# Sheet Metal Workers

US SOC code 47-2211. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/47-2211

Also called: Sheet metal mechanic, HVAC sheet metal worker, Duct fabricator, Ductwork installer, Metal roofer.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **119,770** US sheet metal workers, with median pay of **$61,800** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the highest was **189,590**, in May 2003. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://www.smart-union.org/about-smart/a-brief-history-of-smart/) of **5,581** from 1893, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for sheet metal workers: BIM coordination and cloud nesting, 2010 to 2020.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 2.5% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=47-2211&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **6%** of work tasks in construction and extraction occupations, this job's group, are exposed to automation by AI. Not a forecast of job losses. [Goldman Sachs, 2023](https://www.gspublishing.com/content/research/en/reports/2023/03/27/d64e052b-0f6e-45d7-967b-d7be35fabd16.pdf)

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Sheet Metal Workers employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1750
- Latest US employment: 119,770 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [3]
- Latest US median pay: $61,800 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [9]
- Outlook: +2.5% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [24]

### In other countries

The latest figure each country's statistics agency publishes for this job. Each uses its own occupation definition, survey basis and currency, so the numbers are not directly comparable with each other or with the US figures.

- **Canada** (NOC 72102)
  - Employment, 2020: 18,990. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [6]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021: number of persons with employment income in NOC 72102 Sheet metal workers, Canada, reference year 2020. A recipients basis (anyone with employment income during the year), slightly broader than a point-in-time employed count. Statistics Canada Open Licence.
  - Median pay, 2020: C$66,000. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [12]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021 (Table 98-10-0586): median employment income for NOC 72102 Sheet metal workers, Canada, reference year 2020, full-year full-time workers (the basis comparable to the US OEWS full-time median). Statistics Canada Open Licence.

### All 29 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1893 | 5,581 (estimate) | n/a | Est., SMART Union [1] |
| 1910 | n/a | $832 | BLS historical bulletin [7] |
| 1925 | 24,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., SMART Union [1] |
| 1946 | 52,932 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Wikipedia / SMWIA historical records [2] |
| 1970 | 150,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Wikipedia / SMWIA historical records [2] |
| 2000 | n/a | $31,850 | BLS OEWS 2000 [8] |
| 2003 | 189,590 | $35,000 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [3] |
| 2004 | 184,740 | $35,560 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [3] |
| 2005 | 174,550 | $36,390 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [3] |
| 2006 | 177,540 | $37,360 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [3] |
| 2007 | 167,730 | $39,210 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [3] |
| 2008 | 163,480 | $40,290 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [3] |
| 2009 | 146,690 | $40,640 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [3] |
| 2010 | 131,600 | $41,710 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [3] |
| 2011 | 130,670 | $42,730 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [3] |
| 2012 | 133,420 | $43,290 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [3] |
| 2013 | 134,110 | $43,890 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [3] |
| 2014 | 132,530 | $45,070 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [3] |
| 2015 | 135,570 | $45,750 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [3] |
| 2016 | 134,450 | $46,940 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [3] |
| 2017 | 132,920 | $47,990 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [3] |
| 2018 | 131,570 | $48,460 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [3] |
| 2019 | 131,300 | $50,400 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [3] |
| 2020 | 128,220 | $51,370 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [3] |
| 2021 | 122,630 | $53,440 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [3] |
| 2022 | 120,810 | $55,350 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [3] |
| 2023 | 116,190 | $58,780 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [3] |
| 2024 | 117,470 | $60,850 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [3] |
| 2025 | 119,770 | $61,800 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [3] |

## Sources (87)

### Employment series

1. [SMART Union — A Brief History of SMART (SMWIA founding membership, 1888-1893)](https://www.smart-union.org/about-smart/a-brief-history-of-smart/), SMART Union
2. [Sheet Metal Workers' International Association — History (1938-1946 wartime membership doubling)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheet_Metal_Workers%27_International_Association), Wikipedia / SMWIA historical records
3. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
4. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006, Table 97-563-XCB2006069 (Wage and salary statistics by occupation, NOC-S 2006), income reference year 2005](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&PID=96285), Statistics Canada
5. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
6. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Wage series

7. [BLS Bulletin No. 131 (FRASER) — Union Scale of Wages and Hours of Labor, 1907-1912 (building trades including sheet metal workers)](https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/files/docs/publications/bls/bls_0131_1913.pdf), Bureau of Labor Statistics / FRASER
8. [BLS OES 2000 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes00nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
9. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
10. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006, Table 97-563-XCB2006069 (Wage and salary statistics by occupation, NOC-S 2006), income reference year 2005](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&PID=96285), Statistics Canada
11. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
12. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Tool eras

