Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Salary

The median structural metal fabricators and fitters salary in the United States is $51,330 per year ($24.68/hour). Salaries range from $37,960 at the entry level to $72,280+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 52,360 structural metal fabricators and fitters jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 16.3% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median Salary
$51,330
per year
Hourly Rate
$24.68
per hour
Employment
52,360
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile
$37,960
25th percentile
$45,610
Median
$51,330
75th percentile
$61,250
90th percentile
$72,280

Job Growth (2024-2034)

-16.3%
Decline

Annual Openings

4,100
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

High school diploma or equivalent

Training Needed

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for structural metal fabricators and fitterss.

Structural metal fabricators and fitters (BLS SOC 51-2041) lay out, fit, weld, and assemble structural steel, aluminum, and specialty-alloy assemblies β€” bridges, buildings, shipyards, offshore-oil platforms, heavy-equipment frames, transmission-tower structures, and defense hulls. Typical seats: AISC-certified structural-steel fabrication shops (Schuff Steel, Steelfab, SteelFab of Alabama, Cives Steel, W&W AFCO, Bethlehem Steel Building Products); shipyards (Newport News Shipbuilding / Huntington Ingalls Industries HII, General Dynamics NASSCO San Diego, Bath Iron Works, Ingalls Shipbuilding Pascagoula, Austal USA Mobile, Fincantieri Marinette Marine); heavy-equipment frame fabrication (Caterpillar, John Deere, CNH Industrial, AGCO); crane and heavy-lift structural (Manitowoc, Grove, Link-Belt, Terex, Liebherr USA); transmission-tower fabrication (Sabre Industries, Trinity Industries, Valmont); offshore-oil / renewables structural (Kiewit, McDermott, LM Wind Power). Credentials β€” AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code Steel (SMAW / GMAW / FCAW / SAW / GTAW procedure qualification records + welder performance qualification records); AWS D1.5 Bridge Welding Code; AWS D1.6 Stainless Steel; AWS Certified Welder (CW) via AWS Accredited Test Facility; AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) β€” the recognized US inspection credential; NIMS (National Institute for Metalworking Skills) Machining Level I/II; Ironworkers Local (International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers) apprenticeship. BLS reports 52,360 employed with a median of $51,330, p10 $34,780, p90 $76,830+. Entry Fabricator / Fitter Helper $38-52k; established Fabricator / Fitter II $52-72k; Sr Fabricator / Layout Fitter $65-88k; Lead Fabricator / Shop Foreman $82-115k+. The single biggest earnings lever is stacking AWS D1.1 SMAW / FCAW / SAW procedure qualifications + AWS CWI + Ironworkers Local Journeyman card, and moving into a Layout Fitter or Shop Foreman seat at a shipyard, AISC-certified structural shop, or Fortune-500 heavy-equipment fabrication plant where the union scale + overtime + shift differential push total earnings to $85-125k+.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Print reading, GD&T basics, and layout math
Reading structural steel shop drawings and fabrication drawings β€” plan, elevation, section, detail views; interpret AISC Manual of Steel Construction weld symbols per AWS A2.4; read bill of materials and cutting-list against stock steel shape designations (W12x26, C10x15.3, HSS 8x4x1/4, L3x3x1/4, plate). GD&T datum reference frames, form-and-orientation tolerances (flatness, straightness, perpendicularity), profile-of-a-surface tolerances typical of machined-and-welded assemblies. Layout math for fitting β€” trigonometry for compound-angle miters, chord-and-arc for curved plate, unfolding pattern-development for cone / transition / elbow fabrications. Layout marking tools β€” soapstone, marker, punch, chalk line, digital tape, laser level, plumb bob.
AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code Steel β€” SMAW / GMAW / FCAW / SAW / GTAW
SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc / stick) with E7018 low-hydrogen, E6010 fast-freeze on root, E308L on stainless β€” flat / horizontal / vertical / overhead position qualification per AWS D1.1 Table 4.10. GMAW (Gas Metal Arc / MIG) ER70S-6 solid wire with C-25 shielding gas at 18-24V / 300-450 IPM wire feed; short-circuit, spray, pulsed-spray transfer modes. FCAW (Flux-Cored Arc) E71T-1 self-shielded and dual-shield with 75-25 C-25; the dominant process for structural fitups because of high deposition and out-of-position capability. SAW (Submerged Arc) F7A6-EM12K on plate 3/8-in and thicker; automated tractor operation on bridge girders and shipyard plate. GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc / TIG) ER70S-2 with argon shielding for critical stainless welds. Preheat and interpass temperature control per AWS D1.1 Table 3.2 for higher-carbon steels (A36 no preheat; A572 Grade 50 typically 50-125Β°F; A709 HPS 70W bridge steel per AASHTO/AWS D1.5 requirements).
Weld inspection and NDE (non-destructive examination)
