Occupation Summary

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

O*NET 51-2041.00

Description:

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

Annual Wages:
$50,219.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by -12.01%.
Education Level:
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED). According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Business and Industry

  1. 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.
  2. Verify conformance of workpieces to specifications, using squares, rulers, and measuring tapes.
  3. Tack-weld fitted parts together.
  4. Lay out and examine metal stock or workpieces to be processed to ensure that specifications are met.
  5. Align and fit parts according to specifications, using jacks, turnbuckles, wedges, drift pins, pry bars, and hammers.
  6. Locate and mark workpiece bending and cutting lines, allowing for stock thickness, machine and welding shrinkage, and other component specifications.
  7. Position or tighten braces, jacks, clamps, ropes, or bolt straps, or bolt parts in position for welding or riveting.
  8. Study engineering drawings and blueprints to determine materials requirements and task sequences.
  9. Move parts into position, manually or with hoists or cranes.
  10. 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.
  11. Hammer, chip, and grind workpieces to cut, bend, and straighten metal.
  12. Smooth workpiece edges and fix taps, tubes, and valves.
  13. Design and construct templates and fixtures, using hand tools.
  14. Straighten warped or bent parts, using sledges, hand torches, straightening presses, or bulldozers.
  15. Mark reference points onto floors or face blocks and transpose them to workpieces, using measuring devices, squares, chalk, and soapstone.
  16. Set up face blocks, jigs, and fixtures.
  17. Remove high spots and cut bevels, using hand files, portable grinders, and cutting torches.
  18. Direct welders to build up low spots or short pieces with weld.
  19. Lift or move materials and finished products, using large cranes.
  20. Heat-treat parts, using acetylene torches.
  21. Preheat workpieces to make them malleable, using hand torches or furnaces.
  22. Install boilers, containers, and other structures.
  23. Erect ladders and scaffolding to fit together large assemblies.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters employed Annual Growth Rate
Ship and boat building 8.8 -2.59
Employment services 4.8 -2.29
Building foundation and exterior contractors 3.9 0.43
Motor vehicle body and trailer manufacturing 3.3 -1.70
Other miscellaneous manufacturing 2.7 -2.06


Labor Market Information


2023 Statewide average hourly wage $24.14
2023 National average hourly wage $24.35
2022 National employment 59,600
2022 Texas employment 6,800
Texas projected employment by 2032 5,983
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 575




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
67.80%
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
66.20%
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
66.00%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
60.80%
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
57.40%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
56.20%
Design
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
55.40%
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
54.60%
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
52.60%
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
51.80%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
60.00%
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.
60.00%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
60.00%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
60.00%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
57.60%
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
57.60%
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
52.40%
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
52.40%
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
47.60%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
47.60%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Arm-Hand Steadiness
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
65.00%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
65.00%
Manual Dexterity
The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
62.40%
Control Precision
The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
62.40%
Multilimb Coordination
The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
62.40%
Static Strength
The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
62.40%
Visualization
The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
62.40%
Selective Attention
The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
60.00%
Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
60.00%
Category Flexibility
The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
60.00%


  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    -- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Controlling Machines and Processes
    -- Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    -- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Handling and Moving Objects
    -- Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Performing General Physical Activities
    -- Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
Other Activities


  • Support
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
  • Working Conditions
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.



Tools

Adjustable wrenches: Adjustable wrenches;

Belt sander: Belt sanders;

Bench vises: Bench vises;

Blow torch: Hand torches;

Claw hammer: Claw hammers;

Compasses: Dividers;

Desktop computers: Desktop computers;

Dial indicator or dial gauge: Dial indicators;

Drill press or radial drill: Magnetic drill presses; Drill presses; Radial drills;

Forklifts: Forklifts;

Hacksaw: Power hacksaws;

Hand clamps: Hand clamps;

Hand reamer: Reamers;

Height gauges: Vernier height gauges;

Hoists: Power hoists;

Hydraulic press brake: Computerized numerical control CNC press brakes; Straightening presses;

Induction heaters: Heating furnaces;

Jacks: Jacks;

Ladders: Ladders;

Level sensors or transmitters: Transit levels;

Locking pliers: Locking pliers;

Machine end mill: End milling machines;

Manual press brake: Brakes;

Metal inert gas welding machine: Metal inert gas MIG welders;

Micrometers: Micrometers;

Milling machines: Milling machines; Computerized numerical control CNC metal-cutting machines;

Paint sprayers: Paint spray guns;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

Plasma arc welding machine: Plasma cutters; Flame cutters;

Positioning jig: Positioning jigs;

Power chippers: Power chippers; Chipping tools;

Power grinders: Power grinders;

Power planes: Edge planers;

Power riveter: Rivet guns;

Power saws: Cutoff saws; Circular saws; Radial arm saws;

Precision file: Precision files;

Protractors: Protractors;

Pry bars: Pry bars;

Punches or nail sets or drifts: Punches; Drift pins; Center punches;

Rulers: Steel rules;

Scaffolding: Scaffolding;

Screwdrivers: Straight screwdrivers;

Scribers: Scribers;

Shears: Beverly shears; Hand shears; Unishears;

Sheet metal forming machine: Roll benders;

Sine bar: Sine bars;

Sledge hammer: Sledgehammers;

Spot welding machine: Tack welding equipment;

Squares: Layout squares;

Surface gauge: Surface gauges;

Tape measures: Measuring tapes;

Taps: Metal cutting taps;

Tracer or duplicating or contouring lathe: Lathes;

Track bulldozers: Tracked bulldozers;

Track cranes: Overhead cranes;

Tungsten inert gas welding machine: Tungsten inert gas TIG welding equipment;

Turnbuckles: Turnbuckles;

Wedges: Wedges;

Welder torch: Hand torch welders; Welding torches;


Technology

Computer aided design CAD software: Computer aided design and drafting CADD software; Dassault Systemes CATIA; Tekla software; Three-dimensional modeling software;

Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook;

Enterprise resource planning ERP software: Enterprise resource planning ERP software;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Spreadsheet software: Spreadsheet software; Microsoft Excel;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters include:
  • 51-2011.00 Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
  • 47-2011.00 Boilermakers
  • 51-4192.00 Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
  • 49-9044.00 Millwrights
  • 47-2171.00 Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers
  • 47-2211.00 Sheet Metal Workers
  • 47-2221.00 Structural Iron and Steel Workers
  • 51-4111.00 Tool and Die Makers
  • 51-4121.00 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
  • 51-4122.00 Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders


Sources of Additional Information
  • For more information about assemblers and fabricators, including certification, training, and professional development, visit: Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International
  • For information about careers in manufacturing, visit: Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs
  • For information about certifications in electronics soldering, visit: Association Connecting Electronics Industries
  • CareerOneStop

  • For a career video on aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers, visit: Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
  • For a career video on structural metal fabricators and fitters, visit: Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
  • Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
  • Assemblers and Fabricators, All Other
  • Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
  • Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers
  • Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers
  • Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
  • Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
  • Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
  • Team Assemblers
  • Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.