Skilled Trades
Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
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.
Median salary
$61,870
Typical range
$40k – $93k
Job outlook
See national outlook
AI exposure
Plan a path to Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
Education
Typical entry: No degree required
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
Entry / Junior
$40,430
~2 yrs to advance
Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
Established
$61,870
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
Senior
$77,550
Key skills
A typical day
- •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.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Skilled Trades
Explore all- Purdue University50% admit · $78,000 grad pay
- Ohio State University53% admit · $68,000 grad pay
- Pennsylvania State University55% admit · $70,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.