10 of the Most Popular Types of Entry Level Fabrication Jobs in 2026

See what kind of roles similar to Entry Level Fabrication jobs are hiring now

Top Types Of Entry Level Fabrication Jobs

• Entry Level Welder

  Salary range: $39,000 - $51,500

  Welders fuse metal together using intense heat to create parts for a project or to reinforce structures. They work in a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, construction, automotive, aerospace, health care, maritime, and oil drilling. Entry-level welders typically train on the job and start out as an assistant to an experienced welder to learn the trade. As an entry-level welder, you help the primary welder execute projects according to the client’s specifications and needs. You must you must be able to read blueprints, follow technical instructions, and understand the properties of different welding metals, including brass, aluminum, and stainless steel.

• Entry Level Trade

  Salary range: $40,000 - $64,000

  There are several entry-level trade job opportunities, with each having different requirements for education, certification, and training. The term “trade” refers to various skilled labor fields, such as electrical, plumbing, and construction. There are multiple specialties within each class. In the latter, for example, you can work as a carpenter, painter, or mason. Advancement is possible with additional experience and credentials. While you can find a full-time job with a contracting company, most in this industry work on a freelance basis. As an entry-level trade worker, you may serve as an apprentice to an experienced tradesperson. While your duties and responsibilities are the same, you have nearly constant supervision, and you must spend some time in the classroom.

• Welder

  Salary range: $39,000 - $51,500

  The primary job of welders is to join metal together using intense heat. They work in a wide range of industries from manufacturing to aerospace to oil drilling. Other industries that use welders include automobile, manufacturing, construction, or maritime. As a welder, you execute projects according to your client’s specifications. You must understand the details of different welding metals, including stainless steel, aluminum, and brass, and you must be able to read blueprints and follow technical instructions. Additional job duties depend on your specific industry. You can also get voluntary certification from the American Welding Society (AWS) to prove your proficiency in the trade.

• Steel Fabrication

  Salary range: $62,500 - $90,000

  Steel Fabrication is a common job search query. Most salaries for Steel Fabrication jobs pay between $62,500 (25th percentile) and $90,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Steel Fabrication job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Welding

  Salary range: $48,500 - $71,000

  Welding jobs are any jobs that include metal welding as a significant part of the work. There are many different fields that require welders, including manufacturing and construction. As a welder, you are trained to use a number of hand-held and automated tools to complete jobs. You use these tools to cut or fuse together metal parts. Other related positions include cutting, soldering, and brazing jobs. Other fields that have a significant welding component include ironwork and sheet metal work.

• Fabrication Assistant

  Salary range: $26,500 - $33,500

  Fabrication Assistant is a typical job search query Most salaries for Fabrication Assistant jobs pay between $26,500 (25th percentile) and $33,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Fabrication Assistant job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Entry Level Manufacturing

  Salary range: $57,000 - $72,000

  Entry Level Manufacturing is a popular job search query. Most salaries for Entry Level Manufacturing jobs pay between $57,000 (25th percentile) and $72,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Entry Level Manufacturing job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Apprentice Metal Fabrication

  Salary range: $32,000 - $45,000

  Apprentice Metal Fabrication is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Apprentice Metal Fabrication jobs pay between $32,000 (25th percentile) and $45,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Apprentice Metal Fabrication job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Manufacturing

  Salary range: $42,000 - $60,000

  Manufacturing jobs involve creating new products and goods. Manufacturers use raw materials or separate components to build something entirely new. Whether it’s chemical, physical, or mechanical, as long as you are creating a product, you are working in manufacturing. The only exception is construction, which is considered separate from manufacturing. Manufacturing jobs include making prepackaged food or beverages, creating computers and electronics, and producing clothing. Bakers, printers, tailors, furniture builders, and woodworkers are all considered manufacturers. Most manufacturers work in a factory, mill, or plant, but you can also find work in labs.

• Sheet Metal Fabricator

  Salary range: $37,500 - $50,500

  A sheet metal fabricator creates detailed parts and materials out of sheet metal for use in the construction of various machines and structures. As a sheet metal fabricator, your job duties involve reading blueprints, using various pieces of equipment to cut the material to the specifications of the design, and maintaining the products you build, especially in regards to commercial air vents. You can find this position in various trades, but it is most common in the aircraft, automobile, and commercial construction industries. You can gain hands-on experience by completing a certificate program at a technical college or through on-the-job training in an apprenticeship. Additional qualifications include strong communication and mathematical skills.