National
| Median wages (2008) |
$15.58 hourly, $32,400 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
103,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Little or no change (-2% to 2%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
18,000 additional employees |
51-2041.00 - Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
Fabricate, lay out, position, align, and fit parts of structural metal products.
Sample of reported job titles:
Fitter, Fitter-Welder, Welder-Fabricator, Layout Man, Ship Fitter, Fabricator, Weld Technician, Mill Beam Fitter, Structural Steel Fitter, Tack Welder
Tasks
- 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.
- Verify conformance of workpieces to specifications, using squares, rulers, and measuring tapes.
- Tack-weld fitted parts together.
- Lay out and examine metal stock or workpieces to be processed to ensure that specifications are met.
- Align and fit parts according to specifications, using jacks, turnbuckles, wedges, drift pins, pry bars, and hammers.
- Locate and mark workpiece bending and cutting lines, allowing for stock thickness, machine and welding shrinkage, and other component specifications.
- Position or tighten braces, jacks, clamps, ropes, or bolt straps, or bolt parts in position for welding or riveting.
- Study engineering drawings and blueprints to determine materials requirements and task sequences.
- Move parts into position, manually or with hoists or cranes.
- 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.
back to top
Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Blow torches — Hand torches; Welding torches |
| Gauges or inspection fixtures — Dial indicators; Sine bars; Surface gauges |
| Power saws — Cutoff saws; Power hacksaws; Radial arm saws |
| Punches or nail sets or drifts — Center punches; Drift pins; Punches |
| Shears — Beverly shears; Hand shears; Unishears |
| Workshop presses — Brakes; Computerized numerical control CNC press brakes; Drill presses; Straightening presses |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Data base user interface and query software — Data entry software |
| Enterprise resource planning ERP software |
| Spreadsheet software |
| Word processing software |
