Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- HVAC Sheet Metal Installer (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Sheet Metal Installer)
- Sheet Metal Fabricator
- Sheet Metal Mechanic
- Sheet Metal Worker
Alternate Job Titles
- AC Sheet Metal Installer (Air Conditioning Sheet Metal Installer)
- Air Duct Mechanic
- Aircraft Metalsmith
- Aircraft Sheet Metal Mechanic
- Angle Bender
- Aviation Metalsmith
- Beam Worker
- Ceiling Installer
- Chute Builder
- Commercial Sheet Metal Service Installer
- Coppersmith
- Cornice Maker
- Cowlman
- Deburr Tech (Deburr Technician)
- Duct Installer
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Maintain equipment, making repairs or modifications when necessary.
- Fabricate ducts for high efficiency heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to maximize efficiency of systems.
- 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.
- Transport prefabricated parts to construction sites for assembly and installation.
- Install assemblies, such as flashing, pipes, tubes, heating and air conditioning ducts, furnace casings, rain gutters, or downspouts in supportive frameworks.
- Hire, train, or supervise new employees or apprentices.
- Lay out, measure, and mark dimensions and reference lines on material, such as roofing panels, using calculators, scribes, dividers, squares, or rulers.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Mechanical
- Building and Construction
- Mathematics
- Design
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Visualization
- Near Vision
- Manual Dexterity
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Multilimb Coordination
- Finger Dexterity
- Selective Attention
- Information Ordering
- Trunk Strength
- Written Comprehension
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
- Perseverance
- Achievement Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Independence
- Relationships
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
On-the-Job Training: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: 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.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- AC welding power units
- AC/DC welding power units
- Acoustic ear muffs or defenders
- Adjustable widemouth pliers
- Adjustable wrenches
- Allen wrenches
- Ammeters
- Angle grinders
- Aviation snips
- Ball peen hammers
- Bandsaws
- Bar folders
- Beading machines
- Beam compasses
- Bolt cutters
Work Environment
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Spend Time Standing
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Exposed to Contaminants
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $38,030 |
| Median | $60,850 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $102,680 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 117,470
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $49,900
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $61,680
Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $62,700
Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $61,870
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $58,140
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.