# 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.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 51-4192.00
- **Summary:** 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.

## Aliases

- Layout Inspector
- Layout Man
- Layout Technician (Layout Tech)
- Layout Worker
- Development Mechanic
- Layout Fabricator
- Layout Fitter
- Layout Mechanic
- Aircraft Lay Out Worker
- Bellmaker
- Dimensional Inspector
- Duplicator

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mark curves, lines, holes, dimensions, and welding symbols onto workpieces, using scribes, soapstones, punches, and hand drills. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.ao |
| Plan locations and sequences of cutting, drilling, bending, rolling, punching, and welding operations, using compasses, protractors, dividers, and rules. | Core | 4.A.2.b.6.b |
| Fit and align fabricated parts to be welded or assembled. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.ao |
| Locate center lines and verify template positions, using measuring instruments such as gauge blocks, height gauges, and dial indicators. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.ao |
| Plan and develop layouts from blueprints and templates, applying knowledge of trigonometry, design, effects of heat, and properties of metals. | Core | 4.A.2.b.2.k |
| Lay out and fabricate metal structural parts such as plates, bulkheads, and frames. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.aj |
| Install doors, hatches, brackets, and clips. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.2.ab |
| Compute layout dimensions, and determine and mark reference points on metal stock or workpieces for further processing, such as welding and assembly. | Core | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Brace parts in position within hulls or ships for riveting or welding. | Supplemental | 4.A.3.a.2.a |
| Lift and position workpieces in relation to surface plates, manually or with hoists, and using parallel blocks and angle plates. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.h |
| Inspect machined parts to verify conformance to specifications. | Supplemental | 4.A.1.b.2.f |
| Add dimensional details to blueprints or drawings made by other workers. | Supplemental | 4.A.2.b.2.o |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly. | 4.A.3.a.2.ao |
| Design templates or patterns. | 4.A.2.b.2.k |
| Assemble metal or plastic parts or products. | 4.A.3.a.2.aj |
| Lay out parts to prepare for assembly. | 4.A.3.a.2.ao |
| Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references. | 4.A.3.a.2.ao |
| Calculate dimensions of workpieces, products, or equipment. | 4.A.1.b.3.a |
| Lift materials or workpieces using cranes or other lifting equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.h |
| Plan production or operational procedures or sequences. | 4.A.2.b.6.b |
| Inspect metal, plastic, or composite products. | 4.A.1.b.2.f |
| Construct patterns, templates, or other work aids. | 4.A.3.a.2.aj |
| Assemble metal structures. | 4.A.3.a.2.a |
| Create diagrams or blueprints for workpieces or products. | 4.A.2.b.2.o |
| Attach decorative or functional accessories to products. | 4.A.3.a.2.ab |
| Apply protective or decorative finishes to workpieces or products. | 4.A.3.a.2.ag |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mathematics | knowledge | 4.07 |
| Near Vision | ability | 3.88 |
| Design | knowledge | 3.78 |
| Visualization | ability | 3.75 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | ability | 3.75 |
| Mechanical | knowledge | 3.51 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 3.5 |
| Manual Dexterity | ability | 3.5 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3.38 |
| Production and Processing | knowledge | 3.36 |
| Engineering and Technology | knowledge | 3.31 |
| English Language | knowledge | 3.31 |
| Building and Construction | knowledge | 3.29 |
| Administration and Management | knowledge | 3.28 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3.25 |
| Finger Dexterity | ability | 3.25 |
| Mathematics | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 3.12 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | ability | 3.12 |
| Flexibility of Closure | ability | 3.12 |
| Perceptual Speed | ability | 3.12 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3.12 |
| Computers and Electronics | knowledge | 3.08 |
| Education and Training | knowledge | 3.03 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 3 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 3 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3 |
| Complex Problem Solving | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Operations Monitoring | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Quality Control Analysis | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 3 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 3 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 3 |
| Category Flexibility | ability | 3 |
| Number Facility | ability | 3 |
| Control Precision | ability | 3 |
| Multilimb Coordination | ability | 3 |
| Trunk Strength | ability | 3 |
| Far Vision | ability | 3 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Presentation Software | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Autodesk AutoCAD | Computer aided design CAD software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | no |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | no |
| Hexagon Metrology PC-DMIS | Procedure management software | no | no |
| Inventory tracking software | Inventory management software | no | no |
| Optical Gaging Products Measure-X | Procedure management software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 5 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.69 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 4.65 |
| Time Pressure | 4.64 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 4.62 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.59 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 4.45 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 4.29 |
| Spend Time Standing | 4.28 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 4.24 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment | 4.03 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 3.92 |
| Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings | 3.85 |
| Contact With Others | 3.77 |
| Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions | 3.7 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 3.68 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 3.56 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 3.55 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 3.48 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 3.47 |
| Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body | 3.44 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 3.39 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 3.33 |
| Physical Proximity | 3.26 |
| Consequence of Error | 3.25 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 3.19 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 3.14 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 3.06 |
| Level of Competition | 2.98 |
| Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions | 2.92 |
| Conflict Situations | 2.91 |
| Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection | 2.87 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 2.87 |
| Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling | 2.79 |
| Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment | 2.6 |
| Exposed to High Places | 2.56 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 2.5 |
| Outdoors, Under Cover | 2.43 |
| E-Mail | 2.32 |
| Written Letters and Memos | 2.3 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 2
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- **Experience:** Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- **Svp Range:** (Below 6.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| High School Diploma | 60.01 |
| Some College Courses | 14.54 |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 11.59 |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 8.99 |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 4.88 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 6.48 |
| Engineering | specific_interest_area | 4.79 |
| Physical/Manual Labor | specific_interest_area | 4.33 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 3.89 |
| Mechanics/Electronics | specific_interest_area | 3.25 |
| Artistic | career_interest_type | 2.88 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 2.83 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 2.67 |
| Mathematics/Statistics | specific_interest_area | 2.64 |
| Dependability | work_style | 2.16 |
| Construction/Woodwork | specific_interest_area | 2.12 |
| Cautiousness | work_style | 1.96 |
| Physical Science | specific_interest_area | 1.63 |
| Transportation/Machine Operation | specific_interest_area | 1.43 |
| Information Technology | specific_interest_area | 1.38 |
| Visual Arts | specific_interest_area | 1.35 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 51-2041.00 | role-51-2041-00 | Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | Primary-Short |
| 51-2011.00 | role-51-2011-00 | Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers | Primary-Short |
| 51-4062.00 | role-51-4062-00 | Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic | Primary-Short |
| 51-4061.00 | role-51-4061-00 | Model Makers, Metal and Plastic | Primary-Short |
| 47-2211.00 | role-47-2211-00 | Sheet Metal Workers | Primary-Short |
| 51-4111.00 | role-51-4111-00 | Tool and Die Makers | Primary-Long |
| 51-7032.00 | role-51-7032-00 | Patternmakers, Wood | Primary-Long |
| 51-2031.00 | role-51-2031-00 | Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | Primary-Long |
| 47-2221.00 | role-47-2221-00 | Structural Iron and Steel Workers | Primary-Long |
| 51-9195.00 | role-51-9195-00 | Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | Primary-Long |
| 51-7031.00 | role-51-7031-00 | Model Makers, Wood | Supplemental |
| 47-2031.00 | role-47-2031-00 | Carpenters | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Advanced Manufacturing | advanced-manufacturing |

