Considering working in metal fabrications? The best-paying jobs in metal fabrications can come with a long and fulfilling career that’s perfect for someone who likes working with their hands.
For workers with an interest in this industry, these careers can come with high job satisfaction, an excellent work-life balance, and a high salary to match. You’ll like that metal fabrications careers are vast and can fit a variety of roles, whether you need an entry-level job or you’re experienced, looking for a senior-level position.
Quickstart Guide To Landing A Career In Metal Fabrications
- Update your resume. Stand out from your competition by updating your resume! We recommend working with a resume writing service for expert help.
- Search for opportunities on ZipRecruiter. If you are looking for a job in metal fabrications, start your search on ZipRecruiter today! ZipRecruiter is free for job seekers and you can apply for jobs with a single click!
Discover Your Dream Job Find jobs near you and apply with 1 click! New jobs posted daily.
What Is The Metal Fabrications Industry?
The metal fabrications industry involves working with raw materials to turn them into intermediate or end products, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Then these products can be used in computer equipment, electronics, metal furniture, and other goods.
Some of the processes these metals go through involve stamping, welding, forging, bedding, and machining to transform them into the finished piece. Workers in this industry earn an average of over $28.80 per hour working around 40 hours per week.
There are many careers in metal fabrications from welders, and assemblers, to machinists, first-line supervisors, and more.
The metal fabrications industry is an in-demand career field, expected to grow by billions by the year 2027 and add tens of thousands of jobs within the next few years.
10 Of The Best Paying Metal Fabrications Jobs
1. Sheet Metal Mechanic
Median National Salary: $55,350/year
Education Required: High school diploma
Number of Jobs: 126,200
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 0% (Little or no change)
Job Duties: A sheet metal mechanic is responsible for fabricating, assembling, and installing sheet metal products and components for various structures and systems. They use their expertise in metalworking, blueprint reading, and welding to shape and join sheet metal, contributing to the construction and maintenance of architectural, industrial, and mechanical systems.
2. Boilermaker
Median National Salary: $66,920/year
Education Required: High school diploma
Number of Jobs: 13,700
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: -4% (Decline)
Job Duties: A boilermaker is responsible for constructing, assembling, and maintaining boilers, tanks, and other large vessels that hold liquids and gases. They use their expertise in welding, metalworking, and blueprint reading to fabricate and install these structures, playing a crucial role in the construction and maintenance of industrial facilities.
3. Industrial Engineer
Median National Salary: $96,350/year
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Number of Jobs: 327,300
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 12% (Much faster than average)
Job Duties: An industrial engineer is responsible for optimizing complex processes, systems, and organizations to improve efficiency, productivity, and quality. They use their expertise in engineering principles, data analysis, and project management to design and implement solutions that enhance operational performance and streamline production processes in various industries.
4. Manufacturing Manager
Median National Salary: $107,560/year
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Number of Jobs: 222,100
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 2% (As fast as average)
Job Duties: A manufacturing manager is responsible for overseeing production processes, managing resources, and ensuring that goods are manufactured efficiently and meet quality standards. They use their expertise in production management, supply chain operations, and leadership to coordinate and optimize manufacturing activities, drive productivity, and uphold product quality within a manufacturing facility.
5. Construction Superintendent
Median National Salary: $101,480/year
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Number of Jobs: 505,800
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 5% (Faster than average)
Job Duties: A construction superintendent is responsible for overseeing and coordinating construction projects, managing on-site operations, and ensuring that work is carried out according to plans and specifications. They use their expertise in construction management, scheduling, and quality control to supervise construction activities, monitor progress, and ensure that projects are completed safely, on time, and within budget.
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6. Sheet Metal Worker
Median National Salary: $55,350/year
Education Required: High school diploma
Number of Jobs: 126,200
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 0% (Little or no change)
Job Duties: A sheet metal worker is responsible for fabricating, installing, and maintaining sheet metal products and components for various construction projects. They use their expertise in metalworking, blueprint reading, and welding to shape, cut, and assemble sheet metal into ductwork, roofing, and other architectural elements, contributing to the construction and maintenance of buildings and structures.
