Find Trade Colleges
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters in West Virginia
Want to work as a Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters in West Virginia? Below are the key facts. 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 West Virginia?
The structural metal fabricators and fitters working in West Virginia, the median annual wage is $44,360 per year (or roughly $21.33/hour).Pay can range from $35,260 at the 10th percentile to $60,680 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,260 | $16.95 |
| 25th percentile | $38,250 | $18.39 |
| Median (50th) | $44,360 | $21.33 |
| 75th percentile | $49,850 | $23.97 |
| 90th percentile | $60,680 | $29.17 |
The job concentration index in West Virginia compared to the national average — is 0.81, meaning fewer structural metal fabricators and fitters per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, structural metal fabricators and fitters earn a median of $47,270 per year ($22.73/hour), lower than the West Virginia median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 673,064 structural metal fabricators and fitters across the United States. In West Virginia alone, approximately 200 people work in this role. That’s fewer than the typical state, which employs around 870 structural metal fabricators and fitters.
Top West Virginia Metros for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
The metro areas below employ the most structural metal fabricators and fitters in West Virginia.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | 30 | $43,970 |
Top States for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Employment
These states have the highest employment of 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
The highest-paying states 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
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for structural metal fabricators and fitters, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, 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?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
Related Careers
Other careers like 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