Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-2041.00
Fabricate, position, align, and fit parts of structural metal products.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.11
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only23 rated tasks · 1 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (4.3%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Study engineering drawings and blueprints to determine materials requirements and task sequences.O*NET Task ID 10042 | 0.5 |
Position, align, fit, and weld parts to form complete units or subunits, following blueprints and layout specifications, and using jigs, welding torches, and hand tools.O*NET Task ID 10035 | 0.0 |
Verify conformance of workpieces to specifications, using squares, rulers, and measuring tapes.O*NET Task ID 10036 | 0.0 |
Tack-weld fitted parts together.O*NET Task ID 10037 | 0.0 |
Lay out and examine metal stock or workpieces to be processed to ensure that specifications are met.O*NET Task ID 10038 | 0.0 |
Align and fit parts according to specifications, using jacks, turnbuckles, wedges, drift pins, pry bars, and hammers.O*NET Task ID 10039 | 0.0 |
Locate and mark workpiece bending and cutting lines, allowing for stock thickness, machine and welding shrinkage, and other component specifications.O*NET Task ID 10040 | 0.0 |
Position or tighten braces, jacks, clamps, ropes, or bolt straps, or bolt parts in position for welding or riveting.O*NET Task ID 10041 | 0.0 |
Move parts into position, manually or with hoists or cranes.O*NET Task ID 10043 | 0.0 |
Set up and operate fabricating machines, such as brakes, rolls, shears, flame cutters, grinders, and drill presses, to bend, cut, form, punch, drill, or otherwise form and assemble metal components.O*NET Task ID 10044 | 0.0 |
Hammer, chip, and grind workpieces to cut, bend, and straighten metal.O*NET Task ID 10045 | 0.0 |
Smooth workpiece edges and fix taps, tubes, and valves.O*NET Task ID 10046 | 0.0 |
Design and construct templates and fixtures, using hand tools.O*NET Task ID 10047 | 0.0 |
Straighten warped or bent parts, using sledges, hand torches, straightening presses, or bulldozers.O*NET Task ID 10048 | 0.0 |
Mark reference points onto floors or face blocks and transpose them to workpieces, using measuring devices, squares, chalk, and soapstone.O*NET Task ID 10049 | 0.0 |
Set up face blocks, jigs, and fixtures.O*NET Task ID 10050 | 0.0 |
Remove high spots and cut bevels, using hand files, portable grinders, and cutting torches.O*NET Task ID 10051 | 0.0 |
Direct welders to build up low spots or short pieces with weld.O*NET Task ID 10052 | 0.0 |
Lift or move materials and finished products, using large cranes.O*NET Task ID 10053 | 0.0 |
Heat-treat parts, using acetylene torches.O*NET Task ID 10054 | 0.0 |
Preheat workpieces to make them malleable, using hand torches or furnaces.O*NET Task ID 10055 | 0.0 |
Install boilers, containers, and other structures.O*NET Task ID 10056 | 0.0 |
Erect ladders and scaffolding to fit together large assemblies.O*NET Task ID 10057 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (23)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Position, align, fit, and weld parts to form complete units or subunits, following blueprints and layout specifications, and using jigs, welding torches, and hand tools. | Core |
| Verify conformance of workpieces to specifications, using squares, rulers, and measuring tapes. | Core |
| Tack-weld fitted parts together. | Core |
| Lay out and examine metal stock or workpieces to be processed to ensure that specifications are met. | Core |
| Align and fit parts according to specifications, using jacks, turnbuckles, wedges, drift pins, pry bars, and hammers. | Core |
| Locate and mark workpiece bending and cutting lines, allowing for stock thickness, machine and welding shrinkage, and other component specifications. | Core |
| Position or tighten braces, jacks, clamps, ropes, or bolt straps, or bolt parts in position for welding or riveting. | Core |
| Study engineering drawings and blueprints to determine materials requirements and task sequences. | Core |
| Move parts into position, manually or with hoists or cranes. | Core |
| Set up and operate fabricating machines, such as brakes, rolls, shears, flame cutters, grinders, and drill presses, to bend, cut, form, punch, drill, or otherwise form and assemble metal components. | Core |
| Hammer, chip, and grind workpieces to cut, bend, and straighten metal. | Core |
| Smooth workpiece edges and fix taps, tubes, and valves. | Core |
| Set up face blocks, jigs, and fixtures. | Core |
| Remove high spots and cut bevels, using hand files, portable grinders, and cutting torches. | Core |
| Lift or move materials and finished products, using large cranes. | Core |
| Design and construct templates and fixtures, using hand tools. | Supplemental |
| Straighten warped or bent parts, using sledges, hand torches, straightening presses, or bulldozers. | Supplemental |
| Mark reference points onto floors or face blocks and transpose them to workpieces, using measuring devices, squares, chalk, and soapstone. | Supplemental |
| Direct welders to build up low spots or short pieces with weld. | Supplemental |
| Heat-treat parts, using acetylene torches. | Supplemental |
| Preheat workpieces to make them malleable, using hand torches or furnaces. | Supplemental |
| Install boilers, containers, and other structures. | Supplemental |
| Erect ladders and scaffolding to fit together large assemblies. | Supplemental |
0.93/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Position, align, fit, and weld parts to form complete units or subunits, following blueprints and layout specifications, and using jigs, welding torches, and hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Verify conformance of workpieces to specifications, using squares, rulers, and measuring tapes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Tack-weld fitted parts together. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Lay out and examine metal stock or workpieces to be processed to ensure that specifications are met. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Align and fit parts according to specifications, using jacks, turnbuckles, wedges, drift pins, pry bars, and hammers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Locate and mark workpiece bending and cutting lines, allowing for stock thickness, machine and welding shrinkage, and other component specifications. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Position or tighten braces, jacks, clamps, ropes, or bolt straps, or bolt parts in position for welding or riveting. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Move parts into position, manually or with hoists or cranes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Set up and operate fabricating machines, such as brakes, rolls, shears, flame cutters, grinders, and drill presses, to bend, cut, form, punch, drill, or otherwise form and assemble metal components. