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Sheet Metal Workers vs Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

Side-by-side · O*NET · BLS · AI-exposure research · Anthropic Economic Index

A factual, source-backed comparison of Sheet Metal Workers and Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers on the dimensions both occupations carry. Every figure is a position within an independent published dataset — not a verdict on which job is better, safer, or more “future-proof.”

Sheet Metal Workers Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
Median pay · BLS OEWS
$60,850
$61,680
Employment · BLS OEWS
117,470
32,890
AI exposure (percentile) · task overlap, not automation
16th pct
12th pct

At a glance

Dimension Sheet Metal Workers Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
Median pay $60,850 $61,680
Employment 117,470 32,890
Employment outlook (2024–34) · BLS projection About average (+2.4%) Declining (-14.5%)
Annual openings · BLS projection 10,600 2,800
Typical education · O*NET Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
AI exposure · published exposure studies Low · 16th pct Low · 12th pct
Global GenAI gradient · ILO ISCO-08 · via crosswalk 35th pct · 21% of tasks 49th pct · 27% of tasks
Observed AI use · Anthropic Economic Index Automation-leaning (63.8%) —
Mostly remote-capable · Dingel–Neiman No No

Pay and employment are BLS OEWS estimates; outlook and openings are BLS 2024–2034 projections; AI exposure and observed-use figures come from separate research and reflect exposure and usage, not predictions that either job will disappear. Compare like with like.

Skills

Shared: Mechanical, Mathematics, Design, Visualization, Near Vision, English Language, Arm-Hand Steadiness, Manual Dexterity, Multilimb Coordination, Information Ordering, Selective Attention, Finger Dexterity, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Oral Comprehension, Written Comprehension, Oral Expression, Problem Sensitivity, Deductive Reasoning, Category Flexibility, Control Precision, Education and Training, Production and Processing, Engineering and Technology, Active Listening, Speaking, Mathematics, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Inductive Reasoning, Perceptual Speed.

Specific to Sheet Metal Workers

  • Building and Construction
  • Coordination
  • Flexibility of Closure
  • Static Strength
  • Trunk Strength
  • Administration and Management
  • Mathematical Reasoning
  • Number Facility

Specific to Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Extent Flexibility
  • Speech Recognition
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Equipment Maintenance
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Auditory Attention

Knowledge, skills & abilities O*NET rates as important for each occupation. “Shared” are common to both; the columns list what is distinctive to each (top by the order O*NET surfaces).

Tools & technology

Shared: Spreadsheet software , Office suite software , Word processing software .

Specific to Sheet Metal Workers

Specific to Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

Full profiles

This page is a summary. See the complete source-backed profile for Sheet Metal Workers or Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers — tasks, the full skill graph, tools, work context, preparation, wages by percentile, industries, AI exposure and the AI work map.

More comparisons

Related occupations you can place side by side on the same sourced scale.

Sources for this page

Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.

Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.

Cite this page
Plain

Singulariki. "Sheet Metal Workers vs Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/compare/sheet-metal-workers-vs-aircraft-structure-surfaces-rigging-and-systems-assemblers

APA

Singulariki. (2026). Sheet Metal Workers vs Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/compare/sheet-metal-workers-vs-aircraft-structure-surfaces-rigging-and-systems-assemblers

BibTeX 
@misc{singulariki-sheet-metal-workers-vs-aircraft-structure-surfaces-rigging-and-systems-assemblers,
  title  = {Sheet Metal Workers vs Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers},
  author = {{Singulariki}},
  year   = {2026},
  note   = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
  url    = {https://singulariki.com/compare/sheet-metal-workers-vs-aircraft-structure-surfaces-rigging-and-systems-assemblers}
}

Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.