Sheet Metal Workers
Overview
Introduction
Sheet metal workers fabricate, assemble, install, repair, and maintain ducts used for ventilating, air-conditioning, and heating systems. They also work with other articles of sheet metal, including roofing, siding, gutters, downspouts, partitions, chutes, and stainless steel kitchen and beverage equipment for restaurants. Not included in this group are employees in factories where sheet metal items are mass-produced on assembly lines. There are approximately 137,700 sheet metal workers in the United States.
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Sheet metal workers earned a median hourly wage of $24.23 in May 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. This amounts to a yearly salary of $50,400. Overall, annual earnings ranged from less than $29,260 to more than $88,070. Earnings vary in different parts of the country and tend to be highest in industrialized urban areas. Earnings also vary by industry. For example, in May 2019, co...
Work Environment
Most sheet metal workers have a regular 40-hour workweek and receive extra pay for overtime. Most of their work is performed indoors, so they are less likely to lose wages due to bad weather than many other craftworkers involved in construction projects. Some work is done outdoors, occasionally in uncomfortably hot or cold conditions.
Workers sometimes have to work high above the ground ...
Outlook
The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment for sheet metal workers will grow slower than the average for all careers through 2029. Employment growth will be related to several factors. Many new residential, commercial, and industrial buildings will be constructed, requiring the skills of sheet metal workers, and many older buildings will need to have new energy-efficient heating, coo...