Visual inspection per AWS D1.1 Clause 8.9 β€” undercut, overlap, cracks, porosity, slag inclusion, incomplete fusion, incomplete penetration. Weld measurement with fillet-weld gauge (V-WAC, Cambridge gauge) for leg size and convexity / concavity. Ultrasonic testing (UT) per AWS D1.1 Clause 8.14 for CJP (complete joint penetration) welds on tension members. Magnetic Particle Testing (MT) per AWS D1.1 Clause 8.15 for weld-defect surface / near-surface inspection. Radiographic Testing (RT) per AWS D1.1 Clause 8.13 for critical butt welds. Understand AWS CWI / CWE inspection duties and the hand-off between fabrication and inspection. On bridge projects β€” AWS D1.5 governs and requires certified fracture-critical welder qualification at PennDOT / Caltrans / TxDOT bridge fabricators.
Rigging and crane signaling for structural fitup
Overhead crane operation (bridge crane, jib crane) β€” 5-50 ton capacity typical in structural-fabrication shops; ASME B30.2 overhead-crane operator certification often plant-required. Mobile crane signaling per ASME B30.5 for shop-floor cross-shop moves. Rigging discipline β€” nylon slings, wire-rope slings, chain slings per ASME B30.9 with rated capacity de-rated for basket / choker configurations. Sling angle and load-vs-angle math (sling capacity at 45Β° = 70% of vertical rating; at 30Β° = 50%). Understanding of pinch points, load-swing management, spotter discipline on blind lifts. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.180 mobile crane and 1926.1400-Subpart CC crane and derrick construction regs.
Fitup discipline β€” jigs, fixtures, tack welds, and out-of-square tolerances
Fitup work is the geometric-alignment step before final welding β€” set up the assembly on a level table with jigs and fixtures, align members to the drawing tolerances (typically Β±1/8 in on 20-ft members for structural steel, Β±1/16 in for machinery frames, Β±1/32 in for precision assemblies), tack-weld to maintain alignment through the welding sequence. Understand weld shrinkage and distortion β€” cross-shrinkage on transverse fillet welds averages 0.001-0.003 in per pass depending on wire size and heat input; camber loss on beams from bottom-flange welding. Sequence welding to distribute heat symmetrically and minimize distortion (back-step, cascade, skip-weld techniques). Post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) coordination for thick sections and critical service.
OSHA 1910 + 1926 safety compliance β€” hot work, PPE, fall protection
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.252 hot-work permit for welding / cutting / grinding in areas with fire hazard β€” fire watch discipline, spark containment, combustible-material removal within 35 ft radius. 29 CFR 1910.132-138 PPE β€” leather welding jacket / apron, welding gloves, welding helmet with auto-darkening filter, safety glasses under the helmet, respirator for galvanized-steel or coated-steel welding (zinc-oxide fume), hearing protection near air-arc gouging or grinding operations >85 dBA. 29 CFR 1926.501 fall protection for elevated fitup work >6 ft β€” harness, lanyard with self-retracting device, tie-off to certified anchor point. 29 CFR 1910.146 confined-space entry for ship / tank / column-interior work β€” atmospheric testing, attendant, entry-supervisor, rescue plan.
AISC certification + shipyard AWS D1.6 / D1.1 / D3.6 discipline
AISC (American Institute of Steel Construction) certifies structural-steel fabrication shops under Certified Steel Fabricator (CSF) program with Standard for Steel Building Structures (STD), Certified Bridge Component Manufacturer (CBR), and Complex Steel Bridge (CBRIRC) categories. AISC-certified shops undergo annual audits + biennial full recertification against shop practices, welder qualifications, procedure qualifications, and quality-management systems. Shipyard fabrication under AWS D1.6 Structural Welding Code Stainless Steel + AWS D3.6M Underwater Welding + Navy NAVSEA NSTM Chapter 074 welding standards + NAVSEA S9074-AQ-GIB welding qualification standards for surface-combatant and submarine hulls. HII Newport News + General Dynamics NASSCO + Ingalls run their own welder-qualification programs on top of AWS standards.
Metallurgy basics + material handling for structural steels
Common structural steels β€” ASTM A36 (36 ksi yield, general structural), A572 Grade 50 (50 ksi yield, dominant modern structural), A992 (50 ksi yield, wide-flange rolled shapes replacing A36 in AISC design), A588 (weathering steel, Corten), A514 (high-strength quenched-and-tempered T-1), A709 HPS 70W (high-performance bridge steel per AASHTO/AWS D1.5). Stainless steels β€” 304 / 304L, 316 / 316L, duplex 2205, super-duplex 2507 for corrosive service. Aluminum β€” 5086 / 5083 / 5456 marine, 6061-T6 structural, 7075-T6 aerospace. Understand hardenability, preheat requirements for higher-carbon steels, PWHT requirements for thick sections and specific alloys (T-1, weathering, stainless duplex). Material handling β€” mill-cert traceability, heat-lot tracking through fabrication, positive-material-identification (PMI) verification for critical alloys.

