DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA
51-2041 Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
Occupational Description:
Fabricate, position, align, and fit parts of structural metal products. Shipfitters are included in ?Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic? (51-4192).| Percentiles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geography | Employment | Emp SE* | Mean | Mean SE* | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
| Minnesota | 740 | 112 | $21.13/hr | $0.63/hr | $14.19/hr | $16.90/hr | $20.13/hr | $24.98/hr | $29.87/hr |
| U S | 76,890 | 1,845 | $20.98/hr | $0.21/hr | $13.44/hr | $16.25/hr | $19.71/hr | $24.46/hr | $30.01/hr |
| *SE = Standard error, a measure of the statistical reliability of the estimate. | |||||||||
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| Occupation (click title for details) | OES | Projections | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | Median Wage | % Change 2023 - 2025 | |
| Carpenters | 18,330 | $26.43/hr | 2.7% |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 10,020 | $22.42/hr | 1.5% |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | 3,040 | $20.49/hr | 1.1% |
| Sheet Metal Workers | 2,860 | $30.16/hr | 2.7% |
| Tool and Die Makers | 1,840 | $27.62/hr | 0.3% |
| Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians | 1,830 | $33.67/hr | 3.7% |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | 790 | $17.50/hr | 2.2% |
| Foundry Mold and Coremakers | 450 | $20.10/hr | -3.4% |
| Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 320 | $16.67/hr | -3.9% |
| Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters | 300 | $26.93/hr | N/A |
| Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers | N/A | N/A | -1.1% |
Tasks for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
- Removes high spots and cuts bevels, using hand files, portable grinders, and cutting torch.
- Examines blueprints and plans sequence of operation, applying knowledge of geometry, effects of heat, weld shrinkage, machining, and metal thickness.
- Marks reference points onto floor or face block and transposes them to workpiece, using measuring devices, squares, chalk, and soapstone.
- Positions or tightens braces, jacks, clamps, ropes, or bolt straps, or bolts parts in positions for welding or riveting.
- Tack welds fitted parts together.
- Moves parts into position, manually or by hoist or crane.
- Develops layout and plans sequence of operations for fabricating and assembling structural metal products, applying trigonometry and knowledge of metal.
- Locates and marks bending and cutting lines onto workpiece, allowing for stock thickness and machine and welding shrinkage,
- Sets up and operates fabricating machines, such as brakes, rolls, shears, flame cutters, and drill presses.
- Verifies conformance of workpiece to specifications, using square, ruler, and measuring tape.
- Designs and constructs templates and fixtures, using hand tools.
- Sets up and operates machine tools associated with fabricating shops, such as radial drill, end mill, and edge planer.
- Preheats workpieces to render them malleable, using hand torch or furnace.
- Positions, aligns, fits, and welds together parts, using jigs, welding torch, and hand tools.
- Hammers, chips, and grinds workpiece to cut, bend, and straighten metal.
- Aligns parts, using jack, turnbuckles, wedges, drift pins, pry bars, and hammer.
- Sets up face block, jigs and fixtures.
- Locates reference points, using transit, and erects ladders and scaffolding to fit together large assemblies.
- Heattreats parts with acetylene torch.
- Straightens warped or bent parts, using sledge, hand torch, straightening press, or bulldozer.
- Gives directions to welder to build up low spots or short pieces with weld.
