NOC 72102: Sheet metal workers
What sheet metal workers do
Sheet metal workers fabricate, assemble, install and repair sheet metal products. They are employed by sheet metal fabrication shops, sheet metal products manufacturing companies, sheet metal work contractors and various industrial sectors. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Read engineering and architectural drawings, sketches and work specifications to be performed, and lay out, measure and mark sheet metal according to drawings or templates
- Develop patterns for sheet metal using computer-assisted design and drafting (CAD) software package
- Operate light metalworking machines such as shears, brakes, punches, and drill presses, including computer numerical control (CNC) equipment to cut, bend, punch, drill, shape or straighten sheet metal
- Operate computerized laser or plasma cutting equipment to cut sheet metal
- Install and use rigging and hoisting equipment
- Fit and join sheet metal parts using riveting, welding, soldering and similar equipment to fabricate products such as ventilation shafts, exhaust hoods, eavestroughs, partition frames, air and heat ducts, material handling systems, roof decking and sheet metal buildings
- Install sheet metal products according to specifications and building codes
- Grind and buff seams, joints and rough surfaces
- Inspect product quality and installation to ensure conformance to specifications.
- Sheet metal workers may specialize in on-site installation or shop manufacture of sheet metal products, or servicing and maintenance of installed equipment and systems.
Job titles under NOC 72102
34 job titles are classified here, including apprentice sheet metal worker, sheet metal fabricator, sheet metal mechanic.
- aircraft layout man/woman sheet metal
- apprentice sheet metal worker
- apprentice tinsmith
- construction sheet metal worker
- coppersmith
- custom sheet metal fabricator
- fitter - sheet metal working
- high rise sheet metal installer
- industrial sheet metal worker
- journeyman/woman sheet metal worker
- maintenance sheet metal worker
- metal furniture model maker
- metal furniture patternmaker
- plant tinsmith
- precision sheet metal fabricator
- precision sheet metal mechanic
- precision sheet metal worker
- residential (low rise) sheet metal installer
- sheet metal fabricator
- sheet metal installer
- sheet metal lay-out worker
- sheet metal mechanic
- sheet metal mechanic apprentice
- sheet metal mechanic bench hand
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a three to five year apprenticeship program or A combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in sheet metal working is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
- Trade certification for sheet metal workers is compulsory in New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta, and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the territories.
- Trade certification for precision sheet metal set-up operator is available, but voluntary in Quebec.
- Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified sheet metal workers upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Sheet metal workers wages in Canada
Low, median and high hourly wages from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data. Annual figures assume full-time work (1,950 hours a year).
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $22.70/hr | $34.07/hr | $45.95/hr |
Toronto ON | $24.20/hr | $35.40/hr | $48.17/hr |
Montréal QC | $24.90/hr | $35.00/hr | $44.00/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $22.98/hr | $32.17/hr | $45.95/hr |
Calgary AB | $20.00/hr | $29.70/hr | $40.00/hr |
Edmonton AB | $20.00/hr | $30.75/hr | $45.00/hr |
Ottawa ON | $22.00/hr | $33.39/hr | $47.74/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $19.62/hr | $28.33/hr | $41.70/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $25.50/hr | $40.00/hr | $44.79/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $22.50/hr | $35.00/hr | $48.27/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $23.27/hr | $36.10/hr | $48.34/hr |
London ON | $20.83/hr | $30.00/hr | $47.77/hr |
Halifax NS | $19.50/hr | $28.08/hr | $38.10/hr |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | $24.00/hr | $30.00/hr | $42.00/hr |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | $20.00/hr | $30.00/hr | $44.66/hr |
Regina Regina–Moose Mountain region, SK | $19.51/hr | $27.00/hr | $43.00/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $24.50/hr | $34.75/hr | $45.25/hr |
Nova Scotia | $19.50/hr | $29.00/hr | $38.32/hr |
New Brunswick | $20.00/hr | $27.30/hr | $35.73/hr |
Quebec | $25.50/hr | $40.00/hr | $44.79/hr |
Ontario | $22.94/hr | $35.00/hr | $48.17/hr |
Manitoba | $20.00/hr | $29.50/hr | $42.00/hr |
Saskatchewan | $19.74/hr | $29.50/hr | $44.66/hr |
Alberta | $20.00/hr | $30.00/hr | $42.00/hr |
British Columbia | $23.14/hr | $32.16/hr | $45.60/hr |
Using NOC 72102 for your resume or Express Entry profile
- IRCC asks you to make sure the main duties listed for your NOC match what you actually did at your job. If they don’t, look for another unit group whose duties do.
- Describe your own work in your own words. Recruiters and ATS software look for concrete tools, results and scope, not text copied from the NOC.
- Applying from outside Canada? Run your resume through the Canadian resume format checker to catch things Canadian employers don’t expect, like a photo or date of birth.
- Use the job title the employer’s posting uses. The 34 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Aircraft sheet metal technician (NOC 72404)
- Boilermakers (NOC 72103)
- Ironworkers (NOC 72105)
- Metalworking and forging machine operators (NOC 94105)
- Sheet metal workers supervisor (NOC 72010)
- Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters (NOC 72104)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for sheet metal workers?
Sheet metal workers are NOC 2021 unit group 72102. Example job titles in this group include apprentice sheet metal worker, sheet metal fabricator, sheet metal mechanic, sheet metal worker.
What TEER is NOC 72102?
NOC 72102 is TEER 2 (College diploma or apprenticeship (2+ years)). Usually requires a 2–3 year college program or a 2–5 year apprenticeship, or the occupation carries supervisory or significant safety responsibilities. TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 work counts as skilled work experience for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programs.
How much do sheet metal workers earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $34.07/hr, about $66,000 a year full-time, with a range of $22.70/hr to $45.95/hr.
Related occupations
Sources: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada, Job Bank wages (2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. OfferJetAI is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Check IRCC’s NOC guidance before you apply.