Career comparison
Sheet Metal Worker vs. Welder
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Sheet metal workers earn more at the median ($61,800 vs. $53,750), while welders usually get to work faster (3–18 months of training). Sheet metal workers fabricate and install ductwork, roofing, siding and other products made from sheet metal. Welders join and cut metal with MIG, TIG and stick welding for construction and manufacturing.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Sheet Metal Worker | Welder | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $61,800 ($29.71/hr) | $53,750 ($25.84/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $38,630 – $105,650 | $39,240 – $77,530 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.5% (about as fast as average) | +2.4% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 9,800 | 40,300 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 4–5 years (apprenticeship) | 3–18 months |
| Key credential | Apprenticeship completion | AWS Certified Welder |
| Work setting | Sheet metal workers split time between fabrication shops and construction sites. | Welders work in fabrication shops, factories, shipyards, construction sites and refineries, sometimes outdoors or at heights. |
What each job does
Sheet Metal Worker
- Read blueprints and shop drawings
- Lay out and cut sheet metal patterns
- Bend and form metal with brakes and rollers
- Join seams with lock seams, rivets, screws and welds
- Install ductwork, hangers and supports
Welder
- Read blueprints, specifications and weld symbols
- Prepare, clean and fit metal parts
- Set up welding equipment and select processes and settings
- Weld components in flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead positions
- Cut metal with oxy-fuel or plasma torches
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, physical work, and indoor work. Both are part of the skilled trades & construction field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose sheet metal worker if…
- I’m good at visualizing 3D shapes
- I like working with metal and tools
- I enjoy math and measuring
Choose welder if…
- I like making things with my hands
- I have a steady hand and patience for precise work
- Heat, sparks and noise don’t bother me
Still torn? Take the Sheet Metal Worker fit quiz and the Welder fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, sheet metal worker or welder?
Sheet Metal Workers earn more at the median: $61,800 versus $53,750 for welders, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Welders typically train faster (3–18 months) than sheet metal workers (4–5 years (apprenticeship)).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects sheet metal workers to grow +2.5% from 2025–35, compared with +2.4% for welders.