# Sheet Metal Workers

> 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.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 47-2211.00
- **Summary:** 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.

## Aliases

- HVAC Sheet Metal Installer (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Sheet Metal Installer)
- Sheet Metal Fabricator
- Sheet Metal Mechanic
- Sheet Metal Worker
- Commercial Sheet Metal Service Installer
- Field Installer
- HVAC Sheet Metal Specialist (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Sheet Metal Specialist)
- Sheet Metal Installer
- Sheet Metal Journeyman
- Sheet Metal Layout Mechanic
- AC Sheet Metal Installer (Air Conditioning Sheet Metal Installer)
- Air Duct Mechanic

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Inspect individual parts, assemblies, or installations, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, scales, or micrometers. | Supplemental | 4.A.1.b.2.f |
| Maintain equipment, making repairs or modifications when necessary. | Core | 4.A.3.b.5.a |
| Fabricate ducts for high efficiency heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to maximize efficiency of systems. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.aa |
| Fasten seams or joints together with welds, bolts, cement, rivets, solder, caulks, metal drive clips, or bonds to assemble components into products or to repair sheet metal items. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.d |
| Transport prefabricated parts to construction sites for assembly and installation. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.j |
| Install assemblies, such as flashing, pipes, tubes, heating and air conditioning ducts, furnace casings, rain gutters, or downspouts in supportive frameworks. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.a |
| Hire, train, or supervise new employees or apprentices. | Core | 4.A.4.b.3.d |
| Lay out, measure, and mark dimensions and reference lines on material, such as roofing panels, using calculators, scribes, dividers, squares, or rulers. | Core | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Determine project requirements, such as scope, assembly sequences, or required methods or materials, using blueprints, drawings, or written or verbal instructions. | Core | 4.A.1.a.1.b |
| Maneuver completed roofing units into position for installation. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.ao |
| Fabricate or alter parts at construction sites, using shears, hammers, punches, or drills. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.aa |
| Convert blueprints into shop drawings to be followed in the construction or assembly of sheet metal products. | Supplemental | 4.A.2.b.2.o |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Train construction or extraction personnel. | 4.A.4.b.3.d |
| Direct construction or extraction personnel. | 4.A.4.b.4.i |
| Fabricate parts or components. | 4.A.3.a.2.aa |
| Inspect industrial or commercial equipment to ensure proper operation. | 4.A.1.b.2.g |
| Evaluate construction projects to determine compliance with external standards or regulations. | 4.A.1.a.2.k |
| Review blueprints or specifications to determine work requirements. | 4.A.1.a.1.b |
| Measure materials or objects for installation or assembly. | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Mark reference points on construction materials. | 4.A.3.a.2.ao |
| Position structural components. | 4.A.3.a.2.ao |
| Inspect completed work to ensure proper installation. | 4.A.1.b.2.f |
| Install roofing materials. | 4.A.3.a.2.a |
| Weld metal components. | 4.A.3.a.2.ai |
| Create construction or installation diagrams. | 4.A.2.b.2.o |
| Install building fixtures. | 4.A.3.a.2.a |
| Install plumbing or piping. | 4.A.3.a.2.aq |
| Select construction materials. | 4.A.2.b.1.j |
| Assemble products or production equipment. | 4.A.3.a.2.d |
| Smooth surfaces with abrasive materials or tools. | 4.A.3.a.2.o |
| Maintain construction tools or equipment. | 4.A.3.b.5.a |
| Move construction or extraction materials to locations where they are needed. | 4.A.3.a.1.j |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mechanical | knowledge | 4.18 |
| Building and Construction | knowledge | 3.77 |
| Mathematics | knowledge | 3.76 |
| Design | knowledge | 3.63 |
| Visualization | ability | 3.62 |
| Near Vision | ability | 3.62 |
| English Language | knowledge | 3.41 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | ability | 3.38 |
| Manual Dexterity | ability | 3.38 |
| Multilimb Coordination | ability | 3.38 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3.25 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3.25 |
| Finger Dexterity | ability | 3.25 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Coordination | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 3.12 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 3.12 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 3.12 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 3.12 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3.12 |
| Category Flexibility | ability | 3.12 |
| Flexibility of Closure | ability | 3.12 |
| Control Precision | ability | 3.12 |
| Static Strength | ability | 3.12 |
| Trunk Strength | ability | 3.12 |
| Administration and Management | knowledge | 3.1 |
| Education and Training | knowledge | 3.1 |
| Production and Processing | knowledge | 3.08 |
| Engineering and Technology | knowledge | 3.04 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 3 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 3 |
| Mathematics | essential_skill | 3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Time Management | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 3 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | ability | 3 |
| Number Facility | ability | 3 |
