Production
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
Also called: Fabricator, Fitter, Layout Man, Metal Fabricator
US median pay
$51,330
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-6.2%
declining
Openings a year (US)
4,800
52,300 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Fabricate, position, align, and fit parts of structural metal products.
What they do day to day
- Verify conformance of workpieces to specifications, using squares, rulers, and measuring tapes.
- Study engineering drawings and blueprints to determine materials requirements and task sequences.
- Position, align, fit, and weld parts to form complete units or subunits, following blueprints and layout specifications, and using jigs, welding torches, and hand tools.
- Lay out and examine metal stock or workpieces to be processed to ensure that specifications are met.
- Tack-weld fitted parts together.
- Move parts into position, manually or with hoists or cranes.
- Set up and operate fabricating machines, such as brakes, rolls, shears, flame cutters, grinders, and drill presses, to bend, cut, form, punch, drill, or otherwise form and assemble metal components.
- Position or tighten braces, jacks, clamps, ropes, or bolt straps, or bolt parts in position for welding or riveting.
- Lift or move materials and finished products, using large cranes.
- Set up face blocks, jigs, and fixtures.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operations Monitoring2.9/5
- Time Management2.6/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.6/5
- Operation and Control2.4/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.4/5
- Coordination2.4/5
- Quality Control Analysis2.2/5
- Instructing2.2/5
Knowledge
- Mathematics3.4/5
- Production and Processing3.3/5
- Mechanical3.3/5
- English Language3.0/5
- Administration and Management2.9/5
- Education and Training2.8/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma77%
- Less than high school18%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.