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Sheet Metal Worker
Skilled TradesYou fabricate, install, and maintain products made from thin metal sheets — HVAC ductwork, roofing, siding, and industrial components. You'll read blueprints, operate shears and brakes, and work with material that will cut you if you look at it wrong. The job is physically demanding, the tolerances are tight, and every cut is permanent. Measure twice doesn't begin to cover it.
Salary Range
Low
$38k
Median
$55k
High
$82k
10-Year Growth
faster than average
US Workers
138K
Education
Apprenticeship (4-5 years) or trade school certificate + union membership common
Environment
both
Tools & Technical Skills
- ▸Blueprint and shop drawing interpretation
- ▸Sheet metal layout and pattern development
- ▸Plasma cutting, shearing, and brake operation
- ▸TIG and MIG welding on thin gauge metals
- ▸HVAC ductwork fabrication and installation
- ▸Precision measuring instruments (calipers, micrometers)
People & Mindset Skills
- ▸Spatial reasoning
- ▸Physical stamina
- ▸Safety awareness
- ▸Teamwork on job sites
- ▸Problem-solving with field conditions
What you'll actually do
- 01Read blueprints and calculate dimensions for ductwork that has to fit in spaces architects clearly never visited
- 02Cut, bend, and shape sheet metal using shears, brakes, and plasma cutters while keeping all your fingers
- 03Install HVAC ductwork in ceilings, walls, and crawl spaces that weren't designed for humans
- 04Weld and solder seams with the precision needed to make systems airtight and watertight
- 05Work on ladders, scaffolding, and rooftops in weather that makes the metal either too hot to touch or too cold to grip
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