Metal fabricator vs hands assembler

The differences between metal fabricators and hands assemblers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a metal fabricator has an average salary of $38,047, which is higher than the $31,838 average annual salary of a hands assembler.

The top three skills for a metal fabricator include MIG, hand tools and aluminum. The most important skills for a hands assembler are hand assembly, basic math, and assembly line.

Metal fabricator vs hands assembler overview

	Metal Fabricator	Hands Assembler
Yearly salary	$38,047	$31,838
Hourly rate	$18.29	$15.31
Growth rate	-6%	-
Number of jobs	4,868	19,873
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 46%	High School Diploma, 47%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	-	-

Metal fabricator vs hands assembler salary

Metal fabricators and hands assemblers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Metal Fabricator	Hands Assembler
Average salary	$38,047	$31,838
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $48,000	Between $25,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City	Clifton, NJ	Santa Clara, CA
Highest paying state	Nevada	Washington
Best paying company	Halliburton	International Paper
Best paying industry	Automotive	Manufacturing

Differences between metal fabricator and hands assembler education

There are a few differences between a metal fabricator and a hands assembler in terms of educational background:

	Metal Fabricator	Hands Assembler
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 46%	High School Diploma, 47%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Business
Most common college	-	-

Metal fabricator vs hands assembler demographics

Here are the differences between metal fabricators' and hands assemblers' demographics:

	Metal Fabricator	Hands Assembler
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 94.1% Female, 5.9%	Male, 40.5% Female, 59.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 8.1% White, 58.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 10.7% White, 57.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between metal fabricator and hands assembler duties and responsibilities

Metal fabricator example responsibilities.

Examine surface of metal to detect defects, such as dents, scratches, or breaks in metal.
Operate band see, chop see, MIG welder, stick welder, and grinders to cut to specifications.
Design and construct jigs, templates, and fixtures.
Test and troubleshoot electrical systems prior to shipment of modules.
Fabricate and erect structural, ornamental, and misc steel.
Apply knowledge of shop mathematics, metal properties, and layouts.

Hands assembler example responsibilities.

Perform setup procedures for SMT machines.
Document and record results hourly on parts run.
Excel in interpreting detail aligning units using jigs and fixtures, and inspecting complete components to ensure conformance to specifications.
Download data to determine how RF units react under different environmental conditions.

Metal fabricator vs hands assembler skills

Common metal fabricator skills

MIG, 9%
Hand Tools, 8%
Aluminum, 6%
Press Brake, 6%
Drill Press, 5%
Tape Measure, 5%

Common hands assembler skills

Hand Assembly, 23%
Basic Math, 16%
Assembly Line, 15%
Safety Policies, 7%
Circuit Boards, 6%
Hand-Held Tools, 4%