Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking

Types of Degrees Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many sheet metal technology/sheetworking graduations there were in 2020-2021 for each degree level.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Undergraduate Certificate	207
Associate Degree	57
Basic Certificate	15

What Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking Majors Need to Know

O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to sheet metal tech and asked them what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. The responses were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.

Knowledge Areas for Sheet Metal Tech Majors

According to O*NET survey takers, a major in sheet metal tech should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

• Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Skills for Sheet Metal Tech Majors

sheet metal tech majors are found most commonly in careers in which the following skills are important:

• Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Abilities for Sheet Metal Tech Majors

As you progress with your sheet metal tech degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:

• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
• Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

What Can You Do With a Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with sheet metal tech:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Sheet Metal Workers	8.6%	$48,460

Who Is Getting an Associate’s Degree in Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking?

This major attracts more men than women. About 93% of the graduates in this field are male.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of sheet metal tech majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	0
Black or African American	0
Hispanic or Latino	10
White	44
International Students	0
Other Races/Ethnicities	3

How Much Do Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking Majors Make?

Salaries According to BLS

Sheet Metal Tech majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $40,790 to $52,710 (25th to 75th percentile). This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking

Some degrees associated with sheet metal tech may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.

How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to sheet metal tech have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma	10.5%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	58.2%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)	15.6%
Some College Courses	11.8%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	4.3%
Bachelor’s Degree	0.0%

Online Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking Programs

In the 2020-2021 academic year, 35 schools offered some type of sheet metal technology/sheetworking program. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	22	0
Certificate (2-4 Years)	5	0
Associate’s Degree	18	0
Bachelor’s Degree	0	0
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	0	0
Post-Master’s	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Is a Degree in Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking Worth It?

The median salary for a sheet metal tech grad is $47,130 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 18% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $144,600 after 20 years!

Trades Related to Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to sheet metal tech.

Major	Number of Grads
Welding Technology/Welder	42,490
Machine Tool Technology/Machinist	3,285
Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist	2,689
Machine Shop Technology/Assistant	1,921
Tool & Die Technology/Technician	584
Metal Fabricator	430
Ironworking/Ironworker	316
Other Precision Metal Working	314

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020

More about our data sources and methodologies.