51 Series · SOC 51-2041

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$51,330
Median / year
+2.9%
2024→2025
$72,280
Top 10% earn
-16.3%
Growth '24–'34
52,360
Estimated US jobs

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters earn a median of $51,330 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $51,330, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $37,960 (10th percentile) to $72,280 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 52,360 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Maine ($64,760).

51 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters earn a median of $51,330, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 36% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #31 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 16.3% by 2034.

$51,330
Median annual wage
Top 64%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#31 of 105
in Production
1.9×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Maine at $64,760. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters moved from $40,390 in May 2019 to $51,330 in May 2025 (+27.1%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters sits +2.6 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters (SOC 51-2041) has a national median of $51,330 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $37,960 to $72,280, and the published mean is $54,030. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 52,360 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 48 state or territory areas and 229 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $49,900 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $51,330 in May 2025, a rise of $1,430 (+2.9%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a -16.3% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as declining relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 4,100 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Production Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Maine pays the highest state median at $64,760, which is +26% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA at $75,570. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 52,360 jobs Median $51,330/yr

Median Salary

$51,330

per year

Median Hourly

$24.68/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$54,030

average

Employment

52,360

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$51,330 Bottom 36% higher than 36% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 (this entry) 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$51,330 · 36th percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters sits on the slower-growing side at -16.3% growth and $51,330 median pay. Scatter plot of 23 data points. $30000$40000$50000$60000$70000$80000 -20%-10%0%10% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Miscellaneous Assemb… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.1% · Median annual wage: $44650First-Line Superviso… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.2% · Median annual wage: $74450Welders, Cutters, So… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.2% · Median annual wage: $53750Packaging and Fillin… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.5% · Median annual wage: $43220Production Workers, … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.5% · Median annual wage: $40110Electrical, Electron… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.6% · Median annual wage: $45850Bakers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.6% · Median annual wage: $37160Laundry and Dry-Clea… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.4% · Median annual wage: $34890Food Batchmakers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6.9% · Median annual wage: $42290Cutting, Punching, a… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -12.1% · Median annual wage: $46330Computer Numerically… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -10.7% · Median annual wage: $50690Helpers--Production … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -8.9% · Median annual wage: $39070Coating, Painting, a… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.7% · Median annual wage: $48250Molding, Coremaking,… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -3.8% · Median annual wage: $44350Meat, Poultry, and F… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.5% · Median annual wage: $38300Printing Press Opera… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -8.1% · Median annual wage: $45780Chemical Equipment O… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.3% · Median annual wage: $58040Butchers and Meat Cu… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1% · Median annual wage: $40140Water and Wastewater… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -6.5% · Median annual wage: $60020Multiple Machine Too… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.5% · Median annual wage: $47180Sewing Machine Opera… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -10.8% · Median annual wage: $36670Paper Goods Machine … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -6.3% · Median annual wage: $50270Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -16.3% · Median annual wage: $51330
Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters sits on the slower-growing side at -16.3% growth and $51,330 median pay.
Read the chart as text
  • Miscellaneous Assemb…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.1%, Median annual wage $44650
  • First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.2%, Median annual wage $74450
  • Welders, Cutters, So…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.2%, Median annual wage $53750
  • Packaging and Fillin…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $43220
  • Production Workers, …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.5%, Median annual wage $40110
  • Electrical, Electron…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.6%, Median annual wage $45850
  • Bakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.6%, Median annual wage $37160
  • Laundry and Dry-Clea…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.4%, Median annual wage $34890
  • Food Batchmakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.9%, Median annual wage $42290
  • Cutting, Punching, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -12.1%, Median annual wage $46330
  • Computer Numerically…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -10.7%, Median annual wage $50690
  • Helpers--Production …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -8.9%, Median annual wage $39070
  • Coating, Painting, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.7%, Median annual wage $48250
  • Molding, Coremaking,…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.8%, Median annual wage $44350
  • Meat, Poultry, and F…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.5%, Median annual wage $38300
  • Printing Press Opera…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -8.1%, Median annual wage $45780
  • Chemical Equipment O…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $58040
  • Butchers and Meat Cu…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1%, Median annual wage $40140
  • Water and Wastewater…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.5%, Median annual wage $60020
  • Multiple Machine Too…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.5%, Median annual wage $47180
  • Sewing Machine Opera…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -10.8%, Median annual wage $36670
  • Paper Goods Machine …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.3%, Median annual wage $50270
  • Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -16.3%, Median annual wage $51330

