Trades
Structural Metal Fabricators & Fitters
Manufacturing

Metal Fabricator

Structural metal fabricators and fitters assemble, fit, and erect structural metal products
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Metal Fabricator
custom fab grill
metal fab stairs
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Do you love the details? Are you fascinated by creating a variety of products using the latest technology?
Why Should You Consider This Career?

Structural metal fabricators and fitters install and repair metal frameworks and other metal parts of buildings, bridges, and other structures

TYPICAL SALARY
$80k
That's $3,300 per bi-weekly paycheck
CAREER OUTLOOK
Growing
That's 2000 new jobs in Utah per year (30% growth)
Less Physical                                         More Physical
—————|————
Less Training                                          More Training
—————|————
More Structure                                     Less Structure
—————|————
ALTERNATIVE JOB TITLES:
Fabricator, Fitter, Layout Man, Mill Beam Fitter, Ship Fitter, Structural Steel Fitter, Tack Welder, Weld Technician

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

At A Glance in US
2028 JOB GROWTH
Wage loader
398,000 (35%)
SALARY RANGE
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AVG. JOBS / YEAR
398,000 (35%)
TIME TO JOURNEYMAN
398,000 (35%)
ALTERNATIVE JOB TITLES:
Fabricator, Fitter, Layout Man, Mill Beam Fitter, Ship Fitter, Structural Steel Fitter, Tack Welder, Weld Technician
A Typical Day Icon

Your Typical Day:

  • Verify conformance of workpieces to specifications, using squares, rulers, and measuring tapes.
  • Align and fit parts according to specifications, using jacks, turnbuckles, wedges, drift pins, pry bars, and hammers.
  • Move parts into position, manually or with hoists or cranes.
  • 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.
  • Study engineering drawings and blueprints to determine materials requirements and task sequences.
  • 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.
  • Lay out and examine metal stock or workpieces to be processed to ensure that specifications are met.
  • Tack-weld fitted parts together.
  • Lift or move materials and finished products, using large cranes.
  • Remove high spots and cut bevels, using hand files, portable grinders, and cutting torches.
wage icon

Wages in the US:

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$
30.74
Per Hour Base Income
$TBD
Total Compensation
Your Responsibilities Icon

Your Responsibilities

  • Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
  • Align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly.
  • Lift materials or workpieces using cranes or other lifting equipment.
  • Operate welding equipment.
  • Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
  • Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
  • Operate grinding equipment.
  • Operate cutting equipment.
  • Inspect metal, plastic, or composite products.
  • Lay out parts to prepare for assembly.
Your Knowledge Icon

Knowledge You Will Learn

  • Mechanical

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance. 73/100

  • Mathematics

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. 68/100

  • Building and Construction

Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads. 64/100

  • Design

Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models. 63/100

  • English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. 58/100

  • Production and Processing

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods. 51/100

  • Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. 47/100

  • Engineering and Technology

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services. 46/100

  • Administration and Management

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. 42/100

  • Education and Training

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. 42/100

Tools of the Trade Icon

Tools of the Trade

  • Drill press or radial drill
  • Punches or nail sets or drifts
  • Shears
  • Hydraulic press brake
  • Welder torch
  • Plasma arc welding machine
  • Metal inert gas welding machine
  • Power saws
  • Track cranes
  • Dial indicator or dial gauge
  • Screwdrivers
  • Tape measures
  • Machine end mill
  • Induction heaters
  • Manual press brake
  • Hoists
  • Sheet metal forming machine
  • Blow torch
  • Surface gauge
  • Track bulldozers
  • Compasses
  • Squares
  • Milling machines
  • Tracer or duplicating or contouring lathe
  • Rulers
  • Height gauges
  • Precision file
  • Sledge hammer
  • Taps
  • Power riveter
  • Sine bar
  • Spot welding machine
  • Power planes
  • Tungsten inert gas welding machine
  • Hand reamer
  • Paint sprayers
  • Positioning jig
  • Claw hammer
  • Level sensors or transmitters
  • Belt sander
  • Hacksaw
  • Ladders
  • Micrometers
  • Bench vises
  • Scaffolding
  • Pry bars
  • Jacks
  • Hand clamps
  • Scribers
  • Forklifts
  • Wedges
  • Power grinders
  • Turnbuckles
  • Locking pliers
  • Power chippers
  • Protractors
  • Desktop computers
  • Adjustable wrenches
  • Personal computers
No items found.
Related Careers Icon

Helpful Career Links

American Welding Society
Fabricators & Manufacturers Association International
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers
International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
IPC
Metal Treating Institute
Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs
Occupational Outlook Handbook: Assemblers and fabricators
United Steelworkers

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