72104 – Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
Lead statement
Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters fabricate, assemble, fit and install steel or other metal components for buildings, bridges, tanks, towers, boilers, pressure vessels and other similar structures and products. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main duties
- Study engineering drawings and blueprints, determine the materials required, and plan the sequence of tasks to cut metal most efficiently
- Construct patterns and templates as guides for layouts
- Lay out reference points and patterns on heavy metal according to component specifications
- Rig, hoist and move materials to storage areas or within worksite
- Assemble and fit metal sections and plates to form complete units or subunits using tack welding, bolting, riveting or other methods
- Set up and operate various heavy-duty metal-working machines such as brake presses, shears, cutting torches, grinders and drills, including computer numerical control (CNC) equipment, to bend, cut, form, punch, drill or otherwise form heavy-metal components
- Install fabricated components in final product.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program ora combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some college or industry courses in structural steel and platework fabrication is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
- Trade certification for metal fabricators (fitters) is available, but voluntary, in all provinces.
- Trade certification for marine technicians is available, but voluntary, in Nova Scotia and British Columbia.
- Trade certification for piledriver and bridgeworker is available in British Columbia.
- Trade certification for boiler and related equipment assemblers and structural metal fabricators (non-construction) is available, but voluntary, in Quebec.
- Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified metal fabricators (fitters) upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Example job titles
apprentice metal fabricator · apprentice ship's plater · apprentice shipfitter · shipfitter apprentice · apprentice steel fabricator · apprentice structural metal and platework fabricator · fabricator - structural metal · bridge and girder plater · platework fabricator · structural metal fabricator · structural steel fabricator · fitter - metal fabrication · apprentice structural steel and platework fitter · fitter lead hand - structural metal and platework · platework fitter · structural metal fitter · structural steel fitter · structural metal fitter-assembler · structural metal and platework fitter-welder · structural metal and platework layout developer · structural metal and platework layout marker · structural metal layout marker · metal fabricator · metal fabricator (fitter) · structural metal and platework fabricator · metal fabricator - structural metal and platework · metal preparation lead hand - structural metal and platework · metal shipwright · plater · plater - shipbuilding · structural metal and platework plater · structural metal worker · apprentice metal shipwright · steel fabricator · steel fabricator - structural metal and platework · steel fitter - metal platework · steel fitter - structural metal · structural steel plate shaper · tube fitter - structural metal and platework · platework fabricator and fitter
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $21.00 | $29.00 | $43.30 |
| Nova Scotia | $21.49 | $30.00 | $42.00 |
| New Brunswick | $20.00 | $25.75 | $40.24 |
| Quebec | $20.00 | $26.80 | $43.46 |
| Ontario | $20.00 | $27.48 | $37.00 |
| Manitoba | $18.00 | $24.00 | $30.80 |
| Saskatchewan | $21.00 | $28.00 | $38.50 |
| Alberta | $22.00 | $33.00 | $44.00 |
| British Columbia | $24.00 | $35.00 | $46.15 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.