How much does a metal fabricator make?
Answer: A typical metal fabricator in the United States makes $51,330 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 52,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Metal fabricator pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $37,960 | $51,330 | $72,280 | about 52,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Maine | $64,760 | about 770 |
| Oregon | $62,220 | about 560 |
| Massachusetts | $62,040 | about 690 |
| Washington | $61,850 | about 1,000 |
| Indiana | $60,180 | about 4,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, experienced workers and those with specialized welding skills or useful AWS certifications may earn more. Pay also varies by employer and industry, location, and whether the job includes longer hours or shifts.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a metal fabricator do?
Fabricate, position, align, and fit parts of structural metal products. Shipfitters are included in “Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic” (51-4192).
What's a typical day like?
They read blueprints, measure and mark steel, then cut or bend it with shop machines. They use clamps, jacks, and sometimes cranes to line up the pieces, tack-weld them, and check the fit.
How to get this job
In the U.S., many start after high school or a GED—often around 18—as a helper or apprentice, then learn on the job for days to a year. There is no usual national licensing exam; AWS welding credentials can help for welding-heavy work.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
Structural-metal shops can make pieces for not just bridges and ships, but also dam gates and radio or TV towers.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Production jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/51-2041.00
- www.mynextmove.org/profile/summary/51-2041.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.aws.org/Career-Resources/Career-Paths-in-Welding/Welder-Fabricator
- www.osha.gov/sic-manual/3441
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY