Structural Metal Fabricator

Explore This Path

Ideal for hands-on creators who love building and shaping metal structures.
Play a crucial role in constructing safe and durable buildings and bridges.
Use precision tools to transform raw metal into essential infrastructure.

💰 Earn $47K-$64K

📚 High School Diploma or GED

⏱️ 12–24 MONTH TRAINING

📈 -15.3% JOB GROWTH

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What You’ll Do

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

Verify conformance of workpieces to specifications, using squares, rulers, and measuring tapes.
Align and fit parts according to specifications, using jacks, turnbuckles, wedges, drift pins, pry bars, and hammers.
Move parts into position, manually or with hoists or cranes.
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.

Scoop

Minimum Education

High School Diploma or GED

Career Prospects

Risky (Decreasing by 5% or more)

Training Time

1 to 2 years

Job Openings

4,900 Annually

Median Earnings

$52,870 in California

$48,480 Nationally

$25K

$50K

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$125K

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$250K

Real Talk Reel

Want to see what it's like to be a Structural Metal Fabricator? We've curated a playlist for you to get a glimpse into a day in the life.

@sergioalva352

@qntn_1003

Best For You If...

YOU Like 💕

Using data or completing tasks
Working with my hands

You are skilled in 💫

Monitoring
Operation and Control
Operations Monitoring
Quality Control Analysis
Reading Comprehension

You value 🙏

Having support
Job security
Personal relationships

Deep Dive

Structural Metal Fabricator

Explore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

Pathways to this Career

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Vocational School

A vocational school typically equips students with specialized skills and practical training in specific trades or occupations, enhancing their employability and providing direct pathways to relevant careers.

🎓 Skills-Focused

⏱️ FINISH IN 6 months - 2 years

Associate's Degree

An associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 2-3 years

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 4-5+ years