Lay out reference points and dimensions on metal or plastic stock or workpieces, such as sheets, plates, tubes, structural shapes, castings, or machine parts, for further processing. Includes shipfitters.
National median · BLS
$63,870
▲ +3.23%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$66,520
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
5,970
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$39,980
25th
$50,910
Median (50th)
$63,870
75th
$79,470
90th — top pay
$93,860
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
BLS projects employment of layout workers, metal and plastic to decline 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 500 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
6,200 → 5,900
-200 jobs
Projected change
-3.4%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
500
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
2.2% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What layout workers, metal and plastic do
Mark curves, lines, holes, dimensions, and welding symbols onto workpieces, using scribes, soapstones, punches, and hand drills.
Plan locations and sequences of cutting, drilling, bending, rolling, punching, and welding operations, using compasses, protractors, dividers, and rules.
Fit and align fabricated parts to be welded or assembled.
Locate center lines and verify template positions, using measuring instruments such as gauge blocks, height gauges, and dial indicators.
Plan and develop layouts from blueprints and templates, applying knowledge of trigonometry, design, effects of heat, and properties of metals.
Lay out and fabricate metal structural parts such as plates, bulkheads, and frames.
Compute layout dimensions, and determine and mark reference points on metal stock or workpieces for further processing, such as welding and assembly.
Lift and position workpieces in relation to surface plates, manually or with hoists, and using parallel blocks and angle plates.
Aircraft Lay Out WorkerBellmakerDimensional InspectorDuplicatorHangersmithLay-Out WorkerLocation and Measurement TechnicianMachine Lay Out WorkerMarine FitterMarine ShipfitterPattern Layout WorkerPattern SetterPlate FitterPlate HangerPrecision Layout WorkerPropeller Layout WorkerShip ErectorShip FitterShipfitterSolid Surface FabricatorSurface Fabricator
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $63,870.
