Compare A Ironworker ↔ B Sheet Metal Worker

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Your route

1 move · +$2,000 a year, Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels

Gates on this route

Move 1, to Sheet Metal Worker: license depends on the work (Texas: HVAC duct work is done under a TDLR-licensed A/C contractor; helping with A/C maintenance or repair needs TDLR technician registration. Other sheet metal work: no license at agencies checked).

Move 1 Transfer move to the side
Ironworker to Sheet Metal Worker +$2,000 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- O*NET lists Sheet Metal Workers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.85.
- Gates: license depends on the work (Texas: HVAC duct work is done under a TDLR-licensed A/C contractor; helping with A/C maintenance or repair needs TDLR technician registration. Other sheet metal work: no license at agencies checked).
- Skills to build: Mathematics

Side by side

All Sheet Metal Workers: Texas median $54,240, $2,000 more a year than all Structural Iron and Steel Workers ($52,240), every experience level.

More than 40 hours a week: Sheet Metal Worker 28%, Ironworker 34%.

Occupation-wide pay all experience levels, not this level's pay; Texas median, base pay, $0 to $300k

$52,240+$2,000$54,240

Gates on the route: license depends on the work (Texas: HVAC duct work is done under a TDLR-licensed A/C contractor; helping with A/C maintenance or repair needs TDLR technician registration. Other sheet metal work: no license at agencies checked).

Outlook 2024 to 2034 whole occupation

A +3.6% Texas, 850 openings a year

B +5.3% Texas, 950 openings a year

Over 40 h a week

34%-6 pts28%

Physical load our index from O*NET, 1 to 5; A B; largest differences first

3.4 / 5-0.52.9 / 5

High places-1.52High places: A 3.74, B 2.22
Climbing ladders-1.35Climbing ladders: A 3.07, B 1.72
Kneeling or crawling-0.92Kneeling or crawling: A 3.38, B 2.46
Very hot or cold-0.87Very hot or cold: A 3.75, B 2.88
Protective gear-0.75Protective gear: A 3.47, B 2.72

Degree

A Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 7% do).

B Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 0% do).

License

A No license for this job title at the 8 Texas and federal licensing agencies read on 2026-10-03 (TDLR, TSBPE, TCEQ, TCFP, TEA, TBPELS, NRC and EPA).

B Texas: HVAC duct work is done under a TDLR-licensed A/C contractor; helping with A/C maintenance or repair needs TDLR technician registration. Other sheet metal work: no license at agencies checked.

Experience

A Most common related work experience: none (O*NET: 57%).

B Most common related work experience: none (O*NET: 47%).

Skills O*NET importance, 1 to 5

You likely have: 6

Coordination
Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Judgment and Decision Making

To build: 1

Mathematics +0.88

Make this your goal

Save Ironworker to Sheet Metal Worker as your goal. Each step then shows the hours you have logged toward it, your exam practice and your license, with the one thing to do next and the 1 skills to build as a checklist. Free with an account.