Sheet metal workers fabricate, assemble, and install metal sheets and components for buildings, HVAC systems, and industrial equipment. It is hands-on, in demand, and you can start without a four-year degree. Here is what the work involves, what it takes, and how to get in.
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Sheet metal workers cut, bend, and shape metal sheets into ducts, roofing panels, gutters, and other components. You'll read blueprints and technical drawings to understand specifications, then use tools and machinery to fabricate parts with precision. On the job, you inspect your work and materials to ensure quality and safety. You also install finished products on site, which means communicating with other trades and project managers. The role requires both careful measurement and mathematical calculation to get dimensions right.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Sheet Metal Workers earn a median of $61,800 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is modest. Employment is projected to grow 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, little or no change for all occupations, with about 10,600 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
Most sheet metal workers start with a high school diploma or equivalent and learn through on-the-job training combined with classroom instruction. Many enter the field as apprentices, working under experienced sheet metal workers while taking courses in blueprint reading, mathematics, and metal fabrication techniques. Some start in entry-level positions and advance as they build skills. The typical path involves several years of hands-on experience before you work independently. Your reading comprehension and math skills are important from day one.
Apprenticeships and entry-level positions are the main routes into sheet metal work. If you are deciding between different training programs or timing your start, Pathly can map the sheet metal worker path that fits you with your counselor to map out the steps that fit your situation.
Many sheet metal workers must be licensed to practice.
Licensing is handled at the state level and the requirements vary, so check the licensing board in your state. Pathly shows your state's specific steps inside your roadmap.
You are drawn to hands-on work with tools and materials. You think in concrete, practical terms and enjoy solving real problems. You like seeing the physical results of your effort.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).