131,100
Projected employment (2034)
134,400
Projected change (2024–2034)
3%
Annual openings (projected average)
9,800
Pay & Preparation
$61,800
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Apprenticeship
Essential Skills
Monitoring (3.12/5) • Reading Comprehension (3.12/5) • Critical Thinking (3.12/5) • Coordination (3.12/5) • Active Listening (3/5) • Mathematics (3/5)
O*NET describes occupational requirements; these ratings do not measure current job-posting frequency or an individual worker’s proficiency.
BLS projections are long-term estimates; annual openings include growth and replacement needs and are not current vacancies.
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