How to Become a Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

  1. 1
    Complete a high-school diploma or GED with strong shop math and reading-comprehension foundations
    Employers screen on shop-math ability (fractions, decimals, trigonometry basics, tape-measure reading to 1/32 in), print-reading basics, and mechanical aptitude. A high-school co-op or vocational-track program in welding, sheet metal, or machining gives a meaningful head start; without it, WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate at Silver or Gold level is the alternate signal.
  2. 2
    Complete a technical certificate or associate program in welding technology or structural fabrication
    Community-college welding programs at Tulsa Welding School, Lincoln Electric Welding School (Cleveland, Ohio), Hobart Institute (Troy, Ohio), Ivy Tech (Indiana), Sinclair Community College (Ohio), San Jacinto College (Texas), Delta College (Michigan), Pima Community College (Arizona), Alfred State (SUNY New York) β€” 6-24 months, $2-15k tuition. NIMS Machining Level I credentials often stackable inside these programs. AWS Certified Welder qualification is typically included in the AAS curriculum.
  3. 3
    Start as Fabricator / Fitter Helper at $18-24/hr ($38-52k) + shift differential + benefits
    First seat β€” typically at an AISC-certified structural-steel fabrication shop (Schuff Steel, Steelfab, Cives Steel, W&W AFCO), a shipyard (HII Newport News, General Dynamics NASSCO, Bath Iron Works, Ingalls Shipbuilding), a heavy-equipment fabrication plant (Caterpillar, John Deere, CNH Industrial), or a crane / heavy-lift structural fabricator (Manitowoc, Grove, Link-Belt, Terex). Duties: material staging, tack welding, weld cleaning, fixture setup, weld-inspection support. Shift differential $1-3/hr for 2nd and 3rd shift. Overtime at 1.5x after 40 hrs (many union plants have 1.5x after 8/day and 2x on Sundays).
  4. 4
    Complete AWS D1.1 welder-performance qualification on 2-3 processes + Ironworkers apprenticeship
    AWS D1.1 welder-performance qualification per Clause 4 β€” pass the plate-groove test in the specific process (SMAW / GMAW / FCAW / SAW / GTAW) and position (1G / 2G / 3G / 4G / 3F / 4F / 6G) that will be used in production. Test coupons visually inspected + bend-tested; passing means the welder is qualified for that specific procedure. Ironworkers Local apprenticeship β€” 4-year, 8,000-hour program with 720 hours of related classroom instruction; the industry-recognized structural-iron credential. UBC Millwright is an alternative track for machinery fabrication. Some shipyards run their own 3-4 year fabrication apprenticeship with journey-card issuance internal to the shipyard (HII Apprentice School, Bath Iron Works Apprentice).
  5. 5
    Advance to Fabricator / Fitter II at $22-30/hr ($52-72k) + shift differential + full benefits
    3-6 years in seat. Own end-to-end fabrication on a single assembly type or shop area β€” layout, cut, fit, weld, inspect, ship. Handle out-of-position welding (3G vertical, 4G overhead, 6G pipe). NIMS Machining Level I completion typical at this rung; layer on AWS D1.1 procedure qualifications on additional processes (add GMAW or FCAW to a SMAW qualification, add SAW for plate work). Union plants (Ironworkers, USW, UAW at some heavy-equipment plants) typically have a written bidding / seniority process for this promotion.
  6. 6
    Layer on AWS Certified Welder (CW) + AWS D1.1 Advanced qualifications + NIMS Level II
    AWS Certified Welder credential via AWS Accredited Test Facility β€” passes visual + bend / radiographic testing on the specific procedure + position; adds $2-5/hr in the shop's bid process. AWS D1.5 Bridge Welding Code qualification for bridge-fabrication shops (Cives Steel, W&W AFCO, Schuff Steel bridge divisions) β€” required at bridge fabricators; adds $3-8/hr. AWS D1.6 Stainless Steel qualification for shipyard and chemical / pharma fabrication. AWS D3.6M Underwater Welding for offshore-oil / renewables fabrication. NIMS Machining Level II specialty credentials β€” CNC Setup and Operation for shop CNC plasma / laser cutter operation, Machining Level II Welding-Specialty at some employers.
  7. 7
    Advance to Sr Fabricator / Layout Fitter at $28-38/hr ($65-88k) + shift differential + LTIP
    6-11 years in seat. Own the most complex fitup work β€” compound-angle miters, curved-plate rolling, transition sections, machinery-frame precision fitups (Β±1/32 in). Second-chair to the Shop Foreman on quality and downtime issues. Train new Fabricators / Fitters. Complete AWS CWI (Certified Welding Inspector) prep and exam β€” the recognized US welding-inspection credential; opens the Shop QC Inspector / QA Manager track at $80-125k. Union plants build this into the seniority ladder with a written bidding process.
  8. 8
    Advance to Lead Fabricator / Shop Foreman at $34-45/hr salaried ($82-115k+) + bonus + LTIP
    10-18 years in seat. Own a shift's production plan across 3-8 fabrication bays or a specific assembly line; direct 8-25 fabricators, fitters, welders, and material handlers per shift. Some employers require completion of an AAS or a 2-year certificate for the Foreman promotion; others promote from within based on demonstrated leadership. Bonus of 5-12% on plant-level scrap, throughput, and safety metrics is typical. AWS CWI is often required at this rung.
  9. 9
    Advance to Fabrication Manager / QA Manager / Sr Structural Engineer track at $95-155k+ + bonus + LTIP
    15+ years in seat, typically with an AAS or a Bachelor's in welding engineering technology, structural engineering technology, or manufacturing engineering. Fabrication Manager owns the P&L across all shifts; QA Manager owns the AISC + AWS + AASHTO/AWS D1.5 quality-management system and audit response. Corporate roles at Schuff Steel, Cives Steel, HII, Caterpillar, John Deere support multiple plants on standardization, capital-project planning, and continuous improvement.

