Production · Holland code RCA

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.

Also called: Layout Inspector, Layout Man, Layout Technician (Layout Tech), Layout Worker, Development Mechanic, Layout Fabricator, Layout Fitter, Layout Mechanic.

O*NET 51-4192.00

At a glance

US median annual pay: $63,870; Middle half earn $50,910 to $79,470. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Most common education: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED); 60% of workers surveyed by O*NET report this level.
Preparation needed: Job Zone 2 of 5; Some preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.

What the work involves

The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.

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.
Lay out and fabricate metal structural parts such as plates, bulkheads, and frames.
Install doors, hatches, brackets, and clips.
Compute layout dimensions, and determine and mark reference points on metal stock or workpieces for further processing, such as welding and assembly.

Skills and knowledge it leans on

Skills

Mathematics3.1 / 5
Reading Comprehension3.0 / 5
Critical Thinking3.0 / 5
Monitoring3.0 / 5
Active Listening2.9 / 5
Speaking2.9 / 5

Knowledge areas

Mathematics4.1 / 5
Design3.8 / 5
Mechanical3.5 / 5
Production and Processing3.4 / 5
Engineering and Technology3.3 / 5
English Language3.3 / 5

Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.

Who tends to enjoy it

How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.

Realistic91
Investigative31
Artistic31
Social0
Enterprising0
Conventional48

The same work abroad

Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.

Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)

Sheet metal workers (5211)10,400 employed
Vehicle body builders and repairers (5232)22,700 employed
Rail and rolling stock builders and repairers (5236)16,800 employed

Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.

Pay across Europe, for the whole group

Median annual earnings of all employees in “Craft and related trades workers”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.

Median annual earnings, Craft and related trades workers, by country
Country	Median pay
Belgium	€40,086
Germany	€38,638
Austria	€38,194
Sweden	€37,856
Netherlands	€37,077
Ireland	€36,098
France	€27,145
Italy	€26,488
Spain	€22,817
Portugal	€11,142
Poland	€10,099

Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.

Exposure to AI

This occupation sits in the lower third of the 774 occupations scored, with an exposure score of -0.72. The scores are standardized across those occupations, so 0 is the average and a score of 1 is about one standard deviation above it.

Our note on reading it: the dataset links AI applications to the abilities that occupations require, so the score reflects overlap between the two. It is a comparison between occupations, not a forecast about jobs. It does not say whether exposure means tasks are replaced or workers get more done with the tools, and it says little about one employer or one role.

Source: Felten, E., Raj, M., & Seamans, R. (2021). Occupational, industry, and geographic exposure to artificial intelligence: A novel dataset and its potential uses. Strategic Management Journal, 42(12), 2195-2217. Matched to this page by 6-digit SOC code (51-4192).

Is it a fit for you?

Interest is one input, alongside ability, pay and what is hiring near you. The career interests test takes about thirteen minutes and ranks occupations by how closely their profile matches yours.

Take the career interests test