How to become a Sheetmetal Worker

Also called: Sheetmetal Fabricator

Marks out, shapes, forms and joins sheetmetal and other materials to make products and components.

Main tasks

• Studies blueprints, drawings and specifications to determine job, material and equipment requirements
• Selects metal stock such as stainless steel, galvanised iron, mild steel, aluminium and copper, and checks sizes, gauges and other dimensions of metal stock against specifications
• Marks out metal stock with reference points and lines, using templates, gauges and other measuring instruments
• Cuts metal stock along guidelines using hand and power shears, computerised laser and plasma cutters, guillotines and drills
• Shapes and forms cut metal stock into products using folding and bending machines, rollers, presses and hammers
• Fits and assembles components into final products by welding, riveting, soldering, brazing and otherwise joining
• Finishes products by polishing, filing, sanding and cleaning assembled products
• May specialise in fabrication, or on-site assembly and installation of sheetmetal products
• May produce aircraft sheetmetal components

Ways in

• Apprenticeship: Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade. Trade occupations are usually entered through an apprenticeship: paid work plus this qualification, typically 3 to 4 years.
• TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade (MEM31922); Certificate IV in Engineering (MEM40119); Certificate I in Engineering (MEM10119)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• About 5,700 people work in this job group now, and about 6,300 are projected by 2035. (+10.5%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Related jobs

• Blacksmith
• Electroplater
• Farrier
• Metal Casting Trades Worker
• Metal Polisher

Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz

Questions people ask

How do I become a Sheetmetal Worker?

Ways in include: Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade; Certificate IV in Engineering; Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade.

Is a Sheetmetal Worker a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 11% by 2035, from about 5,700 to about 6,300 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Sheetmetal Worker?

Usually not. Only 2% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade; Certificate IV in Engineering; Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade.

Will AI change the work of a Sheetmetal Worker?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04