7. Assembler
Median National Salary: $37,930/year
Education Required: High school diploma
Number of Jobs: 1,961,900
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: -6% (Decline)
Job Duties: An assembler is responsible for assembling components or products in a manufacturing or production environment. They use their expertise in following assembly instructions, using hand tools or machinery to put together parts, and ensuring the quality and accuracy of the finished products.
8. Fabricator
Median National Salary: $37,930/year
Education Required: High school diploma
Number of Jobs: 1,961,900
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: -6% (Decline)
Job Duties: A fabricator is responsible for creating metal structures by cutting, bending, and assembling metal materials. They use their expertise in welding, metalworking, and blueprint reading to produce metal components and structures, contributing to the construction of various industrial and architectural projects.
9. Metallurgical Engineer
Median National Salary: $100,140/year
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Number of Jobs: 22,300
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 5% (Faster than average)
Job Duties: A metallurgical engineer is responsible for studying and manipulating the properties of metals to develop and improve manufacturing processes and materials. They use their expertise in metallurgy, materials science, and engineering principles to research, design, and implement processes for producing metals and alloys with desired properties, contributing to advancements in various industries such as manufacturing, mining, and materials development.
10. Metals Analyst
Median National Salary: $85,720/year
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Number of Jobs: 109,900
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 23% (Much faster than average)
Job Duties: A metals analyst is responsible for analyzing and forecasting trends in metal markets, providing insights and recommendations to investors and industry professionals. They use their expertise in market research, data analysis, and economic factors to assess supply and demand dynamics, price movements, and market conditions, supporting informed decision-making in the metal industry.
Requirements And Skills For The Metal Fabrication Industry
Metal fabrication careers require the right set of qualification and skills to do the work. While the requirements for each career vary, in general, if you have these skills, you have a solid foundation for landing a job this field:
- Communication skills: Excellent communication skills are great to have in any industry, especially metal fabrications. Depending on your job, you’ll be working alone and in team settings, where strong communication will be required to do your work.
- Work ethic: A strong work ethic means you’re a dedicated, hard worker and someone who takes pride in their work.
- Teamwork: Working well independently and in a team environment is a critical skill to possess. You may be in scenarios day-to-day or throughout your career where you work closely with others in a team. Being a team player means you can work with others well, contribute, and play a role for the greater good of the big picture.
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills: This is about thinking critically on the spot and being able to come up with solutions to problems that arise in the workplace.
How To Get A Good-Paying Metal Fabrications Job
Landing a good-paying career in metal fabrications comes from having the skills, experience and qualifications for the job, being prepared with a professional resume and performing a thorough job search.
For resume preparation, here are the best resume writing services that you can use for creating a professional resume, tailored to a career in metal fabrications.
Outsourcing resume creation to professionals can help you focus on career searching, interview prep, and other things that go into the job search process. When you’re ready to kick off your job search, these websites are some of the best online to start with.
Best Places To Find High-Paying Metal Fabrications Jobs
You can find the best-paying metal fabrications jobs here:
ZipRecruiter
ZipRecruiter is one of the top job search banks. You can use this site to find the perfect metal fabrications job you’re looking for (along with searching for careers in other fields as well). They offer a variety of resources that let you search for salaries, read job seeker reviews, get job seeker support, and more.
Best of all, ZipRecruiter is free! You can also upload your resume to ZipRecruiter’s resume database so that recruiters and employers can find you!
For more information, check out our ZipRecruiter review.
Discover Your Dream Job Find jobs near you and apply with 1 click! New jobs posted daily.
Google Jobs
Google Jobs has many metal fabrications jobs available to sift through. This online job search website is part of Google and is totally free to use. You’ll be able to search for jobs easily and filter your results by location, job, requirements, and other filters.
For more information, check out our Google Jobs review.
SimplyHired
SimplyHired is a job search bank you can use to search metal fabrications and other jobs online. You’ll be able to filter and sort your job results by date, salary, and more. They offer tools that let you mark your job favorites and quickly apply to positions of interest.
Visit SimplyHired to learn more.
The Bottom Line
Working in metal fabrications can be a sound career move. It can be personally enriching, keep you engaged in your work and come with many perks, as we’ve outlined above.
Regardless of the career path you want to take within metal fabrications, there can be a job for you in this field.
When you’re ready to begin your career search, visit ZipRecruiter to get started!
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