Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
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.
Table of contents
What they do
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.
- 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.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Layout Workers, Metal, and Plastic fit and align fabricated parts to be welded or assembled. They brace parts in position within hulls or ships for riveting or welding.
A typical day for a Layout Worker, Metal and Plastic will also include:
- Lift and position workpieces in relation to surface plates, manually or with hoists, and using parallel blocks and angle plates.
- Mark curves, lines, holes, dimensions, and welding symbols onto workpieces, using scribes, soapstones, punches, and hand drills.
- Plan and develop layouts from blueprints and templates, applying knowledge of trigonometry, design, effects of heat, and properties of metals.
- Layout and fabricate metal structural parts such as plates, bulkheads, and frames.
- Locate center lines and verify template positions, using measuring instruments such as gauge blocks, height gauges, and dial indicators.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic also design and prepare templates of wood, paper, or metal. They may also inspect machined parts to verify conformance to specifications.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic install doors, hatches, brackets, and clips. They might also add dimensional details to blueprints or drawings made by other workers.
In addition, they apply pigment to layout surfaces, using paintbrushes.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them locate center lines and verify template positions, using measuring instruments such as gauge blocks, height gauges, and dial indicators.
To some Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic, it is also their responsibility to compute layout dimensions and determine and mark reference points on metal stock or workpieces for further processing, such as welding and assembly.
Freedom to make decisions
How much decision making freedom does this job offer?
Structured vs unstructured work
To what extent is this job structured for you versus allowing you to determine your own tasks, priorities, and goals?
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What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
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.
This career is perfect for people who love to work outdoors.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
Salary is below average.
Demand for this career is declining.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $30,580 to $40,570 per year or $15 to $20 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $67,830 | $33 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $61,260 | $29 |
| Median | $52,300 | $25 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $40,570 | $20 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $30,580 | $15 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Building Equipment Contractors | $68400 | $32.89 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $60100 | $28.90 |
| Federal Executive Branch | $57350 | $27.57 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $56720 | $27.27 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | $56710 | $27.26 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | $56290 | $27.06 |
| Ship and Boat Building | $55660 | $26.76 |
| Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | $52110 | $25.05 |
| Foundries | $51680 | $24.84 |
| Employment Services | $46320 | $22.27 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ship and Boat Building | 2400 | $55660 | $26.76 |
| Federal Executive Branch | 1090 | $57350 | $27.57 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 920 | $41470 | $19.94 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 600 | $60100 | $28.90 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | 340 | $43610 | $20.96 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 300 | $56720 | $27.27 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 290 | $32290 | $15.52 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | 210 | $44610 | $21.45 |
| Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 180 | $35020 | $16.84 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | 110 | $56290 | $27.06 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
Work with group or team
How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
Deal with external customers
How important is it to work with customers in this job?
Manage or lead others
How important is it to coordinate or lead others in completing work activities in this job?
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Frequency of conflict situations
How often are there conflict situations in this job?
Dealing with angry people
How often do you have to deal with angry, unpleasant, or discourteous individuals in this job?
Dealing with physically aggressive people
How often do you have to deal with physically aggressive people in this job?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
Repetition in this job
How important is repeating the same type of task over and over in this job?
Impact of decisions on co-workers or company results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the reputation or financial resources of your employer?
Frequency of decision making
How frequently do you have to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the reputation of the company?
Responsibility for others’ health and safety
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
Responsibility for outcomes and results
How much responsibility is there for the work outcomes and results of other workers?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
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 working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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