Somewhat Resilient
Last Update: 10/7/2026
AI Resilience Score for Metal Fabricator:
44.6%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
Med
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Low
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Low
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
There are a reasonable number of sources for this result, but there is some disagreement between them.
AI Resilience Report forStructural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
$51,330 median salary•4,800 annual openings•SOC Code: 51-2041.00
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters are somewhat less resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 6 sources.
Structural metal fabricators and fitters earn a "Somewhat Resilient" label because AI and collaborative robots are genuinely changing how the work gets done, even if they are not replacing workers outright. The physical, judgment-heavy parts of the job (like fitting joints in tricky outdoor environments, climbing scaffolding, and adapting to unexpected problems on the fly) are still very much human territory, but AI tools are now handling things like tracking weld seams in real time and flagging quality issues automatically.
Learn more about how you can thrive in this position
This role is somewhat resilient
Structural metal fabricators and fitters earn a "Somewhat Resilient" label because AI and collaborative robots are genuinely changing how the work gets done, even if they are not replacing workers outright. The physical, judgment-heavy parts of the job (like fitting joints in tricky outdoor environments, climbing scaffolding, and adapting to unexpected problems on the fly) are still very much human territory, but AI tools are now handling things like tracking weld seams in real time and flagging quality issues automatically.
Read full analysisAnalysis of current AI resilience
Metal Fabricator
Updated quarterly
How can Metal Fabricator prepare for AI?
Latest AI news for Metal Fabricator
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More Career Info
Career: Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
They build and shape metal parts for structures by cutting, bending, and assembling them to create strong frameworks for buildings and machines.
Parent Careers
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$51,330
Jobs (2025)
52,300
Growth (2025-35)
-6.2%
Annual Openings
4,800
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025-2035
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Erect ladders and scaffolding to fit together large assemblies.
2
Hammer, chip, and grind workpieces to cut, bend, and straighten metal.
3
Install boilers, containers, and other structures.
4
Align and fit parts according to specifications, using jacks, turnbuckles, wedges, drift pins, pry bars, and hammers.
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.
6
Straighten warped or bent parts, using sledges, hand torches, straightening presses, or bulldozers.
7
Preheat workpieces to make them malleable, using hand torches or furnaces.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