| Perceptual Speed | ability | 3 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Windows | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Siemens NX | Specialized Skill |
| PTC Creo Parametric | Specialized Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Autodesk AutoCAD | Computer aided design CAD software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Windows | Operating system software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | no |
| Applied Production ProFab | Computer aided manufacturing CAM software | no | no |
| Applied Production ProFold | Computer aided design CAD software | no | no |
| Corte Certo | Computer aided design CAD software | no | no |
| FCC Software AutoPOL Series | Computer aided design CAD software | no | no |
| JETCAM Expert | Computer aided manufacturing CAM software | no | no |
| Merry Mechanization SMP/IS | Computer aided manufacturing CAM software | no | no |
| PTC Creo Parametric | Computer aided design CAD software | no | no |
| QuickPen DuctDesigner 3D | Computer aided design CAD software | no | no |
| Revcad Software Sheet Lightning | Computer aided design CAD software | no | no |
| Siemens NX | Computer aided design CAD software | no | no |
| Striker Systems SS-Profile | Computer aided manufacturing CAM software | no | no |
| WiCAM PN4000 | Computer aided manufacturing CAM software | no | no |
| XY Soft Sheet Cutting Suite | Computer aided design CAD software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 4.95 |
| Spend Time Standing | 4.84 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 4.57 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.44 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 4.41 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 4.28 |
| Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings | 4.11 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.1 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 4 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 3.98 |
| Time Pressure | 3.98 |
| Consequence of Error | 3.86 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 3.79 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 3.78 |
| Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body | 3.74 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 3.71 |
| Contact With Others | 3.68 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment | 3.66 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 3.56 |
| Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment | 3.53 |
| Physical Proximity | 3.42 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 3.4 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 3.36 |
| Level of Competition | 3.35 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 3.28 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 3.23 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 3.22 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 3.21 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 3.2 |
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in General | 2.96 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 2.95 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 2.88 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 2.86 |
| Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions | 2.77 |
| Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection | 2.72 |
| Degree of Automation | 2.7 |
| Conflict Situations | 2.62 |
| Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions | 2.51 |
| Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling | 2.46 |
| Outdoors, Under Cover | 2.42 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 2
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- **Experience:** 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.
- **Svp Range:** (Below 6.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| High School Diploma | 49 |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 43.81 |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 7.2 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 7 |
| Physical/Manual Labor | specific_interest_area | 6.06 |
| Mechanics/Electronics | specific_interest_area | 3.8 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 3.58 |
| Engineering | specific_interest_area | 3.49 |
| Construction/Woodwork | specific_interest_area | 2.67 |
| Transportation/Machine Operation | specific_interest_area | 2.28 |
| Dependability | work_style | 2.14 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 2.08 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 2.07 |
| Mathematics/Statistics | specific_interest_area | 1.65 |
| Cautiousness | work_style | 1.63 |
| Artistic | career_interest_type | 1.55 |
| Perseverance | work_style | 1.52 |
| Management/Administration | specific_interest_area | 1.5 |
| Human Resources | specific_interest_area | 1.39 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 51-2041.00 | role-51-2041-00 | Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | Primary-Short |
| 51-2011.00 | role-51-2011-00 | Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers | Primary-Short |
| 47-2221.00 | role-47-2221-00 | Structural Iron and Steel Workers | Primary-Short |
| 51-4192.00 | role-51-4192-00 | Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | Primary-Short |
| 47-2081.00 | role-47-2081-00 | Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | Primary-Short |
| 47-2131.00 | role-47-2131-00 | Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | Primary-Long |
| 47-2132.00 | role-47-2132-00 | Insulation Workers, Mechanical | Primary-Long |
| 51-4111.00 | role-51-4111-00 | Tool and Die Makers | Primary-Long |
| 47-2031.00 | role-47-2031-00 | Carpenters | Primary-Long |
| 51-4122.00 | role-51-4122-00 | Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Primary-Long |
| 49-9041.00 | role-49-9041-00 | Industrial Machinery Mechanics | Supplemental |
| 51-2031.00 | role-51-2031-00 | Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Construction | construction |

