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.
U.S. Workers
5,610
Median Salary
$61,870
10-Year Growth
-5.4%
Annual Openings
500
Typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
14 of 14 tasks have some AI capability
Exposure Trend
This score reflects estimated AI technical capability for tasks in this occupation. It does not predict employment changes, and it does not account for company-specific constraints, regulation, or adoption barriers.
Mark curves, lines, holes, dimensions, and welding symbols onto workpieces, using scribes, soapstones, punches, and hand drills.
AI: Fully automatable - Marking curves, lines and holes can be automated using CNC/robotic scribing, laser/inkjet marking and projection systems driven by CAD/CAM data and AI alignment tools.
Plan locations and sequences of cutting, drilling, bending, rolling, punching, and welding operations, using compasses, protractors, dividers, and rules.
AI: Fully automatable - Planning sequences for cutting, drilling, bending and welding is largely solvable by CAM/nesting software and AI optimization tools that can generate operation sequences and tooling setups.
Locate center lines and verify template positions, using measuring instruments such as gauge blocks, height gauges, and dial indicators.
AI: Fully automatable - Centerline location and template verification are routine metrology tasks that CMMs and machine vision systems can perform automatically under AI/automation control.
Plan and develop layouts from blueprints and templates, applying knowledge of trigonometry, design, effects of heat, and properties of metals.
AI: Fully automatable - Developing layouts from blueprints using trigonometry, material properties and heat‑effect knowledge can be largely automated with CAD, simulation and AI‑assisted design tools.
Inspect machined parts to verify conformance to specifications.
AI: Fully automatable - Automated vision systems and CMMs controlled by software/AI can fully inspect machined parts against specifications in most production and QC settings.
Add dimensional details to blueprints or drawings made by other workers.
AI: Fully automatable - Adding dimensional details to drawings is a rule-based CAD/annotation task that AI and automated drafting tools can perform end-to-end.
Design and prepare templates of wood, paper, or metal.
AI: Fully automatable - AI-driven CAD generation combined with CNC/laser/plasma cutting can fully design and produce wood, paper, or metal templates in typical manufacturing contexts.
Fit and align fabricated parts to be welded or assembled.
AI: Partial - Robotic fixturing and vision systems can perform many alignment tasks, but fitting and final alignment of irregular fabricated parts often still requires human dexterity and judgment.
Lay out and fabricate metal structural parts such as plates, bulkheads, and frames.
AI: Partial - Fabricating large structural parts can be partially automated with CNC cutting, bending and robotic welding, but full end‑to‑end layout and complex assembly of plates, bulkheads and frames often still needs human oversight and manual work.
Install doors, hatches, brackets, and clips.
AI: Partial - Industrial robots can install standardized doors/brackets in assembly lines, but field installations and irregular assemblies still require human dexterity and on-the-spot problem solving.
Compute layout dimensions, and determine and mark reference points on metal stock or workpieces for further processing, such as welding and assembly.
AI: Partial - Computing layout dimensions can be fully automated by CAD/CAM/AI, but physically determining and marking reference points on varied metal workpieces still often requires human fixturing, judgment, or bespoke tooling in many shops.
Brace parts in position within hulls or ships for riveting or welding.
AI: Partial - Bracing parts inside complex hulls requires adaptive, often improvised fixturing and spatial judgment that current automation handles only partially in constrained environments.
Lift and position workpieces in relation to surface plates, manually or with hoists, and using parallel blocks and angle plates.
AI: Partial - Robotic lifting and positioning exist for repetitive, controlled setups, but the wide variety of part shapes, ad-hoc hoisting, and in-situ adjustments in many shops make full automation limited as of 2025.
Apply pigment to layout surfaces, using paint brushes.
AI: Partial - Robotic painting exists for repeatable spray tasks, but brush application for layout surfaces—which can require variable pressure, texture, and judgment—remains only partly automatable.