Sheet metal operator demographics and statistics in the US
Sheet metal operator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates sheet metal operator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our sheet metal operator estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about sheet metal operators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 7,629 sheet metal operators currently employed in the United States.
- 8.2% of all sheet metal operators are women, while 91.8% are men.
- The average sheet metal operator age is 44 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of sheet metal operators is White (67.9%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (16.8%), Black or African American (8.5%) and Unknown (3.3%).
- In 2022, women earned 96% of what men earned.
- 4% of all sheet metal operators are LGBT.
- Sheet metal operators are 75% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Sheet metal operator demographics by:
Sheet metal operator gender statistics
8.2% of sheet metal operators are women and 91.8% of sheet metal operators are men.
- Male, 91.8%
- Female, 8.2%
Sheet metal operator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 91.8% |
| Female | 8.2% |
Sheet metal operator gender pay gap
Women earn 96¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$44,560
Female income
$42,966
Sheet metal operator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in sheet metal operator positions over time. Currently, 8.2% of sheet metal operators are female.
Sheet metal operator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 92.19% | 7.81% |
| 2011 | 92.65% | 7.35% |
| 2012 | 92.20% | 7.80% |
| 2013 | 91.91% | 8.09% |
| 2014 | 88.91% | 11.09% |
| 2015 | 91.18% | 8.82% |
| 2016 | 91.37% | 8.63% |
| 2017 | 91.56% | 8.44% |
| 2018 | 90.10% | 9.90% |
| 2019 | 89.65% | 10.35% |
| 2020 | 91.29% | 8.71% |
| 2021 | 91.79% | 8.21% |
Sheet metal operator related jobs gender ratio
We compared sheet metal operators with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, water softener installer and insulation worker have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Composition Floor Setter | 34% | 66% |
| Sheet Metal Operator | 92% | 8% |
| Gas Fitter | 97% | 3% |
| Insulation Worker | 97% | 2% |
| Water Softener Installer | 97% | 3% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Sheet metal operator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among sheet metal operators is White, which makes up 67.9% of all sheet metal operators. Comparatively, 16.8% of sheet metal operators are Hispanic or Latino and 8.5% of sheet metal operators are Black or African American.
- White, 67.9%
- Hispanic or Latino, 16.8%
- Black or African American, 8.5%
- Unknown, 3.3%
- Asian, 2.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
Sheet metal operator race
| Sheet metal operator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 67.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 16.8% |
| Black or African American | 8.5% |
| Unknown | 3.3% |
| Asian | 2.6% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.9% |
Sheet metal operator race and ethnicity over time
See how sheet metal operator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Sheet metal operator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 72.88% | 9.12% | 2.86% | 11.94% |
| 2011 | 69.90% | 10.05% | 3.11% | 14.75% |
| 2012 | 73.34% | 9.22% | 2.57% | 13.05% |
| 2013 | 69.73% | 9.97% | 2.85% | 14.58% |
| 2014 | 68.76% | 10.86% | 3.57% | 14.63% |
| 2015 | 71.29% | 8.84% | 2.89% | 14.42% |
| 2016 | 71.14% | 10.48% | 2.92% | 12.18% |
| 2017 | 69.40% | 10.59% | 2.74% | 14.43% |
| 2018 | 69.55% | 8.12% | 2.58% | 17.29% |
| 2019 | 69.71% | 7.95% | 3.40% | 15.97% |
| 2020 | 68.56% | 8.27% | 3.30% | 14.87% |
| 2021 | 67.93% | 8.51% | 2.58% | 16.81% |
Sheet metal operator wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown sheet metal operators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american sheet metal operators have the lowest average salary at $42,897.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $45,852 |
| White | $45,436 |
| Black or African American | $42,897 |
| Asian | $44,295 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $44,381 |
Average sheet metal operator age
See how the average age of sheet metal operators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Sheet metal operator age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 44 | |
| White | 46 | 52 |
| Black or African American | 52.5 | |
| Asian | 55 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 39 |
Sheet metal operator age breakdown
The average age of sheet metal operators is 40+ years years old, representing 63% of the sheet metal operator population.
Sheet metal operator age breakdown
| Sheet Metal Operator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 63% |
| 30-40 years | 21% |
| 20-30 years | 16% |
Sheet metal operator educational attainment
The most common degree for sheet metal operators is high school diploma, with 51% of sheet metal operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 24% and associate degree degree at 11%.
- High School Diploma, 51%
- Associate, 24%
- Diploma, 11%
- Bachelor's, 10%
- Other Degrees, 4%
Sheet metal operators by degree level
| Sheet metal operator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 51% |
| Associate | 24% |
| Diploma | 11% |
| Bachelor's | 10% |
| Other Degrees | 4% |
Sheet metal operator jobs you might like
Sheet metal operator wage gap by degree level
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $44,911 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $48,391 |
Sheet metal operator employment statistics
Most sheet metal operators work for a private in the manufacturing industry.
Company size where sheet metal operators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where sheet metal operators work.
Sheet metal operator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 18% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 22% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 11% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 22% |
| > 10,000 employees | 21% |
Sheet metal operator jobs by company type
Employees with the sheet metal operator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most sheet metal operators prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Sheet metal operator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Public | 22% |
| Private | 75% |
| Government | 3% |
Sheet metal operator jobs by industry
The most common industries for sheet metal operators are manufacturing, professional and technology.
Sheet metal operator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 20% |
| Professional | 17% |
| Fortune 500 | 12% |
| Technology | 11% |
| Construction | 10% |
| Transportation | 7% |
| Telecommunication | 3% |
| Government | 3% |
| Retail | 3% |
| Energy | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Health Care | 2% |
| Internet | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Sheet metal operator turnover and employment statistics
Sheet metal operator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for sheet metal operators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Sheet metal operator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Sheet metal operator unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 16.41% |
| 2011 | 14.49% |
| 2012 | 11.75% |
| 2013 | 11.74% |
| 2014 | 8.47% |
| 2015 | 4.81% |
| 2016 | 6.03% |
| 2017 | 4.32% |
| 2018 | 3.47% |
| 2019 | 3.94% |
| 2020 | 6.37% |
| 2021 | 5.35% |
Average sheet metal operator tenure
The average sheet metal operator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 222 sheet metal operators resumes in Zippia's database.
Sheet metal operator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 29% |
| 1-2 years | 31% |
| 3-4 years | 12% |
| 5-7 years | 14% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 10% |
Sheet metal operator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of sheet metal operators that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Furnace Liner | 1.40% | 415 |
| Cool Roofing Installer | 1.43% | 16,220 |
| Sheet Rocker | 1.75% | 2,173 |
| High Worker | 2.24% | 21,856 |
| Automotive Electrician | 2.76% | 47,344 |
| Marble Installer | 3.39% | 15,066 |
| Sheet Metal Operator | 4.07% | - |
Similar sheet metal operator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Furnace Liner | 1.40% | 415 |
| Cool Roofing Installer | 1.43% | 16,220 |
| Sheet Rocker | 1.75% | 2,173 |
| High Worker | 2.24% | 21,856 |
| Automotive Electrician | 2.76% | 47,344 |
| Marble Installer | 3.39% | 15,066 |
Foreign languages spoken by sheet metal operators
- Spanish, 100.0%
Sheet metal operator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 100.0% |