13. [Tinsmith — Wikipedia (history of tinsmithing tools and craft)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinsmith), Wikipedia
14. [History of Tinsmithing — Spengler Industries (craft origins and tools)](https://spenglerindustries.com/history-of-tinsmithing/), Spengler Industries
15. [Sheet Metal Made to Last — Traditional Building Magazine (galvanized sheet iron and Victorian-era applications)](https://www.traditionalbuilding.com/product-report/sheet-metal-made-to-last), Traditional Building Magazine
16. [Sheet Metal Workers' International Association — Wikipedia (founding 1888 and industrial trade context)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheet_Metal_Workers%27_International_Association), Wikipedia
17. [SMART Union — A Brief History of SMART (SMACNA formation 1943, Standard Form of Union Agreement 1947)](https://www.smart-union.org/about-smart/a-brief-history-of-smart/), SMART Union
18. [ACHR News — From the Archives: The A/C Boom of the 1950s (HVAC construction expansion)](https://www.achrnews.com/articles/166183-from-the-achr-news-archives-the-a-c-boom-of-the-1950s), ACHR News
19. [Autodesk Fabrication CAMduct 2026 — product overview (CAD-to-CNC duct fabrication workflow)](https://www.autodesk.com/products/fabrication/overview), Autodesk
20. [ACHR News — How Digital Tools Are Transforming HVAC, Sheet Metal Contracting](https://www.achrnews.com/articles/165895-how-digital-tools-are-transforming-hvac-sheet-metal-contracting), ACHR News
21. [Stratus — BIM-to-fabrication platform for MEP and sheet metal contractors](https://www.stratus.build/sheet-metal), Stratus
22. [Trimble AutoBid SheetMetal — AI-powered sheet metal estimating software](https://www.trimble.com/en/products/trimble-autobid-sheetmetal), Trimble
23. [CAL SMACNA Convention 2026 — State of AI in Sheet Metal and HVAC (Dynaimix AI keynote)](https://dynaimix.com/blog/60th-annual-cal-smacna-convention-the-state-of-ai-in-sheet-metal-and-hvac/), Dynaimix AI / CAL SMACNA

### Forecasts and exposure studies

24. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 47-2211 Sheet metal workers (2025: 131.1 thousand; 2035: 134.4 thousand; +2.5%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=47-2211&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
25. [Briggs & Kodnani, "The Potentially Large Effects of Artificial Intelligence on Economic Growth", Goldman Sachs Global Economics Analyst (26 March 2023), Exhibit 5 (US): construction and extraction 6%](https://www.gspublishing.com/content/research/en/reports/2023/03/27/d64e052b-0f6e-45d7-967b-d7be35fabd16.pdf), Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research

### Historical notes

26. [SMART Union — A Brief History of SMART (founding January 25, 1888, Toledo, Ohio)](https://www.smart-union.org/about-smart/a-brief-history-of-smart/), SMART Union
27. [SMART-SMACNA Partners in Progress 2026 — technology and AI on the jobsite](https://www.smart-union.org/sheet-metal-industry-leaders-gather-to-secure-the-future-at-partners-in-progress-2026/), SMART Union / SMACNA

### Predecessors & successors

28. [Tinsmith — Wikipedia (precursor trade to industrial sheet metal work)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinsmith), Wikipedia
29. [Sheet Metal Workers' International Association — Wikipedia (founding from tin and cornice workers, 1888)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheet_Metal_Workers%27_International_Association), Wikipedia

### Present-day analysis

- [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook -- Sheet Metal Workers (2024-34)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/sheet-metal-workers.htm), accessed 2026-06-05
- [BLS OEWS May 2024 -- 47-2211 Sheet Metal Workers (national flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), accessed 2026-10-07
- [O\*NET 30.3 -- Sheet Metal Workers (47-2211.00)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-2211.00), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 -- GPTs are GPTs (Science)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Goldman Sachs -- The Jobs AI Is Likely to Boost and Those It May Disrupt (2023)](https://www.goldmansachs.com/insights/articles/the-jobs-ai-is-likely-to-boost-and-those-it-may-disrupt), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Autodesk Fabrication CAMduct 2026 -- duct nesting and CNC fabrication software](https://www.autodesk.com/products/fabrication/overview), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Stratus -- BIM-to-fabrication platform for MEP and sheet metal contractors](https://www.stratus.build/sheet-metal), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Trimble AutoBid SheetMetal -- AI-powered sheet metal estimating software](https://www.trimble.com/en/products/trimble-autobid-sheetmetal), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Fabricating and Metalworking -- AI Transforms Sheet Metal Production](https://fabricatingandmetalworking.com/ai-in-sheet-metal/), accessed 2026-06-05
- [CAL SMACNA Convention 2026 -- State of AI in Sheet Metal and HVAC (Dynaimix AI keynote)](https://dynaimix.com/blog/60th-annual-cal-smacna-convention-the-state-of-ai-in-sheet-metal-and-hvac/), accessed 2026-06-05
- [SMART-SMACNA Partners in Progress 2026 -- technology and AI on the jobsite](https://www.smart-union.org/sheet-metal-industry-leaders-gather-to-secure-the-future-at-partners-in-progress-2026/), accessed 2026-06-05
- [ACHR News -- How Digital Tools Are Transforming HVAC, Sheet Metal Contracting](https://www.achrnews.com/articles/165895-how-digital-tools-are-transforming-hvac-sheet-metal-contracting), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Trimble -- How AI is transforming estimating workflows](https://www.trimble.com/blog/construction/en-US/article/stop-counting-start-winning-how-ai-is-transforming-your-estimating-workflow), accessed 2026-06-05
- [LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter -- Sheet Metal BIM and Revit job postings scan (2025)](https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Jobs/Sheet-Metal-Autocad), accessed 2026-06-05

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.