ive been doin it for 5-6 years now. I was in the union the pay was great but you are laid off half the year. I moved to florida thinking you would make more but its not true at all the boat loads of mexicans do it for alot cheaper and you top out about $30k if youre a foreman. Down there its not a skilled trade because the majority is done with insulation and anyone can do it because if something doesnt fit u just make it there is really no skill to it. I guess in NY right now things are going good in the trade but thats because buffalo sheet metal shut down and there are alot of contracts that got divided up. The trade is honestly dieing and the only places its doing good right now is out west. My Dad used to run Buffalo Sheet and when they closed up he went to vegas where he is doing awesome because he got trained in this area where the trade school are leaps and bounds better then anywhere else.