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Structural Metal Fabricator

💰 Earn $46K-$66K
📚 High School Diploma or GED
⏱️ 12–24 Month Training
📈 -16.3% Job Growth
  • 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.
Structural Metal Fabricator
What Structural Metal Fabricators DoFabricate, 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.
Structural Metal Fabricators Education, Salary, and Growth
Minimum EducationHigh School Diploma or GED
Career ProspectsRisky (Decreasing by 5% or more)
Training Time1 to 2 years
Job Openings4,100 Annually
Median Earnings
$56,460 in California
$49,900 Nationally

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Is This Career Right For You?
YOU Like
  • Using data or completing tasks
  • Working with my hands
you value
  • Having support
  • Job security
  • Personal relationships
you are skilled in
  • Monitoring
  • Operation and Control
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Reading Comprehension
Go Deeper: Structural Metal Fabricators Explained
Structural Metal FabricatorExplore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.
How Do You Train for This Career?

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

Vocational SchoolA 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 DegreeAn 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 DegreeA 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
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Updated April 2026. Data sourced from O*NET and Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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