## Education Level

- **Category:** High school diploma or equivalent

## Study Programs

| Title | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Precision Production | precision-production |

## Market

- **Median Wage:** 61870
- **Mean Wage:** 65770
- **Pct10Wage:** 40430
- **Pct25Wage:** 51810
- **Pct75Wage:** 76980
- **Pct90Wage:** 93230
- **Employment:** 5610
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 3870 | 61870 | 8.33 |
| 23 | 23 | Construction | Sector | 420 | 93600 | 1.42 |
| 238220 | 238220 | Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | National industry |  | 93640 |  |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector |  | 63700 |  |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry |  | 61710 |  |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 3870 | 8.33 |
| 23 | 23 | Construction | Sector | 420 | 1.42 |
- **Count:** 5

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.84 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | -0.7221353 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | -0.0160197 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | -0.9359565 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 25
- **Percentile:** 22
- **Band:** Low
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 28 | felten_aioe |
| 29 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 19 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | -0.7221353 | 28 | Low | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.2608695652173913 | 29 | Low | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.07287194288582152 | 19 | Low | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.84
- **Percentile:** 69
- **Band:** High
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0
- **Beta:** 0.13043478260869565
- **Gamma:** 0.2608695652173913

### Usage Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Importance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Compute layout dimensions, and determine and mark reference points on metal stock or workpieces for further processing, such as welding and assembly. | 0.0019514479743970028 | 4.18 |
- **Usage Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** -5.4
- **Growth Percentile:** 12
- **Direction:** Declining
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 0.5
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 7
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 5.7
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 5.4

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 14
- **Skills:** 35
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 8
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** d34d17a6e5e48059