Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
SOC code 51-2051 · O*NET-SOC 51-2051.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production
Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$46,880
a year
Hourly
$22.54
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$49,550
$23.82 per hour
Middle 50%
$39,430 – $54,490
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$36,910 – $63,760
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
16,170
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $36,910
- $17.75/hr
- 25th percentile
- $39,430
- $18.96/hr
- Median percentile
- $46,880
- $22.54/hr
- 75th percentile
- $54,490
- $26.20/hr
- 90th percentile
- $63,760
- $30.65/hr
What do fiberglass laminators and fabricators do?
Laminate layers of fiberglass on molds to form boat decks and hulls, bodies for golf carts, automobiles, or other products.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Release air bubbles and smooth seams, using rollers.
- Spray chopped fiberglass, resins, and catalysts onto prepared molds or dies using pneumatic spray guns with chopper attachments.
- Apply layers of plastic resin to mold surfaces prior to placement of fiberglass mats, repeating layers until products have the desired thicknesses and plastics have jelled.
- Mix catalysts into resins, and saturate cloth and mats with mixtures, using brushes.
- 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.
- 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.
- Inspect, clean, and assemble molds before beginning work.
- Select precut fiberglass mats, cloth, and wood-bracing materials as required by projects being assembled.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 46% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — 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.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)46%
- Less than a High School Diploma43%
- Some College Courses11%
- Bachelor's Degree1%
Common questions
How much does a fiberglass laminators and fabricators earn?
The national median is $46,880 a year. The full range runs from $36,910 at the 10th percentile to $63,760 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a fiberglass laminators and fabricators without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Reading Comprehension3.0/5
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Writing2.9/5
- Critical Thinking2.9/5
- Active Learning2.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Administration and Management3.9/5
- Production and Processing3.8/5
- Education and Training3.6/5
- Chemistry3.3/5
- English Language3.2/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.0/5
- Building and Construction3.0/5
- Administrative3.0/5
Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination.