Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

Career Overview

Fabricate, position, align, and fit parts of structural metal products.

Also Known As

• Fabricator
• Fitter
• Layout Man
• Ship Fitter

Alternate Job Titles

• Component Fabricator
• Fabricator
• Fitter
• Ground Support Equipment Assembler
• Hand Former
• Industrial Fabricator
• Layout Man
• Machine Cage Maker
• Machine Shop Fitter
• Metal Box Maker
• Metal Fabricator
• Metal Fabricator Apprentice
• Metal Framer
• Metal Products Assembler
• Metal Products Fabricator

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

• 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.

Emerging Responsibilities

As this field evolves, you may also:

• Troubleshoot and repair electrical or mechanical equipment.

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Near Vision
• Manual Dexterity
• Control Precision
• Multilimb Coordination
• Static Strength
• Visualization
• Information Ordering
• Category Flexibility
• Finger Dexterity

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

• Attention to Detail
• Dependability
• Cautiousness
• Perseverance
• Stress Tolerance

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

• Support
• Working Conditions
• Relationships
• Achievement
• Recognition

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Word

Tools & Equipment

• Adjustable wrenches
• Belt sanders
• Bench vises
• Beverly shears
• Brakes
• Center punches
• Chipping tools
• Circular saws
• Claw hammers
• Computerized numerical control CNC metal-cutting machines
• Computerized numerical control CNC press brakes
• Cutoff saws
• Desktop computers
• Dial indicators
• Dividers

Work Environment

• Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
• Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
• Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
• Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
• Exposed to Contaminants

Salary & Job Market

Salary Percentile	Annual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)	$37,370
Median	$49,900
Top Earners (90th percentile)	$70,510

Workers Employed Nationally: 53,380

Related Careers

If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:

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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.