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

-16.3%

Declining

Annual Openings

4,100

per year (projected)

Employment Change

-8,800

53,800 (2024) → 45,000 (2034)

Typical Education

High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-Job Training

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
Group

Production Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

Fatality Rate

3.5/100K

Injury Rate

3.2/100

Danger Index

14.6/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Reading Comprehension 3.0
Active Listening 3.0
Speaking 3.0
Critical Thinking 3.0
Monitoring 2.9
Operations Monitoring 2.9
Social Perceptiveness 2.6
Time Management 2.6
Coordination 2.4
Operation and Control 2.4

Knowledge Areas

Mathematics 3.4
Production and Processing 3.3
Mechanical 3.3
English Language 3.0
Administration and Management 2.9
Education and Training 2.8
Design 2.8
Public Safety and Security 2.7
Customer and Personal Service 2.6
Engineering and Technology 2.6

Key Tasks

  • Verify conformance of workpieces to specifications, using squares, rulers, and measuring tapes.
  • Study engineering drawings and blueprints to determine materials requirements and task sequences.
  • 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.
  • Lay out and examine metal stock or workpieces to be processed to ensure that specifications are met.
  • Tack-weld fitted parts together.
  • 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.
  • Mark reference points onto floors or face blocks and transpose them to workpieces, using measuring devices, squares, chalk, and soapstone.
  • Position or tighten braces, jacks, clamps, ropes, or bolt straps, or bolt parts in position for welding or riveting.
  • Lift or move materials and finished products, using large cranes.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

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

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$18.25
25th$21.93
Median$24.68
75th$29.45
90th$34.75

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters pay history, 2015–2025

Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$35,000$40,000$45,000$50,000$55,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $37,050National median - 2016: $37,730National median - 2017: $38,450National median - 2018: $39,290National median - 2019: $40,390National median - 2020: $41,780National median - 2021: $45,480National median - 2022: $47,200National median - 2023: $48,480National median - 2024: $49,900National median - 2025: $51,330$51,330
National median annual wage for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $37,050
2016 $37,730
2017 $38,450
2018 $39,290
2019 $40,390
2020 $41,780
2021 $45,480
2022 $47,200
2023 $48,480
2024 $49,900
2025 $51,330

2015 median

$37,050

2025 median

$51,330

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$10,940 (+27.1%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+4.1%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $37,050 First banked release 79,620
May 2016 $37,730 +1.8% 77,270
May 2017 $38,450 +1.9% 77,600
May 2018 $39,290 +2.2% 76,090
May 2019 $40,390 Classification break 76,890
May 2020 $41,780 +3.4% 69,550
May 2021 $45,480 +8.9% 61,070
May 2022 $47,200 +3.8% 58,870
May 2023 $48,480 +2.7% 57,810
May 2024 $49,900 +2.9% 53,380
May 2025 $51,330 +2.9% 52,360

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $37,050 in May 2015 to $51,330 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +4.1% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 76,890 in May 2019 to 52,360 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.