Career Progression

Fabricator / Fitter Helper
0-3 yrs$18-24/hr ($38-52k) + shift differential + healthcare + pension or 401(k) match at union plants
  • β€’Material staging and stock-cut prep for the day's fabrication schedule
  • β€’Tack welding on fitups under Fabricator supervision
  • β€’Weld cleaning (slag chipping, wire brushing, grinding) prior to inspection
  • β€’Complete daily production log entries and material-lot traceability
Next: Fabricator / Fitter II at 3-6 years with AWS D1.1 procedure qualification + NIMS Level I.
Fabricator / Fitter II
3-7 yrs$22-30/hr ($52-72k) + shift differential + full benefits + pension or 401(k) match
  • β€’Own end-to-end fabrication on assigned assembly type β€” layout, cut, fit, weld, inspect, ship
  • β€’Handle out-of-position welding (3G vertical, 4G overhead, 6G pipe)
  • β€’Hit throughput, quality, and safety targets; complete SPC and weld-inspection documentation
  • β€’Escalate downtime, quality, and material-lot issues to Sr Fabricator or Shop Foreman
Next: Sr Fabricator / Layout Fitter at 6-11 years with AWS Certified Welder + NIMS Level II.
Sr Fabricator / Layout Fitter
6-12 yrs$28-38/hr ($65-88k) + shift differential + fitter premium + full benefits
  • β€’Own the most complex fitup work β€” compound-angle miters, curved-plate rolling, transition sections, machinery-frame precision fitups
  • β€’Second-chair the Shop Foreman on quality and downtime issues
  • β€’Train new Fabricators / Fitters on advanced techniques
  • β€’Coordinate with QC on weld inspection and NDE (UT / MT / RT) scheduling
Next: Lead Fabricator / Shop Foreman at 10-18 years with AWS CWI + Ironworkers Journeyman card.
Lead Fabricator / Shop Foreman
10-18 yrs$34-45/hr salaried ($82-115k+) + 5-12% bonus + full benefits + LTIP at Fortune-500 employers
  • β€’Own a shift's production plan across 3-8 fabrication bays or a specific assembly line
  • β€’Direct 8-25 fabricators, fitters, welders, and material handlers per shift
  • β€’Handle Step 1 union grievances, disciplinary write-ups, and attendance-policy administration
  • β€’Report to Fabrication Manager on daily production, safety incidents, and quality holds
Next: Fabrication Manager / QA Manager at 15+ years.
Fabrication Manager / QA Manager / Sr Fabrication Engineer
15+ yrs$95-155k+ + 10-15% bonus + LTIP + full executive benefits
  • β€’Own the plant P&L or the QA-program book across 3-8 fabrication bays
  • β€’Own AISC + AWS + AASHTO/AWS D1.5 quality-management system and audit response
  • β€’Own capital-project planning for new equipment (CNC plasma, robotic welder, SAW tractor, laser cutter)
  • β€’Own the plant's collective-bargaining relationship with the local union (Ironworkers, USW, UAW)

