by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Metal Fabricator covers Metal Fabricator. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Further Process Ferrous And/or Non-Ferrous Metal Plates Or Shapes, And To Manufacture And/or Install Products As Interpreted Through Technical Drawings. Includes Instruction In Trade Tools, Shop Equipment, Reading And Interpreting Blueprints, Material Handling, Welding, Thermal Cutting, Metallurgy, Template Pattern Development, Plate And Structural Fabrication, Destructive And Non-Destructive Testing, Inspection, Shipment Preparation And Fabrication Installation. Examples: [Metal Fabricator], [Steel Fabricator], [Steel Fabricator (Fitter)], [Structural Steel And Plate Fitter]. Continue reading for the essential details every metal fabricator major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering metal fabricator programs.
Nationwide, metal fabricator is a widely-pursued major, with 552 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Metal Fabricator Schools ranking analyzes these 25 schools to determine the best overall colleges for metal fabricator students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of metal fabricator programs later in this article.
Studies in Metal Fabricator develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations metal fabricator graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a metal fabricator program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a metal fabricator major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several metal fabricator degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 237 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 72 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 243 |
People currently working in careers related to metal fabricator tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 76.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 18.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in metal fabricator careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying metal fabricator prepares you for numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to metal fabricator.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to metal fabricator.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | 700,944 | 4.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of metal fabricator graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $33,800 |
| 4 years | $39,416 |
| 5 years | $44,203 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for metal fabricator graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers metal fabricator grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | $47,270 |
With 25 different metal fabricator programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased metal fabricator school rankings to help you.
Those considering metal fabricator, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Welding Technology/Welder | 57,768 |
| Machine Tool Technology/Machinist | 3,539 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist | 2,174 |
| Machine Shop Technology/Assistant | 1,634 |
| Tool and Die Technology/Technician | 509 |
| Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking | 386 |
| Precision Metal Working, Other | 340 |
| Ironworking/Ironworker | 161 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
