# Will sheet metal workers be replaced by AI? Updated October 2026 Sheet metal workers score 20 of 100 for AI exposure. 56% of their task time still needs a person. AI can do 3% today and speed up another 41%. - **3%** AI can do it - **41%** AI helps - **56%** Needs a person Low exposure Lower than 79% of the 923 occupations we scored. ## Task by task We graded 19 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 1 of them today, speeds up 8 and leaves 10 to people. | Task | AI exposure | | --- | --- | | Convert blueprints into shop drawings to be followed in the construction or assembly of sheet metal products. CAD and AI tools can generate shop drawings; a person reviews. | 65% AI can do it | | Determine project requirements, such as scope, assembly sequences, or required methods or materials, using blueprints, drawings, or written or verbal instructions. AI can extract requirements from drawings; engineers confirm scope. | 55% AI helps | | Select gauges or types of sheet metal or nonmetallic material, according to product specifications. AI can match gauges to specs; a worker confirms selection. | 50% AI helps | | Fabricate ducts for high efficiency heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to maximize efficiency of systems. Software can optimize duct design; fabrication remains manual work. | 35% AI helps | | Hire, train, or supervise new employees or apprentices. AI can draft training and postings; supervising people stays human. | 35% AI helps | ## How sheet metal workers compare All occupations (923) Construction and extraction (61) **Sheet metal workers score 20**, marked by the dark line. Each dot is a score, darker where more occupations share it. The short marks show the averages, 37 for all occupations and 15 for construction and extraction. ## Pay and outlook in the US Median pay $61,800 a year, May 2025 People employed 119,770 in the US, May 2025 Projected change in jobs +2.5% from 2024 to 2034 ## Skills to build - Correct AI-made shop drawings in AutoCAD and ProFab - Program bends and cuts in FCC AutoPOL Series - Nest and cut parts in Corte Certo and JETCAM Expert - Hold a welding certification for sheet metal joints - Field verify LEED-aligned HVAC installs on site - Read blueprints and set project scope from drawings ## Safer roles nearby 5 related occupations with lower scores. - [Metal fabricators11 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/metal-fabricators/) - [Aircraft assemblers16 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/aircraft-assemblers/) - [Structural steel workers15 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/structural-steel-workers/) - [Drywall installers9 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/drywall-installers/) - [Insulation workers13 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/insulation-workers/) ## Questions about sheet metal workers and AI Will AI replace sheet metal workers? Partly. About 2 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly converting blueprints into shop drawings and pulling project requirements from drawings. Cutting, bending, welding and installing metal on site stay with people because they need a skilled person working with the metal. Which sheet metal worker tasks is AI taking over? AI is taking over shop drawing work first, with an exposure score of 65 for converting blueprints into shop drawings. CAD and AI tools can generate the drawings, and the worker reviews them before fabrication starts. Gauge selection is next, with an exposure score of 50, because AI can match gauges to product specs while a worker confirms the choice. Which sheet metal worker tasks stay human? Roofing unit placement, hand shaping, and roof edge fastening stay human, each with an exposure score of 3. Maneuvering heavy roofing units into position is physical labor. Shaping metal over forms manually needs physical skill, and nailing or welding roof edges is outdoor work done manually on the roof. How can sheet metal workers stay valuable? Move toward the checking and programming work that sits on top of fabrication. Learn Applied Production ProFab and AutoCAD well enough to correct AI-made shop drawings before they reach the shop floor. Run Corte Certo nesting and JETCAM Expert programs, then check the cut output against the specs. Keep hands-on welding and site installation skills sharp, since those tasks carry the lowest exposure. ## Related jobs - [Toolmakers29 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/toolmakers/) - [Carpenters18 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/carpenters/) - [Industrial machinery mechanics31 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/industrial-machinery-mechanics/) - [Woodworking machine operators16 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/woodworking-machine-operators/) ## Next steps for sheet metal workers - ### Check your job Your job title is a rough guide. Your actual tasks decide your score. Paste your job description or CV and see which of your tasks AI can do. [Check your job](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/ai-exposure-checker/) [Check your CV](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/cv-checker/) ### Check which roles in your team AI can take on We map your team's tasks, show what AI can do today and build the automations that pay back first. [Book an AI audit](https://www.aigentcy.com/audit/) ## Related topics - [**Jobs AI can't replace**Cement masons score lowest, at 8.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-cant-replace/) - [**Jobs most at risk from AI**Proofreaders score highest, at 76.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-most-exposed-to-ai/) - [**High-paying jobs with low AI exposure**Radiologists earn a median $420,860 and score 46.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/high-paying-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Entry-level jobs with low AI exposure**Cement masons need little prior training and score 8.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/entry-level-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Jobs AI speeds up the most**For natural sciences managers, AI speeds up 96% of task time.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-speeds-up/) - [**AI and jobs in Malta**15 iGaming roles graded task by task.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/malta/) - [**Skills that keep work human**The skills to build in the jobs AI changes least.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/skills/) - [**Jobs A to Z**Every job we publish, by first letter.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs/) - [**AI exposure by industry**Average scores for 22 occupation groups.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/industries/) - [**Write a CV screening software can read**How applicant tracking systems read a CV, and what to change.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/cv-screening-guide/) - [**AI for businesses**The tasks to automate first in each team and industry.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-for/) - [**How we score AI exposure**The grading, the weights and every source.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/) Occupation data from the O\*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and modified by Aigentcy. O\*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Wage, employment and projection data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EU occupation names from ESCO, European Commission. AI usage signals from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY) and Microsoft Research (CC BY 4.0). [Methodology and sources](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/). Scores © Aigentcy. Quote them with a link to the page.