What does a steel detailer do?
A steel detailer specializes in designing and developing steel for a variety of purposes. Among their responsibilities include meeting with clients to identify their needs and preferences, conducting research and analysis to determine the ideal practices, utilizing software and programs, creating drafts and prototypes, and reviewing the materials' specifications. They must also monitor all procedures, ensuring everything complies with state laws and regulations. Furthermore, as a steel detailer, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff for an efficient and smooth workflow.
Steel detailer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real steel detailer resumes:
- Run presses to fabricate aluminum, copper, and steel leads.
- Follow blueprints and layout specifications, and used jigs, welding torches, and hand tools.
- Used overhead cranes for installing beams and work in structural Fab shop fabricating and straiten beams fabricate from plate.
- Check and ensure that all material sizes and details are extract from the latest contract drawings and latest RFI's correspondence.
- Prepare daily inspection and NDT reports
- Revise engineer sketch to streamline product.
- Shop certify mig / stick welder.
- Revise changes to drawings upon checker approval.
- Produce BOM's for material ordering purposes.
- Fabricate steel, aluminum, and such metals.
- Sand, polish and finish all tig welds.
- Develop assembly models using Creo 3D modeling software.
- Learned the steel trade concerning AISC and standard field procedures
- Train new rebar detailers on company's rebar detailing software
- Program CNC machines using NC files and also manually program.
Steel detailer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Steel Detailers are proficient in Sketch, Fabrication Drawings, and Shop Drawings. They’re also known for soft skills such as Color vision, Technical skills, and Dexterity.
We break down the percentage of Steel Detailers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Sketch, 10%
Detailed steel structures per engineer sketch; Estimated bids and final invoices.
- Fabrication Drawings, 9%
Prepared fabrication drawings and modifications in compliance with industry and company's drafting standards.
- Shop Drawings, 9%
Elaborate shop drawings for approval starting from original architectural and structural design drawings.
- Auto CAD, 8%
Created detailed steel drawings for electrical substations with Auto Cad Release 13 and 14.
- Assembly Drawings, 6%
Check detail and assembly drawings from other draftsmen for conformance to company and government design, safety and drafting standards.
- BOM, 6%
Developed a bill of material chart for shop use on item fabrication (BOM).
Most steel detailers use their skills in "sketch," "fabrication drawings," and "shop drawings" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential steel detailer responsibilities here:
Color vision. One of the key soft skills for a steel detailer to have is color vision. You can see how this relates to what steel detailers do because "assemblers and fabricators who make electrical and electronic products must distinguish different colors, because the wires they often work with are color coded." Additionally, a steel detailer resume shows how steel detailers use color vision: "job description: prepared erection drawings for steel framing detailing/design, revisions prior to fabrication. "
Technical skills. Many steel detailer duties rely on technical skills. "assemblers and fabricators must understand technical manuals, blueprints, and schematics for manufacturing a range of products and machines.," so a steel detailer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways steel detailer responsibilities rely on technical skills: "complete understanding of shop drawings, erection sheets and technical specifications. "
Dexterity. steel detailers are also known for dexterity, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to steel detailer responsibilities, because "assemblers and fabricators should have a steady hand and good hand–eye coordination, as they must grasp, manipulate, and assemble parts and components that are often very small." A steel detailer resume example shows how dexterity is used in the workplace: "install and fit structural and piping members using cranes and other lifting equipment. "
Mechanical skills. A big part of what steel detailers do relies on "mechanical skills." You can see how essential it is to steel detailer responsibilities because "assemblers and fabricators must have a working knowledge of basic machinery to use programmable motion-control devices, computers, and robots on the factory floor." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical steel detailer tasks: "coordinate with structural and architectural drawings for the location of requirements for slab edges and mechanical openings. "
The three companies that hire the most steel detailers are:
Choose from 10+ customizable steel detailer resume templates
Build a professional steel detailer resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your steel detailer resume.
Compare different steel detailers
Steel detailer vs. Metal fabricator apprentice
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between steel detailers and metal fabricator apprentice. For instance, steel detailer responsibilities require skills such as "sketch," "fabrication drawings," "shop drawings," and "auto cad." Whereas a metal fabricator apprentice is skilled in "grinders," "drill press," "mig," and "hand tools." This is part of what separates the two careers.
The education levels that metal fabricator apprentices earn slightly differ from steel detailers. In particular, metal fabricator apprentices are 2.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a steel detailer. Additionally, they're 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Steel detailer vs. Ground support equipment assembler
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that steel detailer responsibilities requires skills like "sketch," "fabrication drawings," "shop drawings," and "auto cad." But a ground support equipment assembler might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "electrical systems," "ground support equipment," "engineering specifications," and "system components."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Ground support equipment assemblers tend to reach higher levels of education than steel detailers. In fact, they're 8.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Steel detailer vs. Metal fabricator helper
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a steel detailer is likely to be skilled in "sketch," "fabrication drawings," "shop drawings," and "auto cad," while a typical metal fabricator helper is skilled in "grinders," "tack," "mig," and "hand tools."
Metal fabricator helpers typically earn similar educational levels compared to steel detailers. Specifically, they're 2.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Steel detailer vs. Metal fitter
Even though a few skill sets overlap between steel detailers and metal fitters, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a steel detailer might have more use for skills like "sketch," "fabrication drawings," "shop drawings," and "auto cad." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of metal fitters require skills like "tig welding," "jigs," "mig," and "grinders. "
In general, metal fitters hold similar degree levels compared to steel detailers. Metal fitters are 2.2% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of steel detailer
Updated January 8, 2025
