Side-by-Side Comparison
Rough Carpenters leads 4–1| Metric | Sheet Metal Workers | Rough Carpenters |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Score | 24.2% | 23.4% |
| Risk Tier | Low Risk | Low Risk |
| Risk Percentile | 17th | 15th |
| Tasks at Risk (>50%) | 7 / 15 | 4 / 15 |
| Median Salary | $60,850 | $59,310 |
| Employment | 117K | 698K |
Skill Comparison
|
Sorted by largest difference
Building and Construction
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People
Handling and Moving Objects
Coaching and Developing Others
Design
Developing and Building Teams
Education and Training
Scheduling Work and Activities
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
Oral Comprehension
Protective Factors
Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement
Sheet Metal Workers
27%
total discount
Rough Carpenters
31%
total discount
Task Risk Comparison
Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable
Sheet Metal Workers
7 of 15 at risk86%Develop or lay out patterns, using computerized metalworking equipment.
86%Verify that heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are designed, installed, and calibrated in accordance with green certification standards, such as those of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
85%Select gauges or types of sheet metal or nonmetallic material, according to product specifications.
84%Convert blueprints into shop drawings to be followed in the construction or assembly of sheet metal products.
63%Inspect individual parts, assemblies, or installations, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, scales, or micrometers.
Rough Carpenters
4 of 15 at risk86%Maintain job records and schedule work crew.
84%Study blueprints and diagrams to determine dimensions of structure or form to be constructed.
62%Measure materials or distances, using square, measuring tape, or rule to lay out work.
51%Fabricate parts, using woodworking and metalworking machines.
43%Cut or saw boards, timbers, or plywood to required size, using handsaw, power saw, or woodworking machine.
Wage Comparison
Rough Carpenters earns -$1,540(-3%) vs Sheet Metal Workers
Sheet Metal WorkersRough Carpenters
10th
$38,030$38,760
25th
$47,290$47,550
Median
$60,850$59,310
75th
$79,620$75,620
90th
$102,680$98,370
Premium Head-to-Head Analysis
Displacement Timeline Comparison
Sheet Metal Workers2028–2035
Rough Carpenters2028–2035
20242030203520402045
Rough Carpenters has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Sheet Metal Workers.
Risk-Adjusted Salary
Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)
Sheet Metal Workers
$46,112
from $60,850
Rough Carpenters
$45,414
from $59,310
After adjusting for AI risk, Sheet Metal Workers offers $698 more in risk-adjusted pay.
Transition Feasibility
1%
Skill Overlap
Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition
0
Unique to Sheet
0
Unique to Rough
Combined Protection Strategy
Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors
Social Intelligence
Regulatory Barriers
Fine Manipulation
Creativity
Sheet Metal WorkersRough Carpenters