## Education Level

- **Category:** High school diploma or equivalent

## Study Programs

| Title | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Precision Production | precision-production |

## Market

- **Median Wage:** 60850
- **Mean Wage:** 66110
- **Pct10Wage:** 38030
- **Pct25Wage:** 47290
- **Pct75Wage:** 79620
- **Pct90Wage:** 102680
- **Employment:** 117470
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 23 | 23 | Construction | Sector | 72710 | 62250 | 11.75 |
| 238220 | 238220 | Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | National industry | 48420 | 66460 | 50.18 |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 30390 | 50830 | 3.13 |
| 238160 | 238160 | Roofing Contractors | National industry | 6680 | 60310 | 35.28 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 3550 | 44910 | 0.52 |
| 48-49 | 48-49 | Transportation and Warehousing | Sector | 2400 | 80820 | 0.43 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 1930 | 44910 | 0.96 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 1100 | 39880 | 0.24 |
| 238290 | 238290 | Other Building Equipment Contractors | National industry | 1000 | 77390 | 8.55 |
| 238210 | 238210 | Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors | National industry | 940 | 60800 | 1.15 |
| 238310 | 238310 | Drywall and Insulation Contractors | National industry | 560 | 45740 | 2.99 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 430 | 56580 | 0.05 |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 238220 | 238220 | Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | National industry | 48420 | 50.18 |
| 238160 | 238160 | Roofing Contractors | National industry | 6680 | 35.28 |
| 23 | 23 | Construction | Sector | 72710 | 11.75 |
| 238290 | 238290 | Other Building Equipment Contractors | National industry | 1000 | 8.55 |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 30390 | 3.13 |
| 238310 | 238310 | Drywall and Insulation Contractors | National industry | 560 | 2.99 |
| 332710 | 332710 | Machine Shops | National industry | 420 | 2.12 |
| 238210 | 238210 | Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors | National industry | 940 | 1.15 |
- **Count:** 19

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.82 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | -1.174972 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | -0.7386251 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | -1.244711 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 15
- **Percentile:** 12
- **Band:** Low
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 12 | felten_aioe |
| 18 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 16 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | -1.174972 | 12 | Low | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.13157894736842105 | 18 | Low | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.06376636398148267 | 16 | Low | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.82
- **Percentile:** 66
- **Band:** Moderate
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0
- **Beta:** 0.06578947368421052
- **Gamma:** 0.13157894736842105

### Usage Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Importance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Inspect individual parts, assemblies, or installations, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, scales, or micrometers. | 0.004416434889424795 | 4.4 |
- **Usage Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** 2.4
- **Growth Percentile:** 45
- **Direction:** About average
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 10.6
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 65
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 127
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 130.1

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Ai Playbook

- **Trusted Task Count:** 1
- **Task Count:** 1
- **Total Sample:** 69
- **Autonomy Median:** 2
- **Dominant Collaboration:** directive
- **Automation Share:** 63.77
- **Work Use Percent:** 21.74

### Collaboration

| Label | Percent |
| --- | --- |
| directive | 63.77 |

### Use Case

| Label | Percent |
| --- | --- |
| coursework | 52.17 |
| personal | 26.09 |
| work | 21.74 |

### Delegated Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Collaboration | Autonomy Median | Sample Count |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Inspect individual parts, assemblies, or installations, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, scales, or micrometers. | 0.006900862607825978 | directive | 2 | 69 |

### Boundary Tasks

| Task | Human Needed Percent | Sample Count |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Inspect individual parts, assemblies, or installations, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, scales, or micrometers. | 98.55072463768117 | 69 |

### Seed Prompts

| Prompt | Collaboration |
| --- | --- |
| Do this for me: inspect individual parts, assemblies, or installations, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, scales, or micrometers. Give me a finished draft I can review and adjust. | directive |
- **Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 19
- **Skills:** 36
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 18
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** f1a4a31af282db10