Fabricator
Also advertised as: Fabricator, Fabricator Welder, Metal Fabricator, Plater, Sheet Metal Fabricator, Structural Steel Fabricator
Cuts, shapes and assembles metal components into structures and products.
What the job involves
Fabricators work from drawings to cut, bend and join metal into frames, structures and enclosures, often preparing pieces for a welder to complete. You use tools ranging from guillotines and press brakes to hand grinders, checking measurements carefully at each stage. Good fabricators are in steady demand across construction, manufacturing and industrial sectors.
Typical responsibilities
- Interpret engineering drawings to plan fabrication sequence
- Cut, bend and shape metal using workshop machinery
- Assemble and tack components ready for welding
- Check dimensions and squareness against drawings
- Maintain fabrication equipment and work area safely
Common employers
- Steel fabrication companies
- Construction contractors
- Shipyards
- Manufacturing firms
- Structural steelwork specialists
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£22,000 – £27,000 a year
With experience
£30,000 – £40,000 a year
Typical hours
37-40 hours, occasional overtime
Working environment
Workshop, sometimes outdoor site work for larger structures
Remote working
on_site
Demand for this work
steady
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Metal cutting and forming
- Reading engineering drawings
- Measuring and marking out
- Health and safety awareness
- Basic welding knowledge
Transferable skills you may already have
- Manual dexterity
- Practical problem solving
- Working accurately from drawings
Requirements employers ask for
- Metal cutting and forming
- Reading engineering drawings
- Measuring and marking out
- Health and safety awareness
- Basic welding knowledge
- Level 2 or 3 apprenticeship in fabrication and welding, or equivalent experience
Useful but not essential
- Manual dexterity
- Practical problem solving
- Working accurately from drawings
- Level 3 NVQ in fabrication for progression
Helpful qualifications
- Level 3 NVQ in fabrication for progression
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Metal Fabricator (Level 2)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Design and technology
Where this career can lead
next
Senior Fabricator
next
Fabrication Supervisor
next
Coded Welder
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Practical trade with steady demand
- Apprenticeship route with no debt
- Skills transfer across many industries
What people find hard
- Workshop can be noisy and physically demanding
- Exposure to metal dust and sharp materials
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a fabricator?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a fabricator earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £22,000 to £27,000 a year, rising towards £40,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Manual dexterity, Practical problem solving, Working accurately from drawings.
Related careers
Process Engineer
Designs and optimises industrial processes such as chemical, food or pharmaceutical production.
Manufacturing Engineer
Designs and improves the processes used to build products on a production line.
Production Planner
Schedules manufacturing activity so materials, machines and people are ready when needed.
Quality Inspector
Checks parts and products against specifications to catch defects before they reach customers.
Machine Operator
Sets up and runs production machinery to manufacture parts or products.
Toolmaker
Makes and repairs the precision tools, jigs and moulds used in manufacturing.
Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 16 September 2026.
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