Median Annual Wage: $36,570
Education: High school diploma or equivalent (47%); Post-secondary certificate (29%); Some college, no degree (17%)
Projected Growth: Average (8% to 14%)
Related Job Titles: Fabricator; Fitter; Ship Fitter; Layout Man; Welder-Fabricator; Weld Technician; Mill Beam Fitter; Structural Steel Fitter; Tack Welder; Fitter, Welder
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Source: O*NET OnLine information for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters.
More Production Careers
- 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.
- 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.
- Lay out and examine metal stock or workpieces to be processed to ensure that specifications are met.
- Tack-weld fitted parts together.
- Lift or move materials and finished products, using large cranes.
- Mark reference points onto floors or face blocks and transpose them to workpieces, using measuring devices, squares, chalk, and soapstone.
- Remove high spots and cut bevels, using hand files, portable grinders, and cutting torches.
- Set up face blocks, jigs, and fixtures.
- Position or tighten braces, jacks, clamps, ropes, or bolt straps, or bolt parts in position for welding or riveting.
- Locate and mark workpiece bending and cutting lines, allowing for stock thickness, machine and welding shrinkage, and other component specifications.
- Erect ladders and scaffolding to fit together large assemblies.
- Design and construct templates and fixtures, using hand tools.
- Hammer, chip, and grind workpieces to cut, bend, and straighten metal.
- Straighten warped or bent parts, using sledges, hand torches, straightening presses, or bulldozers.
- Smooth workpiece edges and fix taps, tubes, and valves.
- Preheat workpieces to make them malleable, using hand torches or furnaces.
- Heat-treat parts, using acetylene torches.
Source: O*NET OnLine information for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Source: O*NET OnLine information for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters.