Fabricator Jobs in Tucson, AZ

Fabricators in Tucson cut, fit and weld steel and aluminum for irrigation products, aircraft structures and the copper mine south of town near Green Valley. Pay runs from about $18 an hour for apprentices to the high $30s at the mine. Current openings are below, followed by who hires and how to train.

Fabricator Work in Tucson

Tucson fabrication splits three ways. Rain Bird hires welder-fabricators in Tucson to fit, thread and weld carbon and stainless pipe from engineering blueprints. Freeport-McMoRan's Sierrita operation, about 20 miles south of Tucson off I-19 near Green Valley, keeps a fab shop of boilermaker welders repairing tanks, vessels and plant structures in a 24/7 operation. And aviation work runs through Ascent Aviation Services, which hires entry sheet metal and structures technicians at its site on South Park Avenue by Tucson International Airport and at Pinal Airpark near Marana.

Small shops such as Gil's Welding and Fabrication hire experienced fabricators too. Training is centered downtown: Pima Community College's welding programs run out of the Advanced Manufacturing Building at its Downtown Campus, and Pima JTED teaches welding to high school students at JTED @ The Bridges and JTED @ PCC Downtown.

Top Tucson Employers for Fabricators

These Tucson-area employers hire fabricators and welder-fabricators:

• Rain Bird - the irrigation manufacturer hires Welder/Fabricator I, II and senior welder-fabricators in Tucson for MIG and TIG work on carbon and stainless pipe.
• Freeport-McMoRan - the Sierrita copper operation near Green Valley hires boilermaker welders for its fab shop to repair boilers, tanks and pressure vessels.
• Ascent Aviation Services - the aircraft maintenance company hires entry sheet metal and structures technicians in Tucson and Marana and runs a paid Structures Apprentice Program.
• Gil's Welding and Fabrication - a Tucson welding shop that hires experienced fabricators who read blueprints and weld.

Fabricator Salaries in Tucson

• Entry level (apprentice or helper): roughly $18 to $22 an hour.
• Experienced (independent shop fabricator): roughly $22 to $28 an hour.
• Senior (mine boilermaker welder or lead): roughly $28 to $37 an hour.

These are estimates that vary by employer and experience. Ascent's Structures Apprentice Program starts at $18.50 an hour, Gil's Welding and Fabrication has advertised $21 to $25 for experienced fabricators, and Freeport-McMoRan listed an estimated $27 to $37 base for its Sierrita boilermaker welders. Weld certifications, pipe and TIG skills and mine work move pay up.

How to Become a Fabricator in Tucson

Arizona has no state license for shop welders or fabricators; employers give their own weld tests, and Rain Bird lists AWS certification as a plus. A business that takes on fabrication or welding jobs worth more than $1,000 needs a license from the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. Pima Community College's Downtown Campus offers a one-semester Basic Welding certificate, a one-year Welding, Fabrication certificate and a two-year Welding AAS, and you meet with an advisor there before registering. Ascent's apprentice program runs 12 months, including a 6-week class.

What the Job Involves

You work from blueprints and cut lists: measure and lay out material, cut it with a plasma torch, saw or shear, grind and fit the pieces, clamp them, then weld in flat, vertical or overhead positions. After welding you inspect for flaws and check dimensions against the print. Shop days are hot, loud and physical, and safety gear is standard.

Skills Employers Look For

• Blueprint reading and layout
• MIG and TIG welding, plus stick and flux core for structural work
• Plasma cutting and grinding
• Fit-up, clamping and alignment
• Weld and dimensional inspection
• Safe use of hand, power and pneumatic tools

Career Path and Advancement

Tucson fabricators move from helper or apprentice to Welder/Fabricator I and II and then senior or lead, the ladder Rain Bird posts. Experienced welders often move to the mine for higher pay, into aircraft structures at Ascent, or into supervision.

Related Careers in Tucson

These Tucson guides cover the trades closest to fabrication:

• Welder
• Sheet Metal Worker
• CNC Machinist
• Composites Technician

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a welding license in Arizona to work as a fabricator?

No. Arizona does not license shop welders or fabricators. Employers give their own weld tests, and some, like Rain Bird, prefer AWS certification. A business contracting jobs over $1,000 needs an Arizona Registrar of Contractors license.

How long are Pima Community College's welding programs?

The Basic Welding certificate takes one semester full time, the Welding, Fabrication certificate one year and the Welding AAS two years. All three are in person at the Downtown Campus.

Does mine fabrication pay more than shop work in Tucson?

Usually. Freeport-McMoRan listed an estimated $27 to $37 an hour for Sierrita boilermaker welders, above the $21 to $25 a Tucson welding shop advertised. Mine jobs run in a 24/7 operation with non-standard shifts and a drive toward Green Valley.

Can you become a fabricator in Tucson without experience?

Yes. Ascent Aviation Services runs a 12-month paid Structures Apprentice Program starting at $18.50 an hour, and Pima's one-semester Basic Welding certificate is a common first step for shop jobs.

What welding processes do Tucson fabricators use?

Rain Bird asks for MIG and TIG on carbon and stainless steel plus plasma cutting. Freeport-McMoRan prefers stick and flux core welding and air arc skills for structural repair at the mine.

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