Fabricators play vital roles in making the materials that impact businesses, industries, and the broader economy. Applying creativity, problem solving, and technical expertise, these professionals build a wide range of products (and parts for those products). This can include cars, toys, household appliances, mobile devices, motors, computers, airplanes, missiles, and more. In essence, fabricators make it possible for you to drive to work, use your smartphone, or fly somewhere on vacation.
Individuals who are interested in pursuing this rewarding, hands-on career should explore what a fabricator does, and what steps are needed to become one. Completing a welding training program can help equip aspiring fabricators with the skills and knowledge to qualify for a job in this field.
Fabricator Job Description and Responsibilities
Fabricators build all manner of material goods across various sectors, including commercial, industrial, and military. Using hand tools and machines, they are involved in crafting everything from vending machines to wings for airplanes and space shuttles.
Fabricators employ a variety of techniques, depending on the products they build. Welding is one of the most common fabrication techniques, particularly for products that contain metal, like electrical equipment and machines. Other techniques include bending, cutting, folding, punching, shearing, and stamping.
In addition to the actual building of products and their components, fabricators have various other day-to-day duties, which may include:
Analyzing schematics and blueprints
Performing quality control checks
Troubleshooting to ensure products work properly
Adhering to safety guidelines
Filing detailed reports related to product malfunctions
Fabricators are sometimes involved in product development as well, working with designers and engineers to improve product efficacy and manufacturing efficiency. They may also produce prototypes or test products.
Work Settings for Fabricators
Assemblers and fabricators held nearly 2 million jobs nationwide in 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The majority of fabricators work in manufacturing plants, for a wide variety of industries. According to the latest BLS data, the largest employers of assemblers and fabricators included the following.
Transportation equipment manufacturing: 25%
Temporary help services: 12%
Machinery manufacturing: 9%
Computer and electronic product manufacturing: 8%
Fabricated metal product manufacturing: 8%
While there are many commonalities between different fabrication jobs, the specific setting and industry largely determines exactly what a fabricator does.
Fabricators vs. Welders
Understanding the distinctions between fabrication and welding is critical for anyone considering a career in this field. Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, fabrication and welding mean different things. Fabrication refers to the entire cycle of crafting, molding, and fusing components to create a product. Welding is one of the techniques fabricators may use as part of this process, particularly when working with metal.
Put simply, welding is an aspect of fabrication, while fabrication encompasses numerous techniques, including welding.
Given the overlap between these processes, fabricators and welders may share many of the same responsibilities. Metal fabricators are often highly skilled at welding, while welders may perform other elements of fabrication, including cutting, bending, and shaping. A fabricator’s responsibilities, including whether they entail welding, often depends on where they work and the type of project they’re working on.
Education and Experience Requirements for Fabricators
The qualifications to become a fabricator often vary by industry and employer. At minimum, fabricators typically need to possess a high school diploma or its equivalent. However, roles that demand an advanced skill set or those in certain industries, such as aircraft and motor vehicle manufacturing, may require some form of postsecondary education.
Specialized training programs can prepare individuals for fabrication work. These programs balance classroom instruction with situational and practical learning experiences, allowing students to develop the technical expertise and hone the hands-on skills to enter — and excel in — the field.
Certain roles may also require certification. For instance, employers in aerospace and defense require electrical and electronic assembly workers to hold certifications in soldering. The industry nonprofit and member-driven organization IPC offers several certification programs for electronic assembly and soldering. The Fabricators and Manufacturers Association also offers certificates and training programs for fabricators.
Although generally not required, these credentials can indicate to employers that a prospective candidate possesses a level of competence and professionalism that helps them stand out from their peers.
What Skills Does a Fabricator Need?
Fabricators have a varied skill set, involving both technical expertise and soft skills like communication and organizational acumen. Some of the most vital skills for fabricators include the following.
Dexterity: Fabricators have to handle small parts and components as well as delicate (and sometimes dangerous) tools, so they need to have good hand-eye coordination and steady hands.
Detail orientation: An eye for detail enables fabricators to make precise measurements and cuts, which is crucial to minimizing material waste. It can also help them analyze and understand technical manuals, blueprints, and schematics.
Organization: Being organized helps fabricators prioritize tasks, stay on schedule, and meet deadlines.
Receiving welding training can help prospective fabricators hone many of these skills. Possessing a varied skill set can make them a more attractive candidate on the job market, qualifying them for roles that encompass both fabrication and welding responsibilities. A working knowledge of design and engineering principles is also crucial for fabricators.
Job Outlook for Fabricators
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that there will be approximately 188,600 job openings for assemblers and fabricators each year over the next decade (2022-2032). Employment of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers — roles similar to fabricators — is expected to grow as well, with about 42,600 openings each year over the same period.
Because assemblers and fabricators work in such a wide range of roles across numerous industries, their job outlook varies by occupation. For example, employment of electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers is predicted to grow 4% through 2032, according to BLS projections. Fiberglass laminators and fabricators, on the other hand, are projected to experience little to no job growth.
Another factor that bodes well for the fabricator job market is government investment in the manufacturing sector via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The act, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden in 2021, allocated billions of dollars over the next decade for infrastructure and green energy projects, among other initiatives that are expected to create plentiful job opportunities in manufacturing.
Start Your Career in Fabrication With Fortis
Fabricators play an essential role in the creation of countless products, from computers and mobile devices to cars and airplanes.
The welding training program at Fortis can help you hone the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue entry-level roles in this field, whether you’re looking to become a fabricator or specialize in welding. Students benefit from the program’s combination of small classes and hands-on instruction, which provides plenty of opportunities to develop expertise in welding and fabrication techniques.
Learn more about the welding training program at Fortis as well as our other skilled trades programs, and discover how we can help you jump-start your career.
Recommended Readings
5 Types of Welding Jobs
4 Essential Welder Skills
Benefits of Trade School: Why a Hands-on Skilled Trades Career Might Be a Good Fit