All About Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
Job Description & Duties Fabricate, position, align, and fit parts of structural metal products.
Life As a Structural Metal Fabricator or Fitter: What Do They Do?
- Move parts into position, manually or with hoists or cranes.
- Lay out and examine metal stock or workpieces to be processed to ensure that specifications are met.
- Align and fit parts according to specifications, using jacks, turnbuckles, wedges, drift pins, pry bars, and hammers.
- Heat-treat parts, using acetylene torches.
- Study engineering drawings and blueprints to determine materials requirements and task sequences.
- Straighten warped or bent parts, using sledges, hand torches, straightening presses, or bulldozers.
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Qualities of a Structural Metal Fabricator or Fitter
These are the skills Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters say are the most useful in their careers:
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Motorcycle Maker
- Ornamental Metal Worker Apprentice
- Pneumatic Tool Operator
- Structural and Ornamental Metalwork Steel Fabricator
- Ornamental Metal Worker
Is There Going to be Demand for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters?
In the United States, there were 77,000 jobs for Structural Metal Fabricator or Fitter in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Structural Metal Fabricator or Fitter. The BLS estimates 6,500 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Structural Metal Fabricator or Fitter are Texas, Arizona, and Washington. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Kansas, or Kentucky. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Salary
The typical yearly salary for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters is somewhere between $26,530 and $60,150.
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters who work in Alaska, New York, or Delaware, make the highest salaries.
How much do Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $40,360 |
| Alaska | $53,050 |
| Arizona | $37,430 |
| Arkansas | $36,280 |
| California | $40,270 |
| Colorado | $40,580 |
| Connecticut | $43,420 |
| Delaware | $45,580 |
| Florida | $38,070 |
| Georgia | $36,560 |
| Hawaii | $49,690 |
| Idaho | $35,380 |
| Illinois | $46,880 |
| Indiana | $37,400 |
| Iowa | $36,510 |
| Kansas | $53,910 |
| Kentucky | $35,320 |
| Louisiana | $44,110 |
| Maine | $40,440 |
| Maryland | $46,110 |
| Massachusetts | $45,630 |
| Michigan | $43,420 |
| Minnesota | $46,260 |
| Mississippi | $36,390 |
| Missouri | $37,730 |
| Montana | $40,760 |
| Nebraska | $36,210 |
| Nevada | $43,370 |
| New Hampshire | $45,210 |
| New Jersey | $48,600 |
| New Mexico | $35,060 |
| New York | $49,280 |
| North Carolina | $39,070 |
| North Dakota | $42,490 |
| Ohio | $37,350 |
| Oklahoma | $36,330 |
| Oregon | $44,250 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,510 |
| South Carolina | $38,630 |
| South Dakota | $36,150 |
| Tennessee | $37,050 |
| Texas | $41,620 |
| Utah | $41,270 |
| Vermont | $45,160 |
| Virginia | $42,090 |
| Washington | $45,000 |
| West Virginia | $37,780 |
| Wisconsin | $43,240 |
| Wyoming | $40,460 |
What Tools do Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Data entry software
- Spreadsheet software
- Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Computer aided design and drafting CADD software
Becoming a Structural Metal Fabricator or Fitter
What kind of Structural Metal Fabricator or Fitter requirements are there?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where do Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Work?
The table below shows the approximate number of Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters employed by various industries.
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a Structural Metal Fabricator or Fitter might also be interested in the following careers:
- Solderers and Brazers
- Print Binding and Finishing Workers
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Are you already one of the many Structural Metal Fabricator or Fitter in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: US Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Linzmeier via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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