So, is metal fabrications a good career path? We know you want job satisfaction where you can manifest the boss’ vibes. But can you achieve this dream without compromising financial insecurity? The straight answer is yes, you can! You know countless people who went against the standard norms and carved their own paths. So why couldn’t you do the same and lead a happy and sorted life?
Even if you have a high school diploma, you can be a part of the metal fabrication industry. The manufacturing companies hire metal sheet workers in entry-level positions. The average salary of sheet metal workers, CAD designers, and other metal industry workers hovers between $30k-$120k per hour. Although, it is often more in most metal fabrication jobs in the United States.
Unquestionably, the metal fabrication industry allows you to develop a flexible work schedule. But there are some drawbacks to working in a metal fabrication job. For example, ground workers in the industry perform metal extraction in high temperatures and molten metal. The good bet? You will learn how to eliminate risk during the job training season.
This article will give you a detailed breakdown of many important things if you want to pursue your career in the metal fabrication industry. They cover almost everything you need to know about working in the metal fabrication industry, from ground level to managerial position. The idea is to update you with out-of-the-box working opportunities with skilled fabricators.
Alright now, let’s get started!
What is Metal Fabrication?
Metal fabrication manufactures sheet metal and other flat metal together and gives it a specific shape. Metal fabrication is a manufacturing process where skilled fabricators turn metal into finished products. Basically, metal fabrication involves cutting, bending, and assembling metal structures. In today’s modern world, the metal fabrication industry interestingly becomes the force behind many industries, including rods, ships, and planes.
Why Does Metal Fabrication Matter?
Ever heard about the famous metal fabricators of the heydays? We do! We can connect with you and transport you virtually regarding why metal fabrication matters. Continue reading! Do you know our ancestors discovered metals between 7000-3300 BC? This is one of the oldest art that humans gained knowledge about. During the heydays, metal fabrication work was restricted to welding metals.
But with the modern world taking a toll, machinery like saw panels are used now to cut, shape, and give raw materials the perfect finish. And this field will keep growing by leaps and bounds in upcoming years. Because let’s face it, the need for better transportation, communication, and infrastructure is on the surge.
What Is the Future of Metal Fabrications?
You must pay attention to the metal fabrication trends of the last year, 2021. It states that metal components in medical, aerospace, industrial, automobiles, or more will skyrocket upto $92.84 billion by 2025. It may be globally too! In a nutshell, most industries go hand-in-hand with manufacturing companies.
Now you can relate the rewards of thinking about your career in the metal fabrication industry. The sheet metal workers and industry are something out of the box. Here you can work in many roles and fuel your desire with a rewarding salary.
Is Metal Fabrication a Good Career Path?
Yes, metal fabrication is an ideal career path because it also opens up endless working opportunities for newbies! Another key point is if you want to switch your job in this industry, you can. Metal fabrication is a good prospect for those who have a good penchant for the latest technology or a hunt to learn about the oldest form of skill.
The real icing on the cake is if you have unique skills and an appetite to adapt to ever-changing technology trends. If you have most of these traits, the chances are high that you will be in the notice of major manor industries through your wonderfully crafted resume. Plus, if you are from the United States, read about the surge in skilled fabricators!
Convincing Reasons to Pursue Your Career in Metal Fabrication Industry
Whisk through a few more convincing reasons to pursue your career in the metal fabrication industry:
It’s Thrilling & Challenging
You can’t get the pleasure of both the world in most job profiles. But when you work in the metal fabrication industry, your job becomes thrilling and challenging at the same time. One moment you need to work on the ground level, while at the other time, you may have to construct metal structures via cutting, shaping, and welding. The thrill factor is you keep the ancient world legacy of metal furnishing alive.
Job Roles Are in High Demand
Even with the advancement in technology, the need for physical labor is still important in this sector. Overall, to cope with the market demand, employers are always in a quest to hire skilled labor. So if you think you have the caliber, you can apply for various job roles.
Types of Jobs in the Metal Fabrication Industry
In the above paragraph, we stated that the best possible job positions are in great numbers if you have unique skills under your sleeves. So in this section, let’s take a look at the possible jobs in the metal fabrication industry:
Industrial Engineer
He’s the one who takes accountability for optimizing the production, training subordinates and keeping a check on reducing waste. In addition, industrial engineers have to review quality control parameters.
CNC Machinist
As the name suggests, a CNC machinist is a skilled person who knows the art of precise cutting of metals. At the same time, a CNC machinist possesses good knowledge about repairing metal parts and software and computer programs. In a nutshell, a CNC machinist reviews the level of efficiency through CNC machines (Computer numerical control machines) before finished product packing or delivery.