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Hammer, chip, and grind workpieces to cut, bend, and straighten metal. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Smooth workpiece edges and fix taps, tubes, and valves. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Set up face blocks, jigs, and fixtures. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Remove high spots and cut bevels, using hand files, portable grinders, and cutting torches. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Lift or move materials and finished products, using large cranes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Design and construct templates and fixtures, using hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Straighten warped or bent parts, using sledges, hand torches, straightening presses, or bulldozers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Mark reference points onto floors or face blocks and transpose them to workpieces, using measuring devices, squares, chalk, and soapstone. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Heat-treat parts, using acetylene torches. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Preheat workpieces to make them malleable, using hand torches or furnaces. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Install boilers, containers, and other structures. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Erect ladders and scaffolding to fit together large assemblies. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 52K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 49K
- Change (2025–35)
- -6.2%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $51,330
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 78111 | 강구조물 가공원 | Same scope | confirmed |
| 84160 | 제관기 조작원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 85432 | 선박 조립원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 78370 | 새시 조립 및 설치원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 85422 | 자동차 차체 부품 조립원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 7214Structural Metal Preparers and Erectors
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
Structural metal preparers and erectors assemble, erect and dismantle structural metal frames of buildings and other structures.
Tasks
- (a) marking metal framework as a guide when drilling, cutting and shaping metal stock for use in buildings, ships and other structures;
- (b) drilling, cutting and shaping structural steel in a workshop;
- (c) erecting steel framework for buildings, bridges and other constructions;
- (d) assembling and erecting the framework and other metal parts of ships' structures;
- (e) shaping and fitting structural-steel plates of ships under construction or repair;
- (f) riveting structural metal members by hand, machine or pneumatic riveter.
Example occupations
Erector, structural metal · Preparer, structural metal · Riveter
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- metal products assemblerESCO 8219.8This occupation is broader
Metal products assemblers fit and fasten metal materials according to strictly laid down procedures in order to produce various parts or final products using power tools, hand tools, and other machinery.
- ornamental metal workerESCO 7223.14This occupation is broader
Ornamental metal workers use finishing equipment and machinery to shape and finish fabricated ornamental metal workpieces, often used for the installation process in construction, such as railings, staircases, open steel flooring, fences and gates, and others.
- riveterESCO 7214.3.1This occupation is broader
Riveters assemble several metal parts together by riveting guns, rivet set and hammers, or by operating a riveting machine that all perform the purpose of drilling holes on the rivet shank of the metal part and of inserting rivets, bolts, into these holes in order to fasten them together.
- spot welderESCO 7212.3.4This occupation is broader
Spot welders set up and tend spot welding machines designed to press and join metal workpieces together. The metal resistance to the passage of electrical current and the subsequent heat created in the process allows for the local melting and joining of the parts.
- coppersmithESCO 7213.3Overlapping, not the same
Coppersmiths craft and repair items made of non-ferrous metals such as copper, brass and similar materials. They shape and form the raw materials into objects of practical or artistic purpose using smithing tools. Professional coppersmiths create detailed and highly technical devices using appropriate smithing techniques.
- electron beam welderESCO 7212.3.1Overlapping, not the same
Electron beam welders set up and tend machines designed to join separate metal workpieces together through the use of a high-velocity electron beam. They monitor the machining processes providing an alteration in the kinetic energy of the electrons that allows for them to transform into heat for the metal to melt and join together in a process of precise welding.
- sheet metal workerESCO 7213.4Overlapping, not the same
Sheet metal workers in construction use sheet metal to construct roofs, ducts for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, gutters and other metal structures. They read plans and determine the type and amount of materials to be used, then measure, bend, cut, shape, and attach pieces of sheet metal to create the required structure.
- structural ironworkerESCO 7214.3Overlapping, not the same
Structural ironworker in construction install iron elements into structures. They erect steel frameworks for buildings, bridges and other construction projects. They set metal rods, or rebar, to form reinforced concrete.
- welderESCO 7212.3Overlapping, not the same
Welders operate welding equipment in order to join metal workpieces together. They can use fusion welding processes based on different techniques and materials. They also perform simple visual inspection of welds.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| H2919 | Charpentier / Charpentière métallique en construction navale | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| H2902 | Chaudronnier / Chaudronnière | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| H2911 | Métallier / Métallière | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| F1607 | Menuisier / Menuisière aluminium | Related, not a match |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 7314 | Montadores de estructuras metálicas | Overlapping, not the same |
| 7313 | Chapistas y caldereros | Related, not a match |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 24412 | Berufe im Metallbau - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is narrower |
| 24422 | Berufe in der Schweiß- und Verbindungstechnik - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 25242 | Berufe in der Schiffbautechnik - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 525 | 鉄工，製缶従事者 | This occupation is narrower |
| 495 | 鉄工・製缶設備制御・監視員 | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources