SOC 51-2041 · Production Occupations · May 2025
How much do Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
In the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is $53,880. The 10th percentile is $42,280 and the 90th percentile is $92,220. Employment is 320.
Median annual wage
$53,880
- 10th percentile
- $42,280
- 25th percentile
- $48,360
- Median
- $53,880
- 75th percentile
- $72,280
- 90th percentile
- $92,220
- Mean
- $61,560
Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.

Percentile spread
For Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters, the published 10th percentile is $42,280 and the 90th percentile is $92,220. The difference is $49,940, which is 92.7% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.
The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $48,360 to the 75th at $72,280, covers $23,920.
The mean annual wage is $61,560, which sits above the median of $53,880. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.
National and state comparison
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC median is 5% higher than the national median of $51,330 for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters. In 2024 national prices the local median is $55,013, which is 7.2% higher than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.
It is 0.1% lower than the Virginia median of $53,940.
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC covers more than one state. The state comparison uses Virginia, the primary state on the BLS area record.
Price-adjusted pay
The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is 97.941, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $53,880 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters at $55,013 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.
Nearby metros
6 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters. Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC ranks 3rd of 7 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).
- Richmond, VA is 70 miles away, with a median of $50,290 and employment of 200. That median is 6.7% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $51,391, against $55,013 here.
- Raleigh-Cary, NC is 137 miles away, with a median of $51,300 and employment of 80. That median is 4.8% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $52,263, against $55,013 here.
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is 150 miles away, with a median of $58,020 and employment of 390. That median is 7.7% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $53,286, against $55,013 here.
Employment share
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters accounts for 0.04% of wage-and-salary employment in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC (320 of 763,060). Nationally the occupation is 0.03% of employment (52,360 of 155,495,730). The local share is 1.25 times the national share. That ratio is the location quotient computed from these May 2025 employment counts. It is not copied from the location-quotient column in the BLS bulk file.
Highest-paying jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC · Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters by metro · How to read these percentiles · Median and mean · When a wage is not published · How the figures are made · Compare this wage after prices
Questions this page answers
How much do Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is $53,880. The 10th percentile is $42,280 and the 90th percentile is $92,220. Employment is 320.
How does that compare with the national median for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters?
The local median is 5% higher than the national median of $51,330.
What is Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters pay in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC after local prices?
The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is 97.941, with the United States at 100. In those national prices, the May 2025 median of $53,880 is $55,013. The wage is May 2025 and the parity is 2024.
How does Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC compare with nearby metros for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters?
Richmond, VA is the closest metropolitan area within 200 miles with a published annual median, 70 miles away, at $50,290. Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC ranks 3rd of 7 metros within 200 miles on that median. Distances use Census Bureau internal points.