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Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters in South Dakota

Want to work as a Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters in South Dakota? Here’s what the data says. Fabricate, position, align, and fit parts of structural metal products. Shipfitters are included in “Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic” (51-4192).

What do Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Make in South Dakota?

For structural metal fabricators and fitters working in South Dakota, the typical annual salary is $52,470 per year (or about $25.23/hour).Annual wages span from $35,510 at the 10th percentile to $62,740 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$35,510	$17.07
25th percentile	$39,590	$19.03
Median (50th)	$52,470	$25.23
75th percentile	$57,270	$27.53
90th percentile	$62,740	$30.16

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in South Dakota relative to the national average — is 1.40, meaning that structural metal fabricators and fitters are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, structural metal fabricators and fitters earn a median of $47,270 per year ($22.73/hour), exceeding the South Dakota median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 673,064 structural metal fabricators and fitters in the U.S.. In South Dakota alone, approximately 220 people work in this role. That trails the typical state, which employs around 870 structural metal fabricators and fitters.

Top South Dakota Metros for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

The largest metro-area employers of structural metal fabricators and fitters in South Dakota.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Sioux Falls, SD-MN	130	$52,470

Top States for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Employment

View the states that employ the most structural metal fabricators and fitters work.

State	Number Employed
Texas	6,220
Wisconsin	2,920
California	2,680
Pennsylvania	2,410
Tennessee	2,380
Alabama	2,150
Florida	2,150
Indiana	1,910
Louisiana	1,850
New York	1,800
Illinois	1,650
North Carolina	1,330
Michigan	1,230
Ohio	1,200
Washington	1,190
Virginia	1,150
Minnesota	1,100
Oregon	1,010
Georgia	980
Oklahoma	910

Highest-Paying States for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

These states pay the most for structural metal fabricators and fitters.

State	Annual Median Salary
Alaska	$64,220
Washington	$63,280
Connecticut	$62,240
Massachusetts	$61,220
Oregon	$59,750
California	$56,460
New Jersey	$55,930
Wisconsin	$54,640
New Hampshire	$53,560
Kentucky	$52,710

Skills

Key structural metal fabricators and fitters skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for structural metal fabricators and fitters, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters typically:

• 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.
• 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.
• Lift or move materials and finished products, using large cranes.
• Set up face blocks, jigs, and fixtures.
• 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.

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
• Processing Information
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Programs that train for this career include:

• Precision Metal Working

Related Careers

Careers similar to structural metal fabricators and fitters include:

• Boilermakers
• Carpenters
• Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers
• Sheet Metal Workers
• Structural Iron and Steel Workers
• Millwrights

Also Known As

Component Fabricator, Fabricator, Fitter, Ground Support Equipment Assembler, Hand Former, Industrial Fabricator, Layout Man, Machine Cage Maker, Machine Shop Fitter, Metal Box Maker, Metal Fabricator, Metal Fabricator Apprentice, Metal Framer, Metal Products Assembler, Metal Products Fabricator.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-2041.00