As of June 2026, Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters has an AI-exposure score of 44/100 (Moderate exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.

AI Exposure Score for

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

44/100
Moderate exposure
LowModerateElevatedHighVery High

More exposed than 19% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$51,330. About 4,100 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).

Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.

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How you compare to similar Production roles

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters (you)
44
Sewers, Hand
44
Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
44
Butchers and Meat Cutters
45
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
43
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
45
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Your tasks, by AI exposure

Automatable

No automatable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as augmentable (95%).

Augmentable
  • Direct welders to build up low spots or short pieces with weld.
  • Remove high spots and cut bevels, using hand files, portable grinders, and cutting torches.
  • Study engineering drawings and blueprints to determine materials requirements and task sequences.
  • Move parts into position, manually or with hoists or cranes.
  • Lift or move materials and finished products, using large cranes.
  • Set up face blocks, jigs, and fixtures.
  • 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.
  • Verify conformance of workpieces to specifications, using squares, rulers, and measuring tapes.
  • Straighten warped or bent parts, using sledges, hand torches, straightening presses, or bulldozers.
  • Mark reference points onto floors or face blocks and transpose them to workpieces, using measuring devices, squares, chalk, and soapstone.
  • Locate and mark workpiece bending and cutting lines, allowing for stock thickness, machine and welding shrinkage, and other component specifications.
  • Position or tighten braces, jacks, clamps, ropes, or bolt straps, or bolt parts in position for welding or riveting.
  • Lay out and examine metal stock or workpieces to be processed to ensure that specifications are met.
  • Smooth workpiece edges and fix taps, tubes, and valves.
  • Tack-weld fitted parts together.
  • 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.
  • Hammer, chip, and grind workpieces to cut, bend, and straighten metal.
  • Align and fit parts according to specifications, using jacks, turnbuckles, wedges, drift pins, pry bars, and hammers.
  • Heat-treat parts, using acetylene torches.
Durable
  • Design and construct templates and fixtures, using hand tools.

Safer adjacent roles

Structural Iron and Steel Workers
80% skills overlap · Low exposure · ~US$62,780
28
Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
72% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$63,870
44
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
64% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$65,380
48
Sheet Metal Workers
56% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$61,800
50
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
48% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$47,920
47
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
40% skills overlap · Low exposure · ~US$53,750
36
Millwrights
40% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$65,700
49
Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers
40% skills overlap · Low exposure · ~US$58,970
35

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Important: This is an estimate of AI exposure, not a prediction that your job will disappear. It is designed to help you understand how your role may change and improve your career resilience.