Sheet metal careers split into two very different paths: the BIM/VDC track that lives in Revit and coordination meetings, and the fab-shop track that turns approved models into ductwork. Here's how they differ and which suits which kind of professional.
BIM/VDC detailers build and coordinate the 3D ductwork model — sizing transitions, routing around structural and other trades, running clash detection in Navisworks, and tracking coordination issues in Revizto. They attend weekly BIM coordination calls with the GC, MEP trades, and structural team, and they own the constructability review before a single piece of metal gets cut.
The fab shop turns approved coordinated models into shop tickets, then cuts, brakes, welds, and assembles ductwork. Drafters generate fabrication drawings from the VDC model using SysQue, CAMduct, or Mainline. Fabricators run plasma tables, coil lines, and welding equipment. The shop owns dimensional accuracy, fit-up quality, and shipping logistics to the field.
There's overlap but not full equivalence. VDC detailers live in Revit + Navisworks + Revizto. Fab shop drafters typically use SysQue or CAMduct downstream of the VDC model. Strong shops have detailers who can move between both worlds, which is rare and highly paid.
It depends on seniority. A lead VDC coordinator on a major data center or healthcare project can clear $140K. A senior fab shop foreman running a 30,000-square-foot shop with a $20M annual output can earn equivalent or more, especially with profit share. Both paths peak around the same place — VDC tilts toward office and travel, fab shop tilts toward hands-on plant management.
VDC: usually yes, with periodic site visits. Fab shop drafting: sometimes hybrid. Fab shop production: no — it's an in-person, hands-on role tied to physical equipment. Candidates choosing between paths often pick based on this lifestyle question as much as the work itself.
If you like coordination, problem-solving across trades, and working from your laptop, BIM/VDC is the stronger fit. If you like managing people, running equipment, and seeing finished product roll out the door every day, the fab shop is more satisfying. Both paths produce six-figure earners. Neither is permanently superior — pick based on what you actually want to do for the next 10 years.