Plumber / Pipefitter vs Sheet Metal Workers: Similar Pay, 6.8% vs 2.5% Growth

Plumber / Pipefitter vs Sheet Metal Workers: what changes?

Consider Plumber / Pipefitter if you want to assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases. Consider Sheet Metal Workers if you would rather fabricate, assemble, install, and repair sheet metal products and equipment, such as ducts, control boxes, drainpipes, and furnace casings. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Plumber / Pipefitter and Sheet Metal Workers. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Plumber / Pipefitter

National median pay (2025): $63,800
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements.
Work to investigate: Shut off steam, water, or other gases or liquids from pipe sections, using valve keys or wrenches.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 42,000

Know before you choose

The usual entry route includes an apprenticeship. Interest in the subject is not a substitute for supervised, paid training.

See the full Plumber / Pipefitter brief

Sheet Metal Workers

National median pay (2025): $61,800
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements.
Work to investigate: Maintain equipment, making repairs or modifications when necessary.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 9,800

Know before you choose

The usual entry route includes an apprenticeship. Interest in the subject is not a substitute for supervised, paid training.

See the full Sheet Metal Workers brief

How the national numbers differ

Plumber / Pipefitter has the edge on projected growth

Plumber / Pipefitter is at 6.8% projected growth, compared with 2.5% projected growth for Sheet Metal Workers.

Plumber / Pipefitter has the edge on annual openings

Plumber / Pipefitter is at 42,000 annual openings, compared with 9,800 annual openings for Sheet Metal Workers.

Typical preparation differs.

Plumber / Pipefitter: High school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements Sheet Metal Workers: High school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

Plumber / Pipefitter has the edge on median pay

Plumber / Pipefitter is at $63,800, compared with $61,800 for Sheet Metal Workers.

70.4/ 100

Plumber / Pipefitter

58.1/ 100

Sheet Metal Workers

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Plumber / Pipefitter vs Sheet Metal Workers

Dimension	Plumber / Pipefitter	Sheet Metal Workers
Median pay (2025)	$63,800	$61,800
Pay percentile	54.7 percentile	51 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	6.8%	2.5%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	42,000	9,800
2025 employment	510,600	131,100
How you qualify	High school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements	High school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 2
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements.	Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Plumber / Pipefitter brief Read Sheet Metal Workers brief

Plumber / Pipefitter vs Sheet Metal Workers: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Plumber / Pipefitter

Sheet Metal Workers

How the national numbers differ

Plumber / Pipefitter has the edge on projected growth

Plumber / Pipefitter has the edge on annual openings

Typical preparation differs.

Plumber / Pipefitter has the edge on median pay

Plumber / Pipefitter vs Sheet Metal Workers

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