What Do Structural Metal Fabricator or Fitter Do?
Job Description: Fabricate, position, align, and fit parts of structural metal products.
Life As a Structural Metal Fabricator or Fitter: What Do They Do?
- Lift or move materials and finished products, using large cranes.
- Remove high spots and cut bevels, using hand files, portable grinders, and cutting torches.
- 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.
- Mark reference points onto floors or face blocks and transpose them to workpieces, using measuring devices, squares, chalk, and soapstone.
- Preheat workpieces to make them malleable, using hand torches or furnaces.
- Position or tighten braces, jacks, clamps, ropes, or bolt straps, or bolt parts in position for welding or riveting.
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Structural Metal Fabricator or Fitter Skills
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Types of Structural Metal Fabricator or Fitter
- Structural Steel Fabricator
- Motorcycle Fabricator
- Motorcycle Maker
- Metal Framer
- Motorcycle Assembler
Job Outlook for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 77,000 jobs in the United States for Structural Metal Fabricator or Fitter. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Structural Metal Fabricator or Fitter. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 6,500 job openings in this field each year.
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.
Structural Metal Fabricator or Fitter 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 education or degrees do I need to become a Structural Metal Fabricator or Fitter?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Structural Metal Fabricator or Fitter?
Where Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Work
The table below shows the approximate number of Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters employed by various industries.
Other Jobs You May 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
Those who work as a Structural Metal Fabricator or Fitter sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
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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