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The differences between fabricators and machinists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a machinist has an average salary of $42,147, which is higher than the $34,922 average annual salary of a fabricator.
The top three skills for a fabricator include hand tools, basic math and calipers. The most important skills for a machinist are grinders, cnc machines, and micrometers.
| Fabricator | Machinist | |
| Yearly salary | $34,922 | $42,147 |
| Hourly rate | $16.79 | $20.26 |
| Growth rate | -1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 7,772 | 15,448 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
A fabricator specializes in manufacturing and assembling equipment or devices, ensuring every product's quality and efficiency. There are instances when a fabricator is required to make multiple gears, conduct verification processes on product schematics and specifications, perform quality control inspections, and test the product in different environments. Furthermore, a fabricator needs to coordinate with all workforce members to remain informed on any changes or updates in the production operations while adhering to the company's policies and safety standards.
Machinists are skilled professionals who create metal works by using different machines. They work with clients to bring their clients' vision to life. They study the blueprints of the product that needs to be done and identify the parts that will need fabrication through machining. They then prepare the materials and equipment. Machinists use different tools such as grinders, drills, lathes, polishers, and milling equipment to create parts that are made of metal. They may sometimes work with other materials such as wood or plastic, but this is seldom. Machinists are expected to be proficient in the use of the machines, to be precise with their work, and can work within the committed timeline.
Fabricators and machinists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Fabricator | Machinist | |
| Average salary | $34,922 | $42,147 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $44,000 | Between $29,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | Las Vegas, NV | Eugene, OR |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Danaher | Westinghouse Appliances Australia |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a fabricator and a machinist in terms of educational background:
| Fabricator | Machinist | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most common major | Precision Metal Working | Precision Metal Working |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between fabricators' and machinists' demographics:
| Fabricator | Machinist | |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.8% Female, 10.2% | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 8.1% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 6.7% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 3% |