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 13 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through a complex fitup you've completed.technical
Structured. Example: 'On a Schuff Steel bridge-girder fabrication for a state DOT project β€” 78-ft long W36x150 plate girder with 5/8-in web and 1-1/4 in flanges in A709 HPS 70W steel. (1) Layout β€” set up on a level table with adjustable stanchion supports; snap chalk-line reference; verify flange perpendicularity to web with 4-ft square; verify camber per shop drawing (typically 1.5-3.0 in on a 78-ft girder for DL + PL). (2) Tack welding β€” 1-in tacks at 24-in intervals on both sides; verify no distortion after tacking. (3) Preheat β€” 175Β°F minimum for A709 HPS 70W per AWS D1.5 Table 4.3; verify with tempilstik or infrared thermometer at 3 in from weld before starting. (4) Web-to-flange fillet welding β€” 5/16-in single-pass FCAW E71T-1 with dual-shield 75/25 gas at 300 IPM wire feed / 26V / 210 amp; back-step sequence to distribute heat. (5) Post-weld distortion check β€” measure camber and flange squareness against tolerance (typically Β±1/8 in per 20 ft plus specified camber); heat-straighten if out of tolerance using controlled-heat pattern to specific temperature (typically 1200Β°F max on A709). (6) Weld cleanup β€” grind visible spatter, wire-brush oxide, prep for AWS CWI inspection. (7) UT inspection per AWS D1.5 Clause 6.26 β€” 100% of tension-member butt welds and CJP welds. Total elapsed time 3-4 days for 78-ft girder including inspection. Interviewers screen for candidates who name specific steel grade, specific preheat temperature, specific FCAW parameters, and specific AWS D1.5 clauses.'
Q2. How do you troubleshoot a weld defect during production β€” say, undercut on a fillet weld?situational
Systematic. (1) Stop welding on the affected joint; do not weld over the defect. (2) Verify the defect β€” undercut is a groove melted into the base metal at the weld toe with unfilled metal. Measure with fillet-weld gauge to determine whether undercut exceeds AWS D1.1 Clause 5.24 acceptance criteria (typically 1/32 in max for statically-loaded, less for cyclic / bridge). (3) Grind the undercut area smooth. (4) Verify welding parameters β€” undercut is typically caused by too-high travel speed (weld puddle doesn't have time to fill), too-high amperage (excessive heat melts base metal but doesn't fill), incorrect electrode angle (poor puddle control), too-long arc length (SMAW) or too-far standoff (GMAW / FCAW). (5) Adjust parameters β€” reduce travel speed 10-20%, reduce amperage 5-10%, correct electrode angle to 5-15Β° drag, reduce arc length. (6) Weld a test coupon at the new parameters; verify no undercut on visual + fillet-gauge check. (7) Continue production on the actual work with the corrected parameters. (8) Document the defect + corrective action in the shop QC log. Interviewers screen for candidates who name the AWS D1.1 acceptance criteria and who understand the parameter-to-defect relationship.
Q3. Describe a safety incident or near-miss you observed and how it was handled.behavioral
