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| Median wages (2008) | $19.37 hourly, $40,290 annual |
| Employment (2006) | 189,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) | Average (7% to 13%) |
| Projected need (2006-2016) | 59,000 additional employees |
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; inspecting, assembling, and smoothing seams and joints of burred surfaces.
Sample of reported job titles: Sheet Metal Mechanic, Sheet Metal Worker, Journeyman Sheetmetal Worker, HVAC Sheet Metal Installer (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Sheet Metal Installer), Sheet Metal Apprentice, Field Installer, HVAC Technician (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Technician), Sheet Metal Installer, HVAC Sheet Metal Specialist (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Sheet Metal Specialist), Sheet Metal Layout Mechanic
Tools used in this occupation:
| Hammers — Ball peen hammers; Bumping hammers; Setting hammers |
| Metal cutters — Aviation snips; Hand notchers; Power notchers; V-notchers |
| Punches or nail sets or drifts — Center punches; Hole punches; Prick punches; Rotary punches |
| Sequential forming machines — Bar folders; Beading machines; Spiral duct machines; Wiring machines |
| Shears — Power shears; Ring and circular shears; Squaring shears; Unishears |
| Workshop presses — Drill presses; Hand brakes; Power presses; Rivet presses |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Computer aided design CAD software — Autodesk AutoCAD software; Parametric Technology Pro/ENGINEER software; UGS NX; XY Soft Sheet Cutting Suite |
| Computer aided manufacturing CAM software — Applied Production ProFab; JETCAM Expert; Striker Systems SS-Profile; WiCAM PN4000 |
| Data base user interface and query software — Data entry software |
| Spreadsheet software |