Metal Fabricator
Shortage Now
States / territories with a shortage signal
Why this shortage: Long training gap
Snapshot
Median salary
A$94,400
Full-time annual
People employed
42,600
Estimated workforce
Shortage signal
Shortage (national)
Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.
What you actually do
Marks off and fabricates structural steel and other metal stock to make, assemble or repair metal products, pipes and structures, such as boilers and pressure vessels.
Alternative titles
Boilermaker
Scope note: Sheetmetal Fabricators are excluded from this occupation. Sheetmetal Fabricators are included in Occupation 331936 Sheetmetal Worker.
Read official OSCA descriptionSkills & main tasks
Official main tasks
- Studies blueprints, drawings and specifications to determine fabrication job requirements
- Measures and marks out the size, shape and location of cutouts and joints on metal stock
- Uses specialised tools to cut, bend or shape metal into the desired structure or product
- Joins metal sections together by welding, bolting and riveting
- Examines welds for width of bead, penetration and precision, and performs necessary repairs or reworks
- Cleans and smooths welds by filing, chiselling and grinding
- May program machinery or computer-aided fabrication tools to optimise the metal fabrication process
Where people work
State / territory distribution
Highest education
Share of workers
Education & work pattern
Part-time
9%
Female rate
1%
Median age
38
2030 & 2035 employment outlook
to 2030
+3%
2,265 projected jobs
to 2035
+7%
5,772 projected jobs
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OSCA skill level 3
A classification attribute describing the occupation; it is not a personal eligibility or qualification decision.
Official VET pathways
Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade
Occupation ready
Certificate I in Engineering
Pre-vocational
Certificate III in Engineering - Toolmaking Trade
Progression pathway
Diploma of Engineering - Prototyping
Specialised training
Certificate IV in ESI Generation Maintenance (Fabrication)
Specialised training
Certificate IV in Engineering
Specialised training
Diploma of Engineering - Advanced Trade
Specialised training
Certificate III in Manufacturing Technology
Transferable skills
Real jobs right now
Live signal from SEEK, Indeed & moreCurrent vacancy signal
QLD · May 2026
395
ACT · May 2026
4
VIC · May 2026
214
NT · May 2026
13
SA · May 2026
119
NSW · May 2026
264
Where could this career take you?
Compare state-level shortage signals, salary context, study options and visa information for Metal Fabricator.
Regional demand
Largest employment base
#1 Perth - South West
4,386 estimated employed
- 1
Perth - South West
4,386 employed
WA
+11.12%
year on year
- 2
Perth - South East
4,231 employed
WA
+7.58%
year on year
- 3
Melbourne - South East
2,384 employed
VIC
-1.16%
year on year
- 4
Perth - North West
2,364 employed
WA
+27.37%
year on year
- 5
Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday
2,099 employed
QLD
+16.61%
year on year
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Ranked by current shortage signal and projected employment growth.
Workers in this occupation
46,580
Moved in from another occupation
4,795
Moved to another occupation
3,395
Recommendation score: shortage = 2 points, no shortage = 1 point, plus 1 point for each 10% of projected growth to 2035.
- 1
3
points
- 2
3
points
- 3
3
points
- 4
3
points
- 5
3
points
Data status
- Classification
- OSCA 331131
- Last updated
- Refresh pending
- Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia OSL · Jobs and Skills Australia DOM · ABS OSCA · OSCA 2024 — Jobs and Skills Australia
Labour-market data coverage
- Shortage signal and drivers: JSA Occupation Shortage List (ANZSCO unit group where applicable).
- Work profile, state distribution and education: JSA Occupation Profiles (ANZSCO mapped).
- Regional employment: JSA NERO, June 2026.
- Career-move observations: JSA DOM, last available 2020–21. Observed Australian worker transitions are not personalised recommendations; many contractors and sole traders are excluded, as are transitions below 10 workers.
- Vacancy signal: JSA Internet Vacancy Index, 3-month average (ANZSCO unit group).
- Employment outlook: JSA employment projections (ANZSCO unit group).
- Training pathways: JSA Training Occupation Pathways.
Data confidence: estimate.