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Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

Architecture and ConstructionO*NET 51-2041.00United States

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

COMING SOON See related ASU learning
Median annual earnings
$51,242

50th percentile, United States

Projected change
−9.2%

2025 to 2035

Typical education
High school diploma or less

94.7% of the workforce

Employment
53.96K jobs

Growing to 49.01K by 2035

Explore this career by location

Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

Showing United States

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

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The work

What structural metal fabricators and fitters do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

  • Verify conformance of workpieces to specifications, using squares, rulers, and measuring tapes.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Set up face blocks, jigs, and fixtures.
  • Lift or move materials and finished products, using large cranes.
  • Align and fit parts according to specifications, using jacks, turnbuckles, wedges, drift pins, pry bars, and hammers.
  • Hammer, chip, and grind workpieces to cut, bend, and straighten metal.
  • Locate and mark workpiece bending and cutting lines, allowing for stock thickness, machine and welding shrinkage, and other component specifications.
  • Remove high spots and cut bevels, using hand files, portable grinders, and cutting torches.
  • Smooth workpiece edges and fix taps, tubes, and valves.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile
$37,534
25th percentile
$45,266
50th percentile
$51,242
75th percentile
$61,336
90th percentile
$73,056

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $51,242 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

−9.2%projected to decline
202553,959 jobs
2035 projected49,014 jobs

4,945 fewer positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less
94.7%
Certificate
3%
Associate degree
2.3%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

  • Sheet Metal
  • Fabrication
  • Hand Tools
  • Blueprinting
  • Drilling
  • Riveting
  • Welding
  • Brakes
  • Power Tool Operation
  • HVAC
  • Machinery
  • Metal Forming
  • Lifting Ability
  • Machining
  • Engineering Drawings
  • Press Brake
  • Technical Drawing
  • Aluminum
  • Calipers
  • Metal Inert Gas (MIG) Welding

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

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.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
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.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Management of Personnel Resources
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

  1. 01Fabricators317 postings
  2. 02Sheet Metal Mechanics155 postings
  3. 03Structures Mechanics115 postings
  4. 04Sheet Metal Apprentices92 postings
  5. 05Sheet Metal Helpers81 postings
  6. 06Sheet Metal Workers50 postings
  7. 07Structural Technicians38 postings
  8. 08Sheet Metal Fabricators37 postings
  9. 09Sheet Metal Technicians30 postings
  10. 10Metal Mechanics27 postings
  11. 11Metal Fabricators20 postings
  12. 12HVAC Project Managers17 postings
  13. 13Metal Workers12 postings
  14. 14Sheet Metal Installers11 postings
  15. 15Sign Fabricators11 postings
  16. 16Gunsmiths10 postings
  17. 17Metal Stud Framers9 postings
  18. 18Aircraft Sheet Metal Mechanics8 postings
  19. 19Shop Helpers8 postings
  20. 20TIG Welders8 postings

Top employers

  1. 01Aerotek177 postings
  2. 02Hsgi56 postings
  3. 03The Structures Company43 postings
  4. 04Hoffman & Hoffman17 postings
  5. 05Strom Aviation16 postings
  6. 06Wastequip Manufacturing16 postings
  7. 07Boeing15 postings
  8. 08APA Services14 postings
  9. 09Lee Company13 postings
  10. 10Tyonek Native Corporation13 postings
  11. 11Aviation Personnel12 postings
  12. 12J F Ahern Company11 postings
  13. 13Lexicon Agency9 postings
  14. 14Standardaero9 postings
  15. 15Tyonek Services Group9 postings
  16. 16B & B Airparts8 postings
  17. 17CCS Construction8 postings
  18. 18Nordam8 postings
  19. 19Skybridge Aviation8 postings
  20. 20Yulista8 postings

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