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Metal Fabricator

Types of Degrees Metal Fabricator Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Metal Fabricator can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	237
Associate’s Degree	72
Master’s Degree	243

What Metal Fabricator Majors Need to Know

Programs in Metal Fabricator build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Metal Fabricator graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Metal Fabricator emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Mathematics — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Production and Processing — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 2.9 / 7.
• Mechanical — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 2.5 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 2.9 / 5; level 2.4 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set developed in a Metal Fabricator program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Critical Thinking — Importance 3 / 5; level 2.4 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3 / 5; level 3 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3 / 5; level 2.6 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3 / 5; level 2.6 / 7.
• Monitoring — Importance 2.9 / 5; level 2.6 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Metal Fabricator careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Arm-Hand Steadiness — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Near Vision — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Visualization — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Static Strength — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Multilimb Coordination — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Metal Fabricator graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.2 / 7
Controlling Machines and Processes	4.1 / 7
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	4.0 / 7
Handling and Moving Objects	4.0 / 7
Performing General Physical Activities	3.9 / 7
Getting Information	3.9 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	3.9 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	3.9 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.7 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	3.7 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Metal Fabricator professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Spreadsheet software	Spreadsheet software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	—
Three-dimensional modeling software	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Tekla software	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Dassault Systemes CATIA	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Enterprise resource planning ERP software	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	—
Computer aided design and drafting CADD software	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Metal Fabricator graduates include:

• Ship Propeller Finisher
• Structural and Ornamental Metalwork Steel Fabricator
• Small Parts Fabricator
• Precision Structural Metal Fitter
• Metal Products Fabricator
• Structures Mechanic
• Motorcycle Assembler
• Sheet Metal Mechanic
• Layout Man
• Structural Steel Fabricator
• Structural and Ornamental Metalwork Metal Fabricator
• Structural Fitter
• Metal Products Assembler
• Metal Box Maker
• Fabricator

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Metal Fabricator graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
High school diploma or equivalent	76.7%
Less than a high school diploma	18.0%
Postsecondary certificate	3.0%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	2.3%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Metal Fabricator?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 93.8% of Metal Fabricator degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	34	6.2%
Men	518	93.8%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Metal Fabricator graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	270	48.9%
Asian	4	0.7%
Hispanic or Latino	222	40.2%
Black or African American	15	2.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native	7	1.3%
Two or More Races	26	4.7%
Race Unknown	8	1.4%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Metal Fabricator Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Metal Fabricator graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$33,800
4 years	$39,416
5 years	$44,203

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $44,203 — roughly 31% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Metal Fabricator Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Metal Fabricator graduates earn a median of $39,416 four years after completion — roughly 4% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Precision Metal Working	67,063
Welding Technology/Welder	57,768
Machine Tool Technology/Machinist	3,539
Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist	2,174
Machine Shop Technology/Assistant	1,634
Tool and Die Technology/Technician	509
Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking	386
Precision Metal Working, Other	340
Ironworking/Ironworker	161

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.