Structural Metal Fabricator/Fitter

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AVG. SALARY

$50,160

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EDUCATION

High school preferred +

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JOB OUTLOOK

Decreasing

What They Do

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Career Video

About This Career

Fabricates, positions, aligns, and fits parts of structural metal products.

This career is part of the Architecture and Construction cluster Construction pathway.

A person in this career:

  • Verifies conformance of workpieces to specifications, using squares, rulers, and measuring tapes.
  • Studies engineering drawings and blueprints to determine materials requirements and task sequences.
  • Positions, aligns, fits, and welds parts to form complete units or subunits, following blueprints and layout specifications, and using jigs, welding torches, and hand tools.
  • Lays out and examines metal stock or workpieces to be processed to ensure that specifications are met.
  • Tack-welds fitted parts together.
  • Moves parts into position, manually or with hoists or cranes.
  • Sets up and operates 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.
  • Positions or tightens braces, jacks, clamps, ropes, or bolt straps, or bolts parts in position for welding or riveting.
  • Lifts or moves materials and finished products, using large cranes.
  • Sets up face blocks, jigs, and fixtures.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would often handle loads up to 50 lbs., sometimes up to 100 lbs. You will need a lot of strength at this level.
  • Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
  • Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
  • Conditions are very hot (above 90 F) or very cold (under 32 F)
  • Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
  • Exposed to hazardous equipment such as saws, machinery, or vehicular traffic more than once a month
  • Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
  • Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
  • Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects
  • Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

  • Regular working hours and limited travel

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Metal Fabricator
  • Small Parts Fabricator
  • Steel Fabricator
  • Structural Planner
  • Fabricator — Fabricates and assembles structural metal products, for example framework or shells for machinery, ovens, tanks, stacks, and metal parts for buildings and bridges.
  • Fitter
  • Layout Man
  • Mill Beam Fitter
  • Ship Fitter — Lays out and fabricates metal structural parts, for example plates, bulkheads, and frames, and braces them in position within hull of ship for riveting or welding.
  • Structural Steel Fitter