Salary by State

View all 48 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Maine $64,760 +26% above national
2 Alaska $63,420 +24% above national
3 Oregon $62,220 +21% above national
4 Massachusetts $62,040 +21% above national
5 Washington $61,850 +20% above national
6 Indiana $60,180 +17% above national
7 Connecticut $58,760 +14% above national
8 Idaho $58,140 +13% above national
9 California $57,590 +12% above national
10 Wisconsin $56,310 +10% above national
11 Minnesota $56,210 +10% above national
12 New Jersey $55,650 +8% above national
13 Illinois $55,380 +8% above national
14 Kentucky $55,250 +8% above national
15 New York $55,080 +7% above national
16 North Dakota $54,430 +6% above national
17 Virginia $53,940 +5% above national
18 New Hampshire $53,920 +5% above national
19 Missouri $53,610 +4% above national
20 Ohio $52,300 +2% above national
21 Alabama $52,220 +2% above national
22 Wyoming $51,740 +1% above national
23 Pennsylvania $51,640 +1% above national
24 Iowa $51,360 same as national
25 Colorado $51,120 same as national
26 South Dakota $50,800 1% below national
27 Tennessee $50,460 2% below national
28 Oklahoma $50,380 2% below national
29 Maryland $50,110 2% below national
30 Georgia $50,010 3% below national
31 Louisiana $49,120 4% below national
32 North Carolina $48,990 5% below national
33 Nebraska $48,820 5% below national
34 New Mexico $48,700 5% below national
35 Texas $48,490 6% below national
36 Arizona $48,150 6% below national
37 Utah $48,130 6% below national
38 Michigan $47,950 7% below national
39 Kansas $47,840 7% below national
40 Delaware $46,940 9% below national
41 South Carolina $46,910 9% below national
42 Florida $46,880 9% below national
43 West Virginia $46,880 9% below national
44 Hawaii $43,750 15% below national
45 Mississippi $42,550 17% below national
46 Arkansas $41,260 20% below national
47 Nevada $39,570 23% below national
48 Puerto Rico $29,320 43% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 168 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $75,570 +47% above national
2 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $68,350 +33% above national
3 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $68,280 +33% above national
4 Mobile, AL $66,820 +30% above national
5 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $66,110 +29% above national
6 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $65,980 +29% above national
7 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $65,850 +28% above national
8 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $65,500 +28% above national
9 Albany, OR $65,420 +27% above national
10 Portland-South Portland, ME $64,760 +26% above national
11 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $64,350 +25% above national
12 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $64,230 +25% above national
13 Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $63,920 +25% above national
14 Savannah, GA $63,420 +24% above national
15 Evansville, IN $63,120 +23% above national
16 Utica-Rome, NY $62,910 +23% above national
17 Salem, OR $62,090 +21% above national
18 Waterbury-Shelton, CT $61,910 +21% above national
19 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $60,950 +19% above national
20 Green Bay, WI $60,930 +19% above national
21 St. Cloud, MN $60,460 +18% above national
22 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI $60,200 +17% above national
23 Fort Wayne, IN $60,180 +17% above national
24 Worcester, MA $60,050 +17% above national
25 Idaho Falls, ID $59,960 +17% above national
26 Corpus Christi, TX $59,590 +16% above national
27 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $59,470 +16% above national
28 Stockton-Lodi, CA $59,460 +16% above national
29 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $59,270 +15% above national
30 New Haven, CT $58,760 +14% above national
31 Kansas City, MO-KS $58,540 +14% above national
32 Jackson, TN $58,490 +14% above national
33 Madison, WI $58,490 +14% above national
34 Baton Rouge, LA $58,410 +14% above national
35 Vallejo, CA $58,360 +14% above national
36 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $58,260 +14% above national
37 Wausau, WI $58,220 +13% above national
38 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $58,020 +13% above national
39 Ogden, UT $57,980 +13% above national
40 Syracuse, NY $57,700 +12% above national
41 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $57,560 +12% above national
42 Cleveland, OH $57,550 +12% above national
43 Winchester, VA-WV $57,430 +12% above national
44 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $57,240 +12% above national
45 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $56,990 +11% above national
46 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $56,870 +11% above national
47 Reno, NV $56,310 +10% above national
48 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $56,290 +10% above national
49 Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI $55,940 +9% above national
50 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $55,750 +9% above national
51 Boise City, ID $55,720 +9% above national
52 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $55,600 +8% above national
53 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $55,550 +8% above national
54 Springfield, MA $55,550 +8% above national
55 Bismarck, ND $55,270 +8% above national
56 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $55,250 +8% above national
57 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $54,840 +7% above national
58 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $54,180 +6% above national
59 Oshkosh-Neenah, WI $54,100 +5% above national
60 Tulsa, OK $54,060 +5% above national
61 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $54,030 +5% above national
62 Colorado Springs, CO $54,030 +5% above national
63 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $53,990 +5% above national
64 Lynchburg, VA $53,940 +5% above national
65 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $53,880 +5% above national
66 Omaha, NE-IA $53,360 +4% above national
67 Appleton, WI $52,800 +3% above national
68 Reading, PA $52,780 +3% above national
69 York-Hanover, PA $52,700 +3% above national
70 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $52,660 +3% above national
71 Greeley, CO $52,480 +2% above national
72 Birmingham, AL $52,330 +2% above national
73 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $52,290 +2% above national
74 Wichita, KS $51,800 +1% above national
75 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $51,590 +1% above national
76 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $51,540 same as national
77 Pittsburgh, PA $51,510 same as national
78 Raleigh-Cary, NC $51,300 same as national
79 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $51,280 same as national
80 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $51,210 same as national
81 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $51,120 same as national
82 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $51,090 same as national
83 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $50,750 1% below national
