Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Fiberglass laminators and fabricators work in a specialized production trade with a national median salary of $45,760 and total employment of about 19,000 workers. The occupation combines hands-on physical work with attention to detail and mechanical understanding. It typically requires a high school diploma or equivalent, making it accessible to people who want to enter the field without a lengthy formal education. Projected employment growth of 4.2% and around 2,000 annual openings suggest a consistent need for new workers over time. Strong skills in physical strength and stamina, fine motor abilities, and being detail oriented can support success in this role, while mechanical, science, and mathematics skills add to advancement potential. Creativity and innovation, leadership, and project management can further help experienced workers move into more complex tasks or responsibilities. Overall, this career can appeal to people who like practical, production-focused work and want a skills-based path into the trades.
Fiberglass laminators and fabricators earn a national median annual salary of $45,760, with pay levels varying by state and metro area. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington shows the highest listed median salary at $58,410, followed by Massachusetts at $55,980. New York and California are closer to the national figure, with median salaries of $47,300 and $47,750, while Colorado is somewhat lower at $42,840. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ reports a median of $60,130, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is close behind at $59,400. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA also offers higher pay at $59,110. These figures indicate meaningful regional variation, with certain metros and states offering higher earning potential. Developing strong mechanical, detail-oriented, and leadership skills may help workers pursue positions in higher-paying locations or more advanced roles within the occupation.
This occupation has national employment of 19,000 fiberglass laminators and fabricators, with projected employment growth of 4.2%. The projection indicates that total employment is expected to increase over time rather than remain flat or decline. In addition, there are an estimated 2,000 annual openings. These openings can reflect both new job growth and positions created when existing workers move to other roles or leave the workforce. Together, the growth rate and annual openings suggest an ongoing flow of opportunities for new entrants and experienced workers. States such as California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington all show the same 4.2% growth rate as the national figure in the opportunity data, indicating consistent projected expansion across these highlighted regions. For people considering training and entry into this trade, the combination of projected growth and regular openings points to a career path with continuing hiring needs across multiple parts of the country.
Career prospects for fiberglass laminators and fabricators vary by region, with several states and metros standing out in the opportunity scores. Among states, California has a relatively large employment count of 850 and a median salary of $47,750, with an opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts and New York have smaller employment levels (200 and 120) but higher median pay, especially Massachusetts at $55,980, both with opportunity scores above 65. Washington combines the highest listed state-level median salary of $58,410 with larger employment of 1,100, while Colorado shows lower pay and employment but still a solid opportunity score. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA rank highest by opportunity score, both above 77 and with median salaries near or above $59,400. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA offers relatively high pay and the largest metro employment count listed at 770, highlighting it as a significant regional center for this occupation.
The typical education requirement for fiberglass laminators and fabricators is a high school diploma or equivalent, which keeps formal entry barriers relatively low. From there, success in the field depends heavily on developing the right skill mix. Physical strength and stamina and fine motor abilities are central to the hands-on nature of the work. Being detail oriented, along with solid writing and reading skills, supports accuracy and documentation. Mechanical, science, and mathematics skills contribute to understanding processes, measurements, and equipment used in this occupation. Creativity and innovation can help workers solve problems and improve how tasks are performed, while leadership and project management skills become increasingly important for those who want to coordinate work or oversee others. Together, these skills show that the role combines physical capability with technical and organizational strengths, offering a path for workers to grow their responsibility and value over time without needing advanced degrees.
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