Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters build operations monitoring, social perceptiveness and time management skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic (91%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | 91% | $63,870 | +24% | None |
| 2 | Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 90% | $47,920 | −7% | None |
| 3 | Structural Iron and Steel Workers | 88% | $62,780 | +22% | None |
| 4 | Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | 87% | $46,170 | −10% | None |
| 5 | Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 86% | $53,750 | +5% | None |
| 6 | Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers | 85% | $58,970 | +15% | None |
| 7 | Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 84% | $52,800 | +3% | None |
| 8 | Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 81% | $50,270 | −2% | None |
| 9 | Boilermakers | 81% | $76,410 | +49% | None |
| 10 | Riggers | 80% | $62,640 | +22% | None |
Compared with Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters, median $51,330. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as structural metal fabricators and fitters (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
91% skill match · $63,870 · +24% pay
Complex Problem Solving · Quality Control Analysis · Equipment Selection
90% skill match · $47,920 · −7% pay
Complex Problem Solving · Operation and Control · Management of Material Resources
88% skill match · $62,780 · +22% pay
Operation and Control · Coordination · Complex Problem Solving
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic (91% skill match, median $63,870), Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (90% skill match, median $47,920) and Structural Iron and Steel Workers (88% skill match, median $62,780), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 16 pay more than structural metal fabricators and fitters at the median. The biggest increases: Boilermakers (+49%, $76,410), Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic (+24%, $63,870) and Structural Iron and Steel Workers (+22%, $62,780).
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.