How to become a sheet metal worker
Official title: Sheet metal workers
Also called: Metal smith, Sheet worker, Metal finisher, Metal fabricator, Metal case maker, Sheet iron smith, Sheet iron worker, Sheet metal worker, Metal pattern maker, Sheet metal engineer, Sheet metal fabricator, Tin man
Sheet metal workers mark out, cut, shape and join sheet metal using hand or machine tools to make and repair sheet metal products and components (excluding vehicle bodywork).
Main tasks
- Examines drawings and specifications to assess job requirements
- Uses template, measuring instruments and tools to mark out layout lines and reference points
- Uses hand or machine tools to bend, roll, fold, press or beat cut sheet metal
- Assembles prepared parts and joins them by bolting, welding or soldering
- Finishes product by grinding, filing, cleaning and polishing
- Repairs damaged metal parts such as copper sheets and tubes by beating, riveting, soldering, welding and fitting replacement parts
- Checks final product to ensure conformity with specifications
How to become one
Entrants typically possess GCSEs/S grades. Training is usually via apprenticeship including practical experience and technical training and relevant NVQs at level 2 and 3 are available.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £32,207 a year The middle half earn £27,062 to null.
- About 16,500 people work in this job now, and about 15,600 are projected by 2035. (-5.6%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a sheet metal worker?
Entrants typically possess GCSEs/S grades. Training is usually via apprenticeship including practical experience and technical training and relevant NVQs at level 2 and 3 are available.
How much does a sheet metal worker earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £32,207 a year (Office for National Statistics).
Is a sheet metal worker a growing career in the UK?
Employment is projected to fall 6% by 2035, from about 16,500 to about 15,600 people (Department for Education).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03