What Do Fiberglass Laminators And Fabricators Do

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Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Fiberglass Laminators And Fabricators

Fiberglass Laminators And Fabricators laminate layers of fiberglass on molds to form boat decks and hulls, bodies for golf carts, automobiles, or other products.

Salary
$38280
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality


What they do

Fiberglass Laminators And Fabricators laminate layers of fiberglass on molds to form boat decks and hulls, bodies for golf carts, automobiles, or other products.

  • Release air bubbles and smooth seams, using rollers.
  • Spray chopped fiberglass, resins, and catalysts onto prepared molds or dies using pneumatic spray guns with chopper attachments.
  • Select precut fiberglass mats, cloth, and wood-bracing materials as required by projects being assembled.
  • Pat or press layers of saturated mat or cloth into place on molds, using brushes or hands, and smooth out wrinkles and air bubbles with hands or squeegees.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators apply lacquers and waxes to mold surfaces to facilitate assembly and removal of laminated parts. They trim excess materials from molds, using hand shears or trimming knives.

  • Repair or modify damaged or defective glass-fiber parts, checking thicknesses, densities, and contours to ensure a close fit after repair.
  • Pat or press layers of saturated mat or cloth into place on molds, using brushes or hands, and smooth out wrinkles and air bubbles with hands or squeegees.
  • Cure materials by letting them sit at room temperature, placing them under heat lamps, or baking them in ovens.
  • Select precut fiberglass mats, cloth, and wood-bracing materials as required by projects being assembled.
  • Release air bubbles and smooth seams, using rollers.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators also trim cured materials by sawing them with diamond-impregnated cutoff wheels. They may also repair or modify damaged or defective glass-fiber parts, checking thicknesses, densities, and contours to ensure a close fit after repair.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators inspect, clean, and assemble molds before beginning work. They might also cure materials by letting them sit at room temperature, placing them under heat lamps, or baking them in ovens.

In addition, they mask off mold areas not to be laminated, using cellophane, wax paper, masking tape, or special sprays containing mold-release substances.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them check completed products for conformance to specifications and for defects by measuring with rulers or micrometers, by checking them visually, or by tapping them to detect bubbles or dead spots.

To some Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators, it is also their responsibility to spray chopped fiberglass, resins, and catalysts onto prepared molds or dies using pneumatic spray guns with chopper attachments.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Low

Is this job meaningful

Low

61% said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they found their job meaningful.


Pros

Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.

It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required to get started.

Normal working hours (40 hours per week).

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.

One of the lowest paying jobs.

Demand for this career is declining.

How much do they make

Average salary

$38280 per year

Average hourly wage

$18 per hour

Entry-level Fiberglass Laminators And Fabricators with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $26,090 to $30,530 per year or $13 to $15 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $52,010 $25
Senior (Top 25%) $44,890 $22
Median $36,950 $18
Junior (Bottom 25%) $30,530 $15
No experience (Bottom 10%) $26,090 $13

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Fiberglass Laminators And Fabricators based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing $53260 $25.61
Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors $45920 $22.08
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing $43910 $21.11
Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance $41640 $20.02
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing $40970 $19.70
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing $39980 $19.22
Other Motor Vehicle Dealers $38840 $18.68
Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing $38700 $18.61
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing $38040 $18.29
Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing $37790 $18.17

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Fiberglass Laminators And Fabricators work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Fiberglass Laminators And Fabricators including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Ship and Boat Building 7560 $37620 $18.08
Plastics Product Manufacturing 3470 $35090 $16.87
Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing 1760 $38700 $18.61
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 1250 $53260 $25.61
Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing 650 $34730 $16.70
Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing 610 $ $*
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing 600 $39980 $19.22
Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance 540 $41640 $20.02
Machinery Manufacturing 280 $31960 $15.37
Employment Services 170 $32430 $15.59

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
9%

40 hours
67%

More than 40 hours
24%

Working schedule

84%

16%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
8%

Every day
2%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
0%

Every day
11%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
13%

Every day
71%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
54%

Once a year
23%

Once a month
2%

Once a week
20%

Every day
0%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
13%

Slightly competitive
21%

Moderately competitive
30%

Highly competitive
25%

Extremely competitive
10%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
60%

Once a year or more
14%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
10%

Every day
16%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
16%

Once a year or more
14%

Once a month or more
1%

Once a week or more
9%

Every day
59%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
68%

Once a year or more
13%

Once a month or more
7%

Once a week or more
11%

Every day
2%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
68%

Once a year or more
16%

Once a month or more
13%

Once a week or more
2%

Every day
1%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Easy
You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category usually don’t require a degree. However, you will need a few months of on-the-job training with experienced employees. Similar careers include Customer Service Representatives, Security Guards, and Bank Tellers.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
30%

High School Diploma or equivalent
48%

Post-Secondary Certificate
7%

Some College Courses
11%

Associate’s Degree or similar
3%

Bachelor’s Degree
0%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

No majors found

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
36%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
9%

3 to 6 months
15%

6 months to 1 year
18%

1 to 2 years
1%

2 to 4 years
11%

4 to 6 years
10%

6 to 8 years
0%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
1%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
2%

1 month
12%

1 to 3 months
44%

3 to 6 months
18%

6 months to 1 year
11%

1 to 2 years
0%

2 to 4 years
11%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Builder

People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

The Builder
100%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
52%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
29%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
14%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
19%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
76%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
38%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
38%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
33%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
62%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
67%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
33%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


Don’t know which career to pursue?

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