84 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL $50,740 1% below national
85 Knoxville, TN $50,720 1% below national
86 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $50,620 1% below national
87 Albuquerque, NM $50,550 2% below national
88 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $50,520 2% below national
89 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $50,510 2% below national
90 Columbus, OH $50,340 2% below national
91 Richmond, VA $50,290 2% below national
92 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $50,200 2% below national
93 St. Louis, MO-IL $50,170 2% below national
94 Cedar Rapids, IA $50,100 2% below national
95 Decatur, AL $50,040 3% below national
96 Elkhart-Goshen, IN $49,960 3% below national
97 Tuscaloosa, AL $49,920 3% below national
98 Spartanburg, SC $49,690 3% below national
99 Muncie, IN $49,670 3% below national
100 Lincoln, NE $49,500 4% below national
101 Lancaster, PA $49,390 4% below national
102 Urban Honolulu, HI $49,390 4% below national
103 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $49,350 4% below national
104 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $49,280 4% below national
105 Montgomery, AL $49,190 4% below national
106 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $49,020 5% below national
107 Akron, OH $48,850 5% below national
108 Winston-Salem, NC $48,590 5% below national
109 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $48,570 5% below national
110 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $48,530 5% below national
111 Rockford, IL $48,310 6% below national
112 Peoria, IL $48,250 6% below national
113 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $48,150 6% below national
114 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $48,130 6% below national
115 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $48,110 6% below national
116 Chattanooga, TN-GA $48,080 6% below national
117 Lebanon, PA $47,990 7% below national
118 Fort Smith, AR-OK $47,780 7% below national
119 St. George, UT $47,780 7% below national
120 Rochester, NY $47,760 7% below national
121 Erie, PA $47,670 7% below national
122 Greensboro-High Point, NC $47,470 8% below national
123 Youngstown-Warren, OH $47,360 8% below national
124 Sheboygan, WI $47,290 8% below national
125 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $47,240 8% below national
126 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $47,060 8% below national
127 Longview, TX $47,040 8% below national
128 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $46,960 9% below national
129 Columbia, SC $46,910 9% below national
130 Florence, SC $46,880 9% below national
131 Waco, TX $46,730 9% below national
132 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $46,690 9% below national
133 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $46,630 9% below national
134 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $46,610 9% below national
135 Jacksonville, FL $46,520 9% below national
136 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA $46,380 10% below national
137 Kokomo, IN $46,380 10% below national
138 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $46,330 10% below national
139 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $46,260 10% below national
140 Johnson City, TN $46,010 10% below national
141 San Angelo, TX $46,010 10% below national
142 Ocala, FL $45,840 11% below national
143 Terre Haute, IN $45,790 11% below national
144 Parkersburg-Vienna, WV $45,770 11% below national
145 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $45,750 11% below national
146 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $45,740 11% below national
147 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL $45,570 11% below national
148 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $45,560 11% below national
149 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL $45,470 11% below national
150 Port St. Lucie, FL $45,310 12% below national
151 Niles, MI $45,270 12% below national
152 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $45,160 12% below national
153 Saginaw, MI $45,080 12% below national
154 Oklahoma City, OK $45,030 12% below national
155 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX $44,730 13% below national
156 Eugene-Springfield, OR $44,560 13% below national
157 Topeka, KS $43,930 14% below national
158 Lafayette, LA $43,830 15% below national
159 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $43,430 15% below national
160 Jackson, MS $42,470 17% below national
161 El Paso, TX $40,690 21% below national
162 Gadsden, AL $39,940 22% below national
163 Dothan, AL $38,620 25% below national
164 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $37,010 28% below national
165 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $35,900 30% below national
166 Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA $29,770 42% below national
167 Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL $29,640 42% below national
168 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $29,320 43% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 51 (Production Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 104 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Production Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($51,330 here) and reported employment (52,360 jobs here).

Similar employment scale

Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters make?
The median annual salary for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters is $51,330 ($24.68/hour). The salary range spans from $37,960 at the 10th percentile to $72,280 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $51,330, Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters pay is higher than 36% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters the most?
Maine pays the highest median salary for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters at $64,760/year, which is +26% above the national median.
What education do Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters need?
BLS assigns Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters to High school diploma or equivalent for typical education needed for entry. Typical on-the-job training assignment: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters in this release. WageDex shows the Production Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
Is Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters a good career?
Employment for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters is projected to decline 16.3% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 4,100 openings are projected each year.
How does Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters pay vary by state?
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Maine at $64,760/year, while Puerto Rico pays the least at $29,320/year. BLS data covers 48 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA at $75,570/year. BLS reports a median for 168 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $61,250/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Maine leads at $64,760/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.