Fabricator
A fabricator is a person who knows about assembling metals and has knowledge of sharp grinders as well. He is the one who assembles different metals. To your surprise, the average salary of the fabricators starts from $40,000 a year.
Welding Jobs
We all can resonate with the job of welders because we have seen them around us once in a while. Their work is to create repair metal products, and they use extreme heat to fuse multiple metals to do the same. Furthermore, their job is to fill holes on bridges, ships, or other objects. On average, the average annual income of welders starts from $38,0000.
Sheet Metal Mechanic
The job of sheet metal mechanics is to install the sheet metal equipment for air conditioning systems properly. At the same time, a sheet metal mechanic takes responsibility for reviewing the objects’ blueprints. Suppose you are looking to excel in your career in metal fabricator work for around $50,000 annually. In that case, the sheet metal mechanic job is ideally suited for you!
Design Engineer
As the name suggests, a design engineer is a master in engineering drawings of a particular project. By drawing, we mean the designer engineers are responsible for designing the finished product design in advance. For example, ship structures and airplane design. They can belong to any industry, including manufacturing, architecture, and automobiles. Did we mention they have strong mathematical skills?
Anything Else?
For many people who are technology and ancient art freaks, metal fabrication is more than just a mainstream job. One gets to learn a lot about raw metals and how to shape and hold them in the finished product.
Furthermore, one must know that metal fabrication industry jobs are mostly performed on ground level. And even if the higher hierarchy does not so often visit the ground site, they too are aware of the basic work done in manufacturing processes.
A Few More Job Positions That Personifies Metal Fabrications is a Good Career Path
- Sheet Metal Fabricator
- Metallurgical Technician
- Metallurgical Engineer
- Welding Inspector
How Much Does a Metal Fabricator Earn?
It depends on various factors, like your job profile in the metal fabrication industry. Most metal fabricators earn a good amount in the United States and Canada to lead a happy life.
Suppose you are working as a sheet metal mechanic. The hourly and monthly estimated annual income is around $29.50 per hour and $57,525 per year.
The best bet in this industry? Even if you don’t have a college degree, you will get a job in the metal fabrication industry on a ground level.
On the other hand, people experienced in management engineering withdraw a handsome amount of something between $75,000 per year.
As the job profile gets better, your promotion and salary increase.
How to Become a Metal Fabricator?
Unknown to many, the metal fabrication industry welcomes people who want to be part of unconventional job roles. Now coming to the point, you need to fulfill all the criteria and steps to become an employee in the metal fabricator industry.
Those applying for entry-level positions must have a high school diploma or GED. The same is a must for many major industries in the United States.
On the brighter side, if you have a technical diploma or master’s degree, it’s a reward for you!
Even those who join the new career in metal fabrication get to learn a lot about engineering specifications and ancient skills dating from centuries ago!
Pros and Cons of a Career Path in the Metal Fabrication Industry
Advantages (Pros)
- Its future is long-lasting because most industries go hand in hand with the metal fabrication industry.
- Industries now utilize the best and right safety equipment to add an extra layer of security for workers.
- Hiring skilled fabricators is art because they turn metal sheets into finished products.
- Metal fabrication is an ancient art introduced and embraced by our ancestors centuries back ago. And hence, it has strong roots in the ancient world.
Disadvantages (Cons)
- Keeping an eye is a must for the employee to study machinery blueprints quickly.
- You must have a good knowledge of the intense heat temperature if you join as a part of the welding team.
- Less knowledge of the right safety equipment could be dangerous for welders.
- Those who have weak knowledge and appetite about how to convert raw materials into a finished product, sorry for them!
- One needs to work under high temperatures with molten metal on ground level.
- You must know that construction-related work can arise anytime, so one must be prepared accordingly.
- If you don’t have strong mathematical skills, you are not made for this industry.
Final Words – Is Metal Fabrications a Good Career Path?
Metal industry jobs are challenging, frankly, but still, this industry is in high demand. You can see its surge because millions of people gravitate toward it every year. The job roles in the metal fabrication industry personify skills and art.
If you love unconventional job roles, look no further than joining the metal fabrication industry. Furthermore, metal fabrication jobs open doors to many jobs, including CAD designer, press operator, and estimator.
Ready to join this multidisciplinary field? If you are still not sold, you may consider looking at public utilities as a great career path! If you have any questions or think we have missed something important, let us know in the comments.
