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Sheet metal workers

How to become an Architectural Sheet Metal Worker

Also called: Metal siding installer, Metal roofer, Building sheet metal worker, Ductwork installer

Works with thin sheets of metal such as copper and steel, for example to roof buildings.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say high school is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualifications are needed to start. Some people join an architectural sheet metal firm after leaving school and become fully skilled through an apprenticeship. Others build their skills at a vocational training school and gain the architectural sheet metal exam in the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's ginou kentei (national trade skills test). Some companies that work on fairly large buildings such as factories, warehouses and sports halls train their own dedicated workers. Many new materials and methods keep appearing, so it is important to attend the industry's training courses to learn about them. Gaining qualifications such as architectural sheet metal worker or certified building construction manager improves your skills and can help with promotion. Once you have learned the work, you can set up on your own and take on work directly or open a shop. You then need to produce construction drawings and estimate quantities and prices, so design and management skills are needed.

Ways in

Pay · Job openings · AI and this job

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Architectural Sheet Metal Worker?

No particular education or qualifications are needed to start. Some people join an architectural sheet metal firm after leaving school and become fully skilled through an apprenticeship. Others build their skills at a vocational training school and gain the architectural sheet metal exam in the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's ginou kentei (national trade skills test). Some companies that work on fairly large buildings such as factories, warehouses and sports halls train their own dedicated workers. Many new materials and methods keep appearing, so it is important to attend the industry's training courses to learn about them. Gaining qualifications such as architectural sheet metal worker or certified building construction manager improves your skills and can help with promotion. Once you have learned the work, you can set up on your own and take on work directly or open a shop. You then need to produce construction drawings and estimate quantities and prices, so design and management skills are needed.

How much does an Architectural Sheet Metal Worker earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥4,542,400 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare).

Do you need a degree to become an Architectural Sheet Metal Worker?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 7% of workers are university graduates. Ways in include: National trade skills test (技能検定).

Will AI change the work of an Architectural Sheet Metal Worker?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026