STAR. Situation: Fabricator II at HII Newport News Shipyard on an aircraft-carrier hull-fabrication shift. Task: identify and report a near-miss during an overhead lift of a 12-ton hull sub-assembly. Action: (1) noticed on the safety walk that the rigging crew was preparing a lift with a wire-rope sling that had visible broken wires exceeding ASME B30.9 removal criteria (more than 6 randomly-distributed broken wires in one rope lay). (2) Called stop-work per the shipyard's stop-work-authority policy β€” every worker at HII has stop-work authority under 29 CFR 1910.180 and the shipyard's EHS program. (3) Notified the rigging supervisor and the shift EHS coordinator within 3 min. (4) Coordinated the sling replacement β€” tagged the damaged sling for destruction, pulled a new inspected sling from the crib. (5) Documented the near-miss in the shipyard's incident-tracking system. Result: (a) near-miss triggered a shift-wide sling-inspection refresh training; (b) the shipyard added a pre-lift sling-inspection checklist item requiring the rigger + a second qualified person to sign off before every lift >5 tons; (c) no injury or damaged equipment. Interviewers screen for candidates who own the stop-work authority and follow through β€” a candidate who normalizes damaged rigging is a disqualifier at any credible shipyard or structural fabricator.
Q4. Why structural fabrication rather than pipe welding or field ironwork?culture
Honest answer that resonates. 'I like the depth of the process β€” structural fabrication combines print reading, layout math, welding process discipline, and rigging knowledge in a shop environment that lets me build the skills before taking them to the field. Pipe welding is a specialty I respect but it's a narrower discipline; field ironwork is high-pay but the exposure to weather, height, and travel is more than I want at this stage of my career. Pay is real for the shop track β€” Sr Fabricator at a Schuff Steel or Cives Steel bridge shop with AWS D1.1 + D1.5 + CWI clears $75-95k with shift diff and OT; the Shop Foreman track opens up $95-125k. Long-term I want to move into an AWS CWI + Shop Foreman seat at an AISC-certified bridge fabricator or a shipyard. I've completed my NIMS Level I + AWS D1.1 SMAW / FCAW qualifications and I'm working on my Ironworkers Journeyman card.' Interviewers screen for candidates who chose the specialty deliberately.
Q5. Where do you see your career in 5 years?closer
Show the fork clearly. Two tracks β€” bargaining-unit Sr Fabricator IC track (Sr Fabricator β†’ Layout Fitter β†’ Lead Fabricator at $75-105k) or salaried Shop Foreman / QA Manager track (Shop Foreman β†’ Fabrication Manager β†’ QA Manager at $85-125k+). I'm on the QA Manager track β€” I'm 2 of 3 through my AWS CWI prep, I've completed NIMS Level II CNC Setup and Operation, and my Ironworkers Journeyman card is 18 months out. My target is Shop Foreman at 10-12 years and QA Manager at 15-18 years. If your program has documented promotion criteria from Sr Fabricator to Shop Foreman, that's the trajectory I want to align on. If the union pension is stronger on the bargaining-unit side, I stay Sr Fabricator through year 20.

