Will “Sheet Metal Operator” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

100 % Chance of Automation

“Sheet Metal Operator” will definitely be replaced by robots.

This job is ranked #453 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.

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Job Description

Fabricate, assemble, install, and repair sheet metal products and equipment, such as ducts, control boxes, drainpipes, and furnace casings. Work may involve any of the following: setting up and operating fabricating machines to cut, bend, and straighten sheet metal; shaping metal over anvils, blocks, or forms using hammer; operating soldering and welding equipment to join sheet metal parts; or inspecting, assembling, and smoothing seams and joints of burred surfaces. Includes sheet metal duct installers who install prefabricated sheet metal ducts used for heating, air conditioning, or other purposes.

Job Details

The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 47-2211.00
The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 51,080.00
The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 24.00
Currently, there are 134,450 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Sheet Metal Workers”.

Also Known As…

Tasks for “Sheet Metal Operator”

Lay out, measure, and mark dimensions and reference lines on material such as roofing panels, using calculators, scribes, dividers, squares, or rulers.
Finish parts, using hacksaws or hand, rotary, or squaring shears.
Fasten seams or joints together with welds, bolts, cement, rivets, solder, caulks, metal drive clips, or bonds to assemble components into products or to repair sheet metal items.
Transport prefabricated parts to construction sites for assembly and installation.
Trim, file, grind, deburr, buff, or smooth surfaces, seams, or joints of assembled parts, using hand tools or portable power tools.
Select gauges or types of sheet metal or nonmetallic material, according to product specifications.
Shape metal material over anvils, blocks, or other forms, using hand tools.
Perform sheet metal work necessary for solar panel installations.
Perform building commissioning activities by completing mechanical inspections of a building's water, lighting, or heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Secure metal roof panels in place by interlocking and fastening grooved panel edges.
Convert blueprints into shop drawings to be followed in the construction or assembly of sheet metal products.
Verify that heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are designed, installed, and calibrated in accordance with green certification standards, such as those of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
Install green architectural sheet metal components, such as cool roofs or hot or cold walls.
Maintain equipment, making repairs or modifications when necessary.
Fasten roof panel edges or machine-made moldings to structures by nailing or welding.
Construct components for high-performance wind turbine systems.
Fabricate or alter parts at construction sites, using shears, hammers, punches, or drills.
Inspect individual parts, assemblies, or installations, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, scales, or micrometers.
Fabricate ducts for high efficiency heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to maximize efficiency of systems.
Hire, train, or supervise new employees or apprentices.
Determine project requirements, such as scope, assembly sequences, or required methods or materials, using blueprints, drawings, or written or verbal instructions.
Develop or lay out patterns, using computerized metalworking equipment.
Install assemblies, such as flashing, pipes, tubes, heating and air conditioning ducts, furnace casings, rain gutters, or downspouts in supportive frameworks.
Maneuver completed roofing units into position for installation.

Related Technology & Tools

Ear muffs
Safety goggles
Hacksaws
Groovers
Pneumatic impact wrenches
Side cutting pliers
Tungsten inert gas TIG welding equipment
Foot shears
Hand brakes
Ball peen hammers
Prick punches
Spirit levels
Bumping hammers
Chain hoists
Hole punches
Plasma cutters
Set squares
Laser levels
Portable spot welders
Transit levels
Computer controlled saws
Nibblers
Welding helmets
Cordless drills
Computer controlled presses
Personal computers
Allen wrenches
Double seaming equipment
Strobe tachometers
Laser printers
Dimplers
Beam compasses
Protractors
Cold chisels
Jigs
Turning machines
Caulking guns
Welding facial shields
Hard hats
Humidity sensors
Rotary punches
Squares
Dial indicators
Hand dollies
Circular saws
Wiring machines
Tempscribes
Pneumatic riveters
Ohmmeters
Screwdrivers
Spot welders
Unishears
Slings
Safety glasses
Box and pan brakes
Welding tips
Tongs
Oxygen testers
Combination snips
Hammers
Pipe cutters
Ammeters
Scale rulers
T squares
Pneumatic hammers
Carbon dioxide CO2 monitors
Portable plasma cutters
Magnehelic pressure gauges
Stencils
Framing squares
Adjustable widemouth pliers
Micrometers
Electric drills
Pop rivet guns
Riveting tools
Pitot tubes
Drifts
Scaffolding
Oxyacetylene welding equipment
Power brakes
Mechanical tachometers
Seamers
Burring machines
Power routers
Bolt cutters
Straightedges
Socket wrench sets
Spiral duct machines
Dividers
Power buffers
Combustion analyzers
Microamp meters
C clamps
Inclined manometers
Multimeters
Psychrometers
Pipe threaders
Templates
Draft gauges
Millivolt meters
Calibrated flow hoods
Riveting hammers
Laser cutters
Metal inert gas MIG welders
Digital multimeters
Tap sets
V-notchers
Pipe reamers
U-tube manometers
Wire cutters
Adjustable wrenches
Smoke testers
Hand crimpers
Setting hammers
Power shears
Hand notchers
AC welding power units
Hydraulic presses
Scratch awls
Beading machines
Easy edgers
Vise grip pliers
Stack thermometers
Hoists
Vernier calipers
Safety gloves
Cleat folders
Cleat formers
Scribers
Electric impact wrenches
Bandsaws
Single-cut mill saw files
Cold-cut saws
Aviation snips
Velometers
Ladders
Slip roll formers
Tape measures
Protective clothing
Center punches
Nut drivers
Ring and circular shears
Cutoff saws
Trammel points
Power notchers
Power punches
AC/DC welding power units
Rivet presses
Chalk lines
Hydraulic hoists
Punches
Angle grinders
Soldering furnaces
Pressure gauges
Power sanders
Calipers
Polishers
Power presses
Drill presses
Plumb bobs
Desktop computers
Clamp-on ammeters
Squaring shears
Hammer drills
Bar folders

Microsoft Excel
QuickPen DuctDesigner 3D
XY Soft Sheet Cutting Suite
Corte Certo
Applied Production ProFold
FCC Software AutoPOL Series
Microsoft Office
WiCAM PN4000
UGS NX
Spreadsheet software
Revcad Software Sheet Lightning
Data entry software
Striker Systems SS-Profile
Merry Mechanization SMP/IS
Microsoft Windows
Creo Parametric Pro/ENGINEER
Autodesk AutoCAD
Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
JETCAM Expert
Computer aided design CAD software
Applied Production ProFab