Jobs Similar to Sheet Metal Workers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to sheet metal workers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers and Riggers.
Sheet Metal Workers: $61,800 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Sheet Metal Workers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersSame group | 77% | $63,800+3% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers | 76% | $39,630−36% | High school |
| 3 | Riggers | 76% | $62,640+1% | High school |
| 4 | PipelayersSame group | 75% | $49,000−21% | High school |
| 5 | Helpers--Electricians | 75% | $42,670−31% | High school |
| 6 | Rail Car Repairers | 75% | $67,530+9% | High school |
| 7 | Millwrights | 74% | $65,700+6% | High school |
| 8 | Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | 74% | $95,320+54% | High school |
| 9 | Solar Photovoltaic InstallersSame group | 74% | $53,140−14% | High school |
| 10 | Mechanical Door Repairers | 74% | $55,720−10% | High school |
| 11 | Commercial Divers | 74% | $72,990+18% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | 73% | $46,960−24% | High school |
| 13 | ElectriciansSame group | 73% | $63,190+2% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons | 73% | $61,290−1% | High school |
| 15 | Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door | 72% | $74,340+20% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | 72% | $57,430−7% | High school |
| 17 | Machinists | 72% | $58,750−5% | Training or associate |
| 18 | CarpentersSame group | 72% | $60,580−2% | High school |
| 19 | Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsSame group | 71% | $53,340−14% | High school |
| 20 | Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers | 71% | $65,380+6% | High school |
- 1Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
77% similar · $63,800 (+3%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 2Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
76% similar · $39,630 (−36%) · High school
- 3Riggers
76% similar · $62,640 (+1%) · High school
- 4Pipelayers
75% similar · $49,000 (−21%) · High school · Same group
- 5Helpers--Electricians
75% similar · $42,670 (−31%) · High school
- 6Rail Car Repairers
75% similar · $67,530 (+9%) · High school
- 7Millwrights
74% similar · $65,700 (+6%) · High school
- 8Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
74% similar · $95,320 (+54%) · High school
- 9Solar Photovoltaic Installers
74% similar · $53,140 (−14%) · High school · Same group
- 10Mechanical Door Repairers
74% similar · $55,720 (−10%) · High school
- 11Commercial Divers
74% similar · $72,990 (+18%) · Training or associate
- 12Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
73% similar · $46,960 (−24%) · High school
- 13Electricians
73% similar · $63,190 (+2%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 14Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
73% similar · $61,290 (−1%) · High school
- 15Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
72% similar · $74,340 (+20%) · Training or associate
- 16Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
72% similar · $57,430 (−7%) · High school
- 17Machinists
72% similar · $58,750 (−5%) · Training or associate
- 18Carpenters
72% similar · $60,580 (−2%) · High school · Same group
- 19Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
71% similar · $53,340 (−14%) · High school · Same group
- 20Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
71% similar · $65,380 (+6%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than sheet metal workers.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for sheet metal workers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where sheet metal workers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic (81)
- Mechanical Door Repairers (81)
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers (78)
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters (78)
- Riggers (76)
- Helpers--Electricians (75)
- Rail Car Repairers (75)
- Millwrights (74)
- Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (73)
Questions about jobs like sheet metal workers
What jobs are most similar to sheet metal workers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (77% similar), Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers (76% similar), Riggers (76% similar), Pipelayers (75% similar) and Helpers--Electricians (75% similar).
Which jobs like sheet metal workers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers ($95,320, +54%; usually a high school diploma), Control and Valve Installers and Repairers ($74,340, +20%; usually training or an associate degree) and Commercial Divers ($72,990, +18%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with sheet metal workers ($61,800). Without more preparation than sheet metal workers usually need: Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers, Rail Car Repairers and Millwrights.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.