Mark the cut and bend lines
Study the drawing first, then mark each cut and bend with a ruler, square and scribe.
Career profile
Sheet Metal Worker
Sheet metal workers shape ducts and custom parts, fitting them together in shops or buildings.
You plan how a flat sheet must be cut, then bent, to fit a 3D space. The reward is your measurements becoming an installable piece.
A day in the life
Cut and bend the sheet
You cut with shears and bend on a press, though some shops use computer-run machines instead.
Fasten and smooth the seams
Join seams with rivets, bolts or welds depending on the product, then file or grind rough joints.
Hang duct sections in place
Attach duct sections to supports, measuring and altering any that does not fit with shears or a drill.
Measure a finished part
Use calipers on the finished part, then compare those numbers to the drawing for size or alignment errors.
Quick facts
High school + trade training
United States
$61,800/year
United States · May 2025
2.5% projected growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
High school + trade trainingConstruction workers usually enter through apprenticeships; manufacturing workers may learn on the job or at technical school.
Pay
$61,800/yearNational median, equivalent to $29.71 an hour.
Outlook
2.5% projected growthAbout 9,800 openings a year nationwide, on average, over 2025–2035.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You like picturing how a flat pattern will look after it is folded.
- You are willing to recheck a measurement when two pieces do not line up.
- You enjoy using tools and seeing a physical result from your work.
Things to weigh
- Your body does a lot of the work: long periods standing in a shop, or bending, climbing, and fitting pieces in tight spaces on site.
- Sharp edges, noisy machines, and moving equipment demand attention. Protective equipment and safe machine habits are part of the daily routine.
Where AI may help
Software can turn drawings into machine instructions. Some shops already use automated equipment to measure, cut, bend, and fasten metal.
What people still lead
You still need to check the finished piece and work out how it fits the installation. A correctly cut part can still need adjustment on site.
What we can’t predict yet
How much fabrication stays on site may change as more ductwork arrives ready-made. The balance between operating machines and shaping parts by hand will vary across shops and projects.
Pay in context
Earnings
The workplace matters, and an apprentice usually starts below a fully trained worker.
The national pay range
The median was $61,800 a year, or $29.71 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earned below $38,630; the highest-paid 10% earned above $105,650. These are wage percentiles, not starting and experienced-worker rates.
Compare the type of employer
Annual median pay was $63,100 at specialty trade contractors and $51,570 in manufacturing. Those are industry-wide comparisons for sheet metal workers, not offers from individual employers.
Pay develops during apprenticeship
Apprentices usually earn less than fully trained workers, with increases as they learn more skills. Ask a program for its starting wage and progression schedule.
Openings include replacement needs
Employment is projected to grow 2.5% from 2025 to 2035, with about 9,800 openings a year. Many openings come from workers changing occupations or leaving the workforce.
Getting started
Join a construction apprenticeship
Typically four or five years.Paid
- What the route involves
- Combine supervised job training with classes in drawings, trade math, building codes, and safety.
- What it can lead to
- Completing the program establishes you as a journey worker with the skills to carry out the trade's tasks.
- What to check
- Basic entry qualifications are age 18 and a high school diploma or equivalent; check the sponsor's full requirements.
Learn in a manufacturing job
- What the route involves
- Train on the job to use the shop's equipment and make its sheet metal parts.
- What it can lead to
- Build the fabrication skills needed for production work in that manufacturing setting.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typical; algebra, geometry, and drawing are useful preparation. Some states require a sheet metal worker license, so check the rules where you plan to work.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get accurate with the basics
Build reliable habits for reading drawings, marking metal, and using machines safely. Check your pieces against the required dimensions.
Carry a part through the whole job
Develop from individual cuts and bends to planning the sequence: lay out the piece, form it, join it, and check the fit.
Lead work or specialize
With experience, you may train apprentices or supervise other workers.
- Specialize in testing and balancing: adjust ductwork so heating and cooling systems deliver the right airflow.
Where you can work
Fabrication shops and factories
You work around cutting and forming equipment and may spend much of the day standing. Large production runs can involve automated machines and repeated operations.
- Indoors
- Physical demands
- Safety-sensitive
Construction and renovation sites
You fit assemblies into a building rather than staying at a workstation. Tight spaces and ladders can shape the day; outdoor installations also bring weather exposure.
- Indoors
- Outdoors
- Field work
- Physical demands
- Safety-sensitive
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Use paper, a ruler, scissors, and tape to make a short rectangular duct with two open ends. Draw the flat pattern first, leaving a tab for the seam. Fold it, join it, and check whether both ends match your planned dimensions. Notice whether you enjoy working backward from a finished shape to its flat layout.
Stay safe: Use paper for this exercise; sheet metal edges and fabrication tools require proper training.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Sheet Metal Workers — Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- O*NET OnLine. 47-2211.00 — Sheet Metal Workers. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Table 1.2 Occupational projections, 2025–35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Accessed 2026-10-02.