Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

Overview

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters has a national median salary of $51,330 per year, with -6.2% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

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

Work Values

• Support
• Working Conditions
• Relationships

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• 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.

Work Activities

• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Getting Information
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Training and Teaching Others

Detailed Work Activities

• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished an associate's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Associate's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a high school diploma or equivalent.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters:

Video Resources