How much does a structural metal fabricator and fitter make?
The median structural metal fabricator and fitter in the United States earns $49,900 per year, about $23.99 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all structural metal fabricators and fitters earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 51-2041.
Structural metal fabricator and fitter salary range
Pay for structural metal fabricators and fitters spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $37,370 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $70,510. The average (mean) wage of $52,740 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,370 | $17.96 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $44,290 | $21.29 | |
| Median (50th) | $49,900 | $23.99 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $59,810 | $28.75 | |
| 90th percentile | $70,510 | $33.90 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for structural metal fabricators and fitters (SOC 51-2041), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Structural metal fabricator and fitter salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Structural metal fabricators and fitters earn the most in Alaska at $64,220 a year, and the least in Arkansas at $41,930. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $64,220 | 120 |
| Washington | $63,280 | 1,190 |
| Connecticut | $62,240 | 380 |
| Massachusetts | $61,220 | 710 |
| Oregon | $59,750 | 1,010 |
| California | $56,460 | 2,680 |
| New Jersey | $55,930 | 840 |
| Wisconsin | $54,640 | 2,920 |
| New Hampshire | $53,560 | 200 |
| Kentucky | $52,710 | 790 |
| South Dakota | $52,470 | 220 |
| Vermont | $52,190 | 40 |
| Minnesota | $51,830 | 1,100 |
| Virginia | $51,640 | 1,150 |
| Idaho | $51,370 | 530 |
| Maine | $51,360 | 240 |
| Ohio | $51,190 | 1,200 |
| North Dakota | $51,150 | 130 |
| Missouri | $50,870 | 500 |
| Maryland | $50,800 | 630 |
| Texas | $50,670 | 6,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,450 | 2,410 |
| Utah | $50,440 | 890 |
| Michigan | $50,160 | 1,230 |
| Oklahoma | $49,790 | 910 |
| South Carolina | $49,620 | 890 |
| Illinois | $49,250 | 1,650 |
| Iowa | $48,880 | 820 |
| North Carolina | $48,780 | 1,330 |
| Alabama | $48,730 | 2,150 |
| Kansas | $48,640 | 800 |
| Colorado | $48,550 | 460 |
| New Mexico | $48,520 | 40 |
| Indiana | $48,390 | 1,910 |
| Georgia | $48,090 | 980 |
| Florida | $48,030 | 2,150 |
| New York | $47,990 | 1,800 |
| Nebraska | $47,940 | 610 |
| Tennessee | $47,910 | 2,380 |
| Mississippi | $47,700 | 550 |
| Louisiana | $47,570 | 1,850 |
| Arizona | $46,590 | N/A |
| Nevada | $46,420 | 160 |
| West Virginia | $44,360 | 200 |
| Delaware | $43,910 | 150 |
| Arkansas | $41,930 | 870 |
State median wages for structural metal fabricators and fitters (SOC 51-2041), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for structural metal fabricators and fitters
The BLS projects employment of structural metal fabricators and fitters to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 6.2%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 52,300 jobs in 2025 moving toward 49,000 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 4,800 openings a year for structural metal fabricators and fitters. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a structural metal fabricator and fitter
The typical entry-level education for structural metal fabricators and fitters is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a structural metal fabricator and fitter earns
Industry, shift, certifications, and region drive pay, along with overtime. Skilled operators and workers in unionized plants sit near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Alaska, $64,220) and the lowest (Arkansas, $41,930) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 53,380 people work as structural metal fabricators and fitters in the United States. At $49,900 a year, the job pays above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Structural metal fabricator and fitter salary FAQ
How much does a structural metal fabricator and fitter make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a structural metal fabricator and fitter is $23.99. The middle half of structural metal fabricators and fitters earn between $21.29 and $28.75 per hour.
What is the highest structural metal fabricator and fitter salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of structural metal fabricators and fitters earn more than $70,510 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a structural metal fabricator and fitter make a year?
The median annual salary for a structural metal fabricator and fitter is $49,900. The average (mean) wage of $52,740 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a structural metal fabricator and fitter a well paid job?
At $49,900 a year, a structural metal fabricator and fitter earns above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 53,380 people work as structural metal fabricators and fitters in the United States.
Which state pays structural metal fabricators and fitters the most?
Alaska has the highest median salary for structural metal fabricators and fitters at $64,220 a year. Washington ($63,280) and Connecticut ($62,240) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being a structural metal fabricator and fitter a good career?
Employment of structural metal fabricators and fitters is projected to shrink 6.2% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 4,800 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a structural metal fabricator and fitter?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for structural metal fabricators and fitters as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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