Resume Template β€” Fabricator / Fitter II (3-7 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Fabricator / Fitter II (3-7 yrs)
  • β–ΈFabricator / Fitter II at Schuff Steel structural-steel fabrication shop covering A992 W-shape building-column and W-beam production; ran to a daily throughput target of 42 tons of fabricated steel against a 45-ton plan.
  • β–ΈReduced weld-rework rate from a 4.8% baseline to 2.1% (56% reduction) over 12 months by standardizing FCAW E71T-1 parameters and improving fitup discipline on beam-to-column moment connections.
  • β–ΈAWS Certified Welder (SMAW / FCAW / GMAW in flat + horizontal + vertical positions) + NIMS Machining Level I + OSHA 10 General Industry + plant overhead-crane operator (ASME B30.2, 10-ton bridge crane).
  • β–Έ$26.80/hr base + $1.75/hr 2nd-shift differential + Ironworkers Local pension + full healthcare + 401(k) match to 6%. Perfect-attendance bonus 2 years running.

What Gets You Rejected

  • βœ—Cannot pass AWS D1.1 welder-performance qualification on the shop's primary processes (SMAW / FCAW / GMAW) β€” automatic disqualifier for a Fabricator promotion at any AISC-certified structural shop or shipyard.
  • βœ—History of weld-rework rates >5% attributable to fitup or welding technique β€” signals candidate hasn't developed the precision-work discipline.
  • βœ—OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 LOTO violations or 29 CFR 1910.252 hot-work permit violations β€” safety-critical events that create OSHA-inspection audit-trail exposure.
  • βœ—History of dropped loads, damaged rigging, or bypassed safety systems during crane / rigging operations β€” automatic disqualifier at any credible shipyard or structural fabricator.
  • βœ—No AWS Certified Welder credential after 24+ months in seat β€” signals candidate hasn't taken the shop's AWS Accredited Test Facility opportunity.
  • βœ—Weak print-reading and layout math β€” cannot interpret AWS A2.4 weld symbols, cannot read AISC-standard shop drawings, cannot execute compound-angle miter layouts.
  • βœ—Attendance-policy violations β€” union structural-fabrication plants have written attendance-point systems, and repeat violations bar promotion regardless of technical competence.

Salary Negotiation Levers

  • βœ“Union representation β€” Ironworkers Local (International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers), USW (steel + structural steel), UAW at some heavy-equipment plants typically deliver a 15-30% wage premium plus pension (defined-benefit or defined-contribution 401(k) with 5-8% employer match) and full healthcare against non-union employers.
  • βœ“AWS D1.1 + D1.5 + D1.6 procedure qualifications β€” each stacked qualification typically justifies $1-3/hr bid on a promotion; the full stack (SMAW + FCAW + GMAW + SAW across flat / horizontal / vertical / overhead / pipe positions) adds $6-12/hr over a base-qualified welder.
  • βœ“AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) credential β€” adds $6-15k at Sr Fabricator promotion and $10-25k at Shop Foreman / QA Manager promotion; the recognized US welding-inspection credential.
  • βœ“AISC-certified shop premium β€” Schuff Steel, Cives Steel, W&W AFCO, SteelFab pay 10-20% above non-AISC shops for the same rank due to stricter QA / bridge / seismic-detailing work.
  • βœ“Shipyard premium β€” HII Newport News, General Dynamics NASSCO, Bath Iron Works, Ingalls Shipbuilding pay 15-25% above general structural fabricators for the same rank plus DOE / DoD project-cost-of-living adjustments plus USW / MTC pension eligibility.
  • βœ“Shift differential β€” 2nd-shift typically $1-2/hr; 3rd-shift and rotating typically $1.50-3/hr; weekend / continuous-operations differential often adds another $0.75-2/hr.
  • βœ“Overtime discipline β€” most union CBAs pay 1.5x after 8 hrs / day and 40 hrs / week, 2x on Sundays and 6th consecutive day, 2.5x on holidays; total OT typically adds 15-30% to base earnings for high-seniority fabricators.
  • βœ“Ironworkers Journeyman card β€” the industry-recognized structural-iron credential; adds $5-10k on promotion at Ironworkers-signatory shops plus full UBC / IABSORIW pension eligibility.
  • βœ“NIMS Machining Level II (CNC Setup and Operation) β€” adds $2-5k at Sr Fabricator promotion at plants with CNC plasma / laser cutter / press-brake operations.
  • βœ“Metro premium β€” Great Lakes / Ohio Valley (Cives Steel Ohio, W&W AFCO Cincinnati, Steelfab Alabama), Texas Gulf Coast (Schuff Steel Texas), Southeast (HII Newport News, Ingalls Pascagoula, Bath Iron Works Maine) pay 10-25% above the US median for the same seat.
  • βœ“Sign-on bonus and relocation β€” Schuff Steel, Cives Steel, HII, General Dynamics NASSCO routinely pay $3-10k sign-on and $5-15k relocation for Sr Fabricator and Shop Foreman hires from out-of-metro.

Already a Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters? Grow From Here

Free playbooks on what actually gets you promoted and raised β€” not motivational advice, the real mechanics.

How to Ask for a RaiseThe Promotion Playbook β€” What Actually Gets People PromotedHow to Write a Self-Review That Positions You for PromotionHow to Build a Promotion Packet Your Committee Can't Ignore

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Resume Review β€” $29

Personalized resume review from someone who has hired structural metal fabricators and fitterss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.

  • βœ“ Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
  • βœ“ Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
  • βœ“ Missing skills / keywords flagged
  • βœ“ Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
  • βœ“ 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Career Kit β€” $19

  • βœ“ All 13 interview questions with expert answers
  • βœ“ 8 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
  • βœ“ Interview format intel for 6 top employers
  • βœ“ 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
  • βœ“ Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
  • βœ“ 30–60–90 day plan for your first role
  • βœ“ Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
  • βœ“ Detailed salary negotiation script
  • βœ“ Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
  • βœ“ Downloadable PDF for offline access
  • βœ“ Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
βœ“ 7-day money-back guarantee β€” no questions asked

One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.

Sample reviews β€” real customer reviews will appear here as they come in.

β€œThe interview question bank saved me. I got the exact question about 'walking through a DCF' at my Goldman Sachs superday, verbatim.”

β€” Anonymous, Financial Analyst

β€œCopy-paste negotiation emails are worth the price alone. I used the 'accepting with counter' template and got an extra $8k signing bonus.”

β€” Anonymous, Software Developer

β€œThe 30-60-90 day plan for a new grad RN was better than the orientation my hospital gave. Wish I'd bought this in nursing school.”

β€” Anonymous, Registered Nurse

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Career Growth Kit β€” $29

Already working as a structural metal fabricators and fitters? This kit is for building your case for the next promotion or raise β€” not for getting hired.

  • βœ“ Self-review draft mapped to structural metal fabricators and fitters competencies
  • βœ“ Promotion packet outline with evidence appendix structure
  • βœ“ 30–60–90 day evidence-collection plan
  • βœ“ Promotion committee anticipation guide
  • βœ“ Tenure and pay reference bands by level
  • βœ“ Downloadable PDF for offline access
βœ“ 7-day money-back guarantee β€” no questions asked

One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) β†’

Salary Map β€” Click a state for details

$40K
$65Kβ–  No data

Top Paying States

Maine
$65K
+26%
Alaska
$63K
+24%
Oregon
$62K
+21%
Massachusetts
$62K
+21%
Washington
$62K
+20%
Indiana
$60K
+17%
Connecticut
$59K
+14%
Idaho
$58K
+13%
California
$58K
+12%
Wisconsin
$56K
+10%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
StateMedianvs. National
Maine$64,760+26.2%
Alaska$63,420+23.6%
Oregon$62,220+21.2%
Massachusetts$62,040+20.9%
Washington$61,850+20.5%
Indiana$60,180+17.2%
Connecticut$58,760+14.5%
Idaho$58,140+13.3%
California$57,590+12.2%
Wisconsin$56,310+9.7%
1–10 of 47

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$75,570+47.2%
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$68,350+33.2%
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$68,280+33.0%
Mobile, AL$66,820+30.2%
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA$66,110+28.8%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$65,980+28.5%
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL$65,850+28.3%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$65,500+27.6%
Albany, OR$65,420+27.4%
Portland-South Portland, ME$64,760+26.2%
1–10 of 169
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A structural metal fabricators and fitters earning $51,330/year would need 1161 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1247 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries β†’
πŸ“ˆ See how structural metal fabricators and fitters salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters salary trend (2011–2024) β†’