What does a sheet metal installer do?
A sheet metal installer provides equipment required for building maintenance. They also prepare sheet metals by measuring and marking them. Typically, they read and interpret sketches and work specifications. They may also polish metal items, seams, and joints.
Sheet metal installer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real sheet metal installer resumes:
- Enforce all OSHA safety regulations and instill EEOC compliance.
- Experience with industry welding techniques; including TIG and MIG.
- Install heating, plumbing and air conditioning systems in residential and commercial buildings.
- Lay out and mark dimensions and reference lines on material, using scribers, dividers, squares and rulers.
- Apply caulk using caulking guns.
- Hang low and medium pressure VAV boxes.
- Operate a CNC machine and perform QC/QA.
- Install vents and run duct from main trunkline.
- Burn out material with a CNC plasma table.
- Position line sets in preparation for A/C unit installation.
- Sheet metal (TIG) welder for various industrial kitchens
- Operate power tools and job specific equipment in accordance with OSHA standards.
- Maintain all electrical tools and equipment necessary for the installation and repair of HVAC systems.
- Prepare rooms/areas with proper materials need for the daily project such as sheet/flat metal, ladders and power tools.
- Job functions consist of plumbing, heating, air conditioning, well pumps, sewer, water and supervising installations
Sheet metal installer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 26% of Sheet Metal Installers are proficient in HVAC, OSHA, and Product Specifications. They’re also known for soft skills such as Computer skills, Dexterity, and Math skills.
We break down the percentage of Sheet Metal Installers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- HVAC, 26%
Install HVAC and heating systems, VAV's, install fire protection systems, Crane set and Helicopter set units.
- OSHA, 11%
Obtained 10 hour OSHA Card * Residential and Commercial installations.
- Product Specifications, 7%
Selected gauges and types of sheet metal or non-metallic material, according to product specifications.
- Ladders, 6%
Prepare rooms/areas with proper materials needed for the daily project such as sheet/flat metal, ladders and power tools.
- Hand Tools, 6%
Install and build CH-47 structures on an assembly line environment by using hand tools and special tools.
- Roofing, 5%
Installed and fabricated metal roofing materials for commercial and residential properties.
Common skills that a sheet metal installer uses to do their job include "hvac," "osha," and "product specifications." You can find details on the most important sheet metal installer responsibilities below.
Dexterity. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling sheet metal installer duties is dexterity. The role rewards competence in this skill because "sheet metal workers need good hand–eye coordination and motor control to make precise cuts and bends in metal pieces." According to a sheet metal installer resume, here's how sheet metal installers can utilize dexterity in their job responsibilities: "metal roofing, flash-siding, boom lift operations and safety gear training. "
Math skills. This is an important skill for sheet metal installers to perform their duties. For an example of how sheet metal installer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "sheet metal workers must calculate the proper sizes and angles of fabricated sheet metal to ensure the alignment and fit of ductwork." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a sheet metal installer: "apply knowledge of shop mathematics and layout techniques to develop and trace patterns of product or parts or using templates. ".
Mechanical skills. A big part of what sheet metal installers do relies on "mechanical skills." You can see how essential it is to sheet metal installer responsibilities because "sheet metal workers use saws, lasers, shears, and presses." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical sheet metal installer tasks: "water source heat pumps vav's fire dampers fresh air exhaust garage fans mechanical rooms office space t.i work. "
Physical strength. A commonly-found skill in sheet metal installer job descriptions, "physical strength" is essential to what sheet metal installers do. Sheet metal installer responsibilities rely on this skill because "sheet metal workers must be able to lift and move ductwork that is heavy and cumbersome." You can also see how sheet metal installer duties rely on physical strength in this resume example: "strengthened the company's profit margin by leading the implementation of copper rain gutter installation. "
The three companies that hire the most sheet metal installers are:
- Southern Air8 sheet metal installers jobs
- Aerotek6 sheet metal installers jobs
- MBS Solutions5 sheet metal installers jobs
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Compare different sheet metal installers
Sheet metal installer vs. Fabric worker
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, sheet metal installer responsibilities require skills like "hvac," "osha," "product specifications," and "roofing." Meanwhile a typical fabric worker has skills in areas such as "cnc," "production processes," "cushions," and "protractors." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Fabric workers really shine in the finance industry with an average salary of $36,499. Comparatively, sheet metal installers tend to make the most money in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $47,988.The education levels that fabric workers earn slightly differ from sheet metal installers. In particular, fabric workers are 3.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a sheet metal installer. Additionally, they're 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Sheet metal installer vs. Tinner
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, sheet metal installer responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "osha," "product specifications," "ladders," and "hand tools." Meanwhile, a tinner has duties that require skills in areas such as "tin," "safety procedures," "air ducts," and "demo." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Tinners earn similar levels of education than sheet metal installers in general. They're 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Sheet metal installer vs. Air duct mechanic
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from sheet metal installer resumes include skills like "osha," "product specifications," "ladders," and "roofing," whereas an air duct mechanic is more likely to list skills in "analyze blueprints," "air ducts," "install duct," and "residential homes. "
Most air duct mechanics achieve a similar degree level compared to sheet metal installers. For example, they're 1.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Sheet metal installer vs. Metal technician
Even though a few skill sets overlap between sheet metal installers and metal technicians, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a sheet metal installer might have more use for skills like "hvac," "osha," "product specifications," and "roofing." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of metal technicians require skills like "cnc," "engineering drawings," "aluminum," and "grinders. "
The average resume of metal technicians showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to sheet metal installers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 0.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.9%.Types of sheet metal installer
Updated January 8, 2025
