How Many Jobs Are Available In Metal Fabrications?

Manufacturing

How Many Jobs Are Available In Metal Fabrication?

As of 2026, there are approximately 5,000 metal fabrication jobs available in the United States, with over 77,000 individuals currently employed as metal fabricators. Furthermore, hundreds of thousands of Americans are engaged in related occupations within the industry, including welders, machinists, and sheet metal mechanics.

Below are some of the most common job titles associated with metal fabrication:

Job Title	Number Of Jobs In The U.S.	2020-2030 Job Growth Rate	Job Openings
Welder	418,000+	3%	9,000+
Machinist	332,000+	1%	14,000+
Press Brake Operator	162,000+	-8%	56,000+
Sheet Metal Mechanic	105,000+	8%	42,000+
Pipe Fitter	94,000+	14%	10,000+
Metal Fabricator	77,000+	-11%	4,000+
Tool and Die Maker	60,000+	1%	19,000+
Iron Worker	58,000+	11%	46,000+
Solderer-Assembler	51,000+	3%	17,000+
Millwright	46,000+	5%	75,000+

Final Thoughts

A career in metal fabrication allows you to create and maintain tangible products, offering diverse opportunities across various roles. While the employment outlook for metal fabricators shows a projected decline of 11% through 2030, specialized professions such as iron working and pipe fitting are expected to experience significant growth during the same period, reflecting the evolving demands of the labor market.

Overall, the metal fabrication sector continues to provide solid job security and a chance to engage in meaningful work within a vital industry.

Manufacturing

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Author

Matthew Zane

Matthew Zane is the lead editor of Zippia's How To Get A Job Guides. He is a teacher, writer, and world-traveler that wants to help people at every stage of the career life cycle. He completed his masters in American Literature from Trinity College Dublin and BA in English from the University of Connecticut.

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