72102 – Sheet metal workers
Lead statement
Sheet metal workers fabricate, assemble, install and repair sheet metal products. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main duties
- Read engineering and architectural drawings, sketches and work specifications to be performed, and lay out, measure and mark sheet metal according to drawings or templates
- Develop patterns for sheet metal using computer-assisted design and drafting (CAD) software package
- Operate light metalworking machines such as shears, brakes, punches, and drill presses, including computer numerical control (CNC) equipment to cut, bend, punch, drill, shape or straighten sheet metal
- Operate computerized laser or plasma cutting equipment to cut sheet metal
- Install and use rigging and hoisting equipment
- Fit and join sheet metal parts using riveting, welding, soldering and similar equipment to fabricate products such as ventilation shafts, exhaust hoods, eavestroughs, partition frames, air and heat ducts, material handling systems, roof decking and sheet metal buildings
- Install sheet metal products according to specifications and building codes
- Grind and buff seams, joints and rough surfaces
- Inspect product quality and installation to ensure conformance to specifications.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a three to five year apprenticeship program ora combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in sheet metal working is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
- Trade certification for sheet metal workers is compulsory in New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta, and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the territories.
- Trade certification for precision sheet metal set-up operator is available, but voluntary in Quebec.
- Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified sheet metal workers upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Example job titles
aircraft layout man/woman sheet metal · apprentice sheet metal worker · sheet metal mechanic bench hand · coppersmith · custom sheet metal fabricator · journeyman/woman sheet metal worker · sheet metal layer-out · metal furniture model maker · sheet metal model maker · precision sheet metal worker · sheet metal mechanic · sheet metal fabricator · apprentice tinsmith · sheet metal patternmaker · metal furniture patternmaker · sheet metal worker · maintenance sheet metal worker · sheet metal worker - specialty manufacturing · tinsmith - sheet metal work · industrial sheet metal worker · sheet metal roofer · construction sheet metal worker · tinsmith · tinsmith roofer · fitter - sheet metal working · precision sheet metal mechanic · precision sheet metal fabricator · sheet metal installer · sheet metal work erector · sheet metal worker - manufacturing · plant tinsmith · sheet metal mechanic apprentice · high rise sheet metal installer · residential (low rise) sheet metal installer
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $22.70 | $34.07 | $45.95 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $24.50 | $34.75 | $45.25 |
| Nova Scotia | $19.50 | $29.00 | $38.32 |
| New Brunswick | $20.00 | $27.30 | $35.73 |
| Quebec | $25.50 | $40.00 | $44.79 |
| Ontario | $22.94 | $35.00 | $48.17 |
| Manitoba | $20.00 | $29.50 | $42.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $19.74 | $29.50 | $44.66 |
| Alberta | $20.00 | $30.00 | $42.00 |
| British Columbia | $23.14 | $32.16 | $45.60 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.