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Salary comparison

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss out-earn Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitterss by $23K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitterss land at $51,330 and First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss at $74,450. The education gap is real: structural metal fabricators and fitter programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while first-line supervisors of production and operating worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitterss is Maine ($64,760); for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss it's Wyoming ($90,390).

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Median salary
$51,330
$74,450
Hourly rate
$24.68/hr
$35.79/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$37,960
$47,130
Senior level (90th %)
$72,280
$108,750
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
52,360
673,430
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Production & Manufacturing
Production & Manufacturing
Top-paying state
Maine
Wyoming

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters median pay.

State
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Maine
$64,760
$78,970
Alaska
$63,420
$77,960
Massachusetts
$62,040
$79,920
Washington
$61,850
$79,310
Connecticut
$58,760
$83,150
Minnesota
$56,210
$78,550
New Jersey
$55,650
$81,110
New York
$55,080
$78,580
New Hampshire
$53,920
$79,310
Wyoming
$51,740
$90,390
Colorado
$51,120
$78,890
Maryland
$50,110
$78,520
Louisiana
$49,120
$77,520
Delaware
$46,940
$79,100
South Carolina
$46,910
$77,500

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitterss or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss earn more nationally. The median is $51,330 for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitterss versus $74,450 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss, a difference of $23K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitterss get paid the most?

Maine is the top-paying state for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitterss at $64,760/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Maine, Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitterss earn $64,760 vs. $78,970 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters salary breakdownView →Full First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitterss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a structural metal fabricators and fittersGuide →How to become a first-line supervisors of production and operating workersGuide →