Sheet Metal Worker: career path and pay in the US
Where a Sheet Metal Worker goes next, what each step typically pays in the United States, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 4 steps, from Sheet Metal Worker / Apprentice to Sheet Metal Contractor / Business Owner.
Also for the United Kingdom: Sheet Metal Worker in the UK
The path
Step 1 · 0 to 2 years
Sheet Metal Worker / Apprentice
$45K to $65K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Apprenticeship Program (in progress) - US/UK/EU, Health & Safety Certification (required) - Global.
Step 2 · 2 to 5 years
Sheet Metal Worker / Journeyman
$65K to $100K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Sheet Metal Certification (optional) - Global, NVQ Level 3 Sheet Metal - UK/EU, Health & Safety Certification - Global.
Step 3 · 5 to 10 years
Master Sheet Metal Worker / Supervisor
$75K to $110K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Sheet Metal Certification - Global, NVQ Level 4 Sheet Metal - UK/EU, Health & Safety Certification - Global, Supervisory Skills Certification (optional) - Global.
Step 4 · 10+ years
Sheet Metal Contractor / Business Owner
$105K to $155K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Sheet Metal Certification - Global, NVQ Level 4 Sheet Metal - UK/EU, Health & Safety Certification - Global, Business License - Global.
Exposure and pay along the path
Exposure to AI, now to later
24% → 24%
Stays level across the path. Lower is better.
Typical pay, now to later
$45K to $65K → $105K to $155K
US estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US. The published figure for Master Sheet Metal Worker sat below the previous step, so this band is set 12% above it.
What the work involves
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.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Mathematics
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical
- Building and Construction
- Mathematics
- Design
- English Language
- Administration and Management
Education people bring
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED): 49%
- Post-Secondary Certificate: 44%
- Less than a High School Diploma: 7%
Job Zone 2, job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Other paths from here
- HVAC Technician
- Welder
- General Contractor
- Fabricator
More Skilled Trades paths in the US
Related occupations in O*NET: Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters, Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers, Structural Iron and Steel Workers, Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic, Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers.
Your own role
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SourcesSalary bands: Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US, US national averages by job title, retrieved September 2026Skills, knowledge and education: O*NET 31.0 Database
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CC BY 4.0
Salary estimates by job title from Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale, retrieved September 2026. Each band runs from 20% below to 20% above the reported average, rounded to $5K. Exposure percentages and the skills listed under each step are this app's own editorial ratings, not published data.