Laminate layers of fiberglass on molds to form boat decks and hulls, bodies for golf carts, automobiles, or other products.
Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
SOC: 51-2051 O*NET: 51-2051.00
Median Salary
$45,760
per year
Job Growth
📈 4.2%
Faster (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
2.1
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2
Laminate layers of fiberglass on molds to form boat decks and hulls, bodies for golf carts, automobiles, or other products.
What does a Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$35,950
10th percentile
Early Career
$39,230
25th percentile
Median
$45,760
50th percentile
Experienced
$51,530
75th percentile
Top Earners
$61,370
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$35,950
25th
$39,230
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$45,760
Mean: $47,320
75th
$51,530
90th
$61,370
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $25,420 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $39,230 and $51,530
- •Salary spread is 26.9% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 18,520 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:18,600
Top Industries
Manufacturing90.4%
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing60.9%
Ship and Boat Building46.4%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+4.2%
Annual Openings:2,100
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)18,600
Current
2034 (Projected)19,400
+4.2%
+800
Employment Change
+4.2%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: As fast as average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 39 locations
Florida
3,730 jobs$45,6203.16x
Indiana
1,850 jobs$45,2404.83x
Texas
1,060 jobs$41,2400.64x
New Jersey
940 jobs$53,9101.84x
Washington
930 jobs$53,6902.20x
South Carolina
870 jobs$43,4303.18x
California
780 jobs$53,3500.36x
Tennessee
780 jobs$49,2601.98x
North Carolina
640 jobs$39,8701.09x
Arkansas
520 jobs$39,5603.37x
Pennsylvania
500 jobs$47,8400.70x
Ohio
460 jobs$45,2800.69x
Michigan
400 jobs$44,1900.76x
Louisiana
390 jobs$49,0901.71x
Georgia
390 jobs$35,3000.67x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Average growth expected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Monitoring
100%
#2
Operations Monitoring
88%
#3
Complex Problem Solving
76%
#4
Speaking
64%
#5
Reading Comprehension
52%
#6
Active Listening
40%
Skills Overview
Monitoring
advanced5.0
100%
Operations Monitoring
intermediate4.4
88%
Complex Problem Solving
advanced3.8
76%
Speaking
intermediate3.2
64%
Reading Comprehension
basic2.6
52%
Active Listening
basic2.0
40%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Monitoring
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Operations Monitoring
intermediateImportance88%
skills
4.4/5.0
Complex Problem Solving
advancedImportance76%
abilities
3.8/5.0
Speaking
intermediateImportance64%
skills
3.2/5.0
Reading Comprehension
basicImportance52%
abilities
2.6/5.0
Active Listening
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders75%
5 shared skills
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders67%
5 shared skills
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic67%
5 shared skills
Conveyor Operators and Tenders63%
5 shared skills
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers63%
5 shared skills
Highway Maintenance Workers63%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Monitoring
Learn on the Job:
- →Speaking
- →Reading Comprehension
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Operations Monitoring
- ✓Monitoring
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Complex Problem Solving
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
Technology Intensity
Medium
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires intermediate digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Office productivity softwareIndustry-specific applicationsBasic data entry and managementDigital communication tools
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
HIGH
👥
Team Orientation
MOSTLY TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
OCCASIONAL
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet high physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy mostly team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
16
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (15)Documentation & Record-Keeping (1)
1
Release air bubbles and smooth seams, using rollers.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Spray chopped fiberglass, resins, and catalysts onto prepared molds or dies using pneumatic spray guns with chopper attachments.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping97% perform98%
3
Select precut fiberglass mats, cloth, and wood-bracing materials as required by projects being assembled.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities94% perform96%
4
Pat or press layers of saturated mat or cloth into place on molds, using brushes or hands, and smooth out wrinkles and air bubbles with hands or squeegees.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities91% perform94%
5
Mix catalysts into resins, and saturate cloth and mats with mixtures, using brushes.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Bond wood reinforcing strips to decks and cabin structures of watercraft, using resin-saturated fiberglass.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities85% perform90%
7
Check completed products for conformance to specifications and for defects by measuring with rulers or micrometers, by checking them visually, or by tapping them to detect bubbles or dead spots.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities82% perform88%
8
Trim excess materials from molds, using hand shears or trimming knives.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Repair or modify damaged or defective glass-fiber parts, checking thicknesses, densities, and contours to ensure a close fit after repair.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
10
Cure materials by letting them set at room temperature, placing them under heat lamps, or baking them in ovens.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •44% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators professionals typically have a RCA Holland code and highly value support
RRealistic
CConventional
AArtistic
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
Attention to Detail
CriticalAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.56
Dependability
Very ImportantDependability
Importance Level4.41
Cooperation
Very ImportantCooperation
Importance Level4.13
Self-Control
Very ImportantSelf-Control
Importance Level4.07
Initiative
ImportantInitiative
Importance Level3.94
Independence
ImportantIndependence
Importance Level3.91
Complete Work Styles Profile
Attention to Detail
4.6
Dependability
4.4
Cooperation
4.1
Self-Control
4.1
Initiative
3.9
Independence
3.9
Stress Tolerance
3.8
Achievement/Effort
3.8
Integrity
3.8
Persistence
3.8
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 2
Some Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or equivalent
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Training:
Training of a few months to a year
💼 Experience Requirement
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
- • Vocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)
- • Industry certifications helpful
2
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experienceVocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)Industry certifications helpful
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Explore educational programs that can help you become a Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators.
Browse Training Programs →