by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 18 U.S. colleges awarded 415 degrees and certificates in Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking. Certificates are the most popular award, at 68% of graduates. College Factual ranks 7 schools in its 2027 Best Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $33,745 one year after completing, rising to $48,658 after four years.
A major in Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking covers Sheet Metal Technology/sheetworking. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Form, Shape, Bend And Fold Extruded Metals, Including The Creation Of New Products, Using Hand Tools And Machines Such As Cornice Brakes, Forming Rolls, And Squaring Shears. Examples: [Sheet Metal Worker].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, sheet metal technology/sheetworking draws strong interest, with 415 degrees awarded annually. 18 colleges award sheet metal technology/sheetworking degrees, an average of 23 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 139.
By level, the 415 awards include 283 certificates, 79 associate degrees and 53 master’s degrees.
Women earned 6% of sheet metal technology/sheetworking degrees and certificates in the latest year (24 of 415). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (196) and Hispanic or Latino (102).
College Factual ranks 7 schools in its 2027 Best Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking Schools ranking, including 2 for associate degrees. It also ranks sheet metal technology/sheetworking schools within 1 state. In all, 18 colleges offer sheet metal technology/sheetworking programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common sheet metal technology/sheetworking credential is the certificate: 283 of the 415 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to sheet metal technology/sheetworking call most for Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control and Quality Control Analysis, and for knowledge of Mechanical, Production and Processing and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Near Vision, Arm-Hand Steadiness and Control Precision.
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How long a sheet metal technology/sheetworking degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 283 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 79 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 53 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to sheet metal technology/sheetworking, at 49.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 49.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 22.3% |
| Some college courses | 19.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 7.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking, with an average median salary of $44,215; the strongest outlook belongs to Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, at 14.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Template Maker, Computer Patternmaker, Pattern Maker Programmer and Plastics Patternmaker.
The occupation related to sheet metal technology/sheetworking with the most projected jobs is Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic, at 769,616.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic | 769,616 | 4.3% |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 487,910 | 14.6% |
| Sheet Metal Workers | 329,048 | 6.8% |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 314,414 | 9.9% |
| Model Makers, Metal and Plastic | 227,226 | 11.6% |
Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking graduates earn a median $33,745 one year after completing their program, $48,658 after four years and $44,553 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $33,745 |
| 4 years | $48,658 |
| 5 years | $44,553 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to sheet metal technology/sheetworking is Sheet Metal Workers, with a median salary of $62,339.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Sheet Metal Workers | $62,339 |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $47,503 |
| Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic | $41,576 |
| Model Makers, Metal and Plastic | $38,490 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $31,166 |
Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking has 8 similar majors in the Precision Production field, which together award 72,901 degrees a year; the largest are Welding Technology/Welder (64,207), Machine Tool Technology/Machinist (3,489) and Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist (2,254). Browse all Precision Production majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Welding Technology/Welder | 64,207 |
| Machine Tool Technology/Machinist | 3,489 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist | 2,254 |
| Machine Shop Technology/Assistant | 1,542 |
| Metal Fabricator | 588 |
| Tool and Die Technology/Technician | 423 |
| Precision Metal Working, Other | 296 |
| Ironworking/Ironworker | 102 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
