Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators earn a median of $46,880 per year ($22.54/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 4.6% through 2035, with about 1,700 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 51-2051
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Fiberglass Laminator and Fabricator in four numbers
- Median pay
- $46,880a year, or $22.54/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $37KTop 10% $64K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +4.6%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+4.6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +4.6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,70016,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202516.3K
- Projected 203517K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 16.3K Projected 2035 17K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school42.5%
- High school45.8%
- Some college11%
- Bachelor's0.6%
Highest education held by fiberglass laminators and fabricators Segment Value Less than high school 42.5% High school 45.8% Some college 11% Bachelor's 0.6%
Also advertised as: Boat Builder, Boat Carpenter, Chopper Gun Operator, Fiberglass Laminator, Fiberglass Technician, Fiberglasser.
Pay
How much do Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators make?
Every fiberglass laminator and fabricator in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$46,880
Middle half earn $39,430 to $54,490
- 10th
- $36,910
- 25th
- $39,430
- 75th
- $54,490
- 90th
- $63,760
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $36,910 |
| 25th | $39,430 |
| Median | $46,880 |
| 75th | $54,490 |
| 90th | $63,760 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $46,880
- Median hourly wage
- $22.54/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $49,550
- People employed
- 16,170
Versus all US occupations
At $46,880, Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators earn 8% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $4,100 a year.
Versus production occupations
The median is typical for the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $63,760 or more while the bottom 10% earn $36,910, a gap of 1.7×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 15% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Washington posts the highest raw median ($58,410), but once local prices are taken into account Iowa leads at $57,485 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Washington | $58,410 | $54,582 | 1,100 |
| 2Massachusetts | $55,980 | $52,933 | 200 |
| 3Pennsylvania | $54,800 | $56,164 | 270 |
| 4New Jersey | $54,080 | $49,704 | 680 |
| 5Idaho | $53,040 | $55,543 | N/A |
| 6Tennessee | $52,120 | $56,732 | 590 |
| 7Maine | $50,710 | $52,251 | 320 |
| 8Iowa | $50,450 | $57,485 | 40 |
| 9Oregon | $49,850 | $48,229 | 160 |
| 10Rhode Island | $49,260 | $48,162 | 170 |
Job outlook
Is Fiberglass Laminator and Fabricator a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +4.6% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators | +4.6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators to change 4.6% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 800 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,700 openings are projected each year, 10.4% of the 16,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of assemblers and fabricators is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035.
Despite limited employment growth, about 177,500 openings for assemblers and fabricators are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of assemblers and fabricators varies by occupation (see table).
Getting in
How to become a Fiberglass Laminator and Fabricator
The education and qualifications typically needed to enter these occupations vary by industry and employer. Although a high school diploma is enough for most jobs, experience and training are needed for advanced assembly work.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as fiberglass laminators and fabricators.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)45.8%
- Less than a High School Diploma42.5%
- Some College Courses11%
- Bachelor's Degree0.6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 45.8% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 42.5% |
| Some College Courses | 11% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Fiberglass Laminator and Fabricator do?
Laminate layers of fiberglass on molds to form boat decks and hulls, bodies for golf carts, automobiles, or other products.
Assemblers and fabricators build finished products and the parts that go into them. They use handtools and machines to make vehicles, toys, electronic devices, and more.
Day-to-day tasks
- Release air bubbles and smooth seams, using rollers.
- Mix catalysts into resins, and saturate cloth and mats with mixtures, using brushes.
- 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.
- Bond wood reinforcing strips to decks and cabin structures of watercraft, using resin-saturated fiberglass.
- Select precut fiberglass mats, cloth, and wood-bracing materials as required by projects being assembled.
- 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.
- Spray chopped fiberglass, resins, and catalysts onto prepared molds or dies using pneumatic spray guns with chopper attachments.
- Trim excess materials from molds, using hand shears or trimming knives.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most assemblers and fabricators work full time. Some assemblers and fabricators work in shifts, which may require evening, weekend, and night work.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Monitoring3.1
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Active Listening3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Writing2.9
- Critical Thinking2.9
- Active Learning2.9
- Learning Strategies2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Writing | 2.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.9 |
| Active Learning | 2.9 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Coordination2.9
- Instructing2.9
- Operation and Control2.9
- Quality Control Analysis2.9
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9
- Time Management2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
| Instructing | 2.9 |
| Operation and Control | 2.9 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Fiberglass Laminator and Fabricator?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Fiberglass Laminator and Fabricator |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.7
- Conventional3.5
- Artistic2.2
- Investigative2.0
- Enterprising1.2
- Social1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Fiberglass Laminator and Fabricator
O*NET related occupations
- Production
Molder, Shaper, and Caster, Except Metal and Plastic
$46,170median a year
Most earn $36K to $62K
+5.8%High school - Production
- Construction and Extraction
Insulation Worker, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
$49,120median a year
Most earn $37K to $78K
+2.4%No formal credential - Production
- Production
- Production
Aircraft Structure, Surface, Rigging, and Systems Assembler
$65,380median a year
Most earn $47K to $108K
−5.6%High school
More production careers
Median annual pay, with fiberglass laminators and fabricators highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Fiberglass Laminator and Fabricator$46,880
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Fiberglass Laminator and Fabricator | $46,880 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within fiberglass laminator and fabricator
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Fiberglass Laminator and Fabricator appears on
Questions
Fiberglass Laminator and Fabricator: frequently asked questions
How much do Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators make?
Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators earn a median of $46,880 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 8% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $22.54/hr. The middle half earn between $39,430 and $54,490. The top 10% earn $63,760 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Fiberglass Laminator and Fabricator?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 45.8% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Fiberglass Laminator and Fabricator a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4.6% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,700 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Fiberglass Laminator and Fabricator do?
Assemblers and fabricators build finished products and the parts that go into them. A core O*NET task: release air bubbles and smooth seams, using rollers. Employers most often ask for Spreadsheet software, Word processing software.
Which states pay Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators the most?
The highest state medians for Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators are Washington ($58,410), Massachusetts ($55,980), Pennsylvania ($54,800) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Iowa moves to the top at $57,485.
What personality type suits a Fiberglass Laminator and Fabricator?
O*NET scores Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.