Welding & fabrication recruiters serving Dallas-Fort Worth.
Structural steel and fabrication demand is being driven by the data center campuses reshaping DFW, plus the TI Sherman fab's high-purity pipe welding demand. AWS-certified welders with fab-scale experience are in steady short supply.
Data centers and a $30B fab, competing for the same welders.
Metro pay for every role we recruit is in the table below. What the hub does name: the region's data center campuses as the driver of structural-steel demand, and the TI Sherman fab as the driver of high-purity pipe welding demand.
We recruit across the full org chart for welding and fabrication contractors in Dallas-Fort Worth against that documented context.
Two named drivers, two different scopes.
Both named directly in the metro's own data.
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DFW is now a top-3 US data center market - the named driver behind structural-steel fabrication and field erection demand.
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Pulling specialty industrial trades from the entire DFW labor pool - the named driver behind high-purity pipe welding demand.
What welding & fabrication roles pay in Dallas-Fort Worth.
In the Dallas-Fort Worth metro, BLS puts the median for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers at $51,630 a year, 4% below the $53,750 national median. Among the 112 metros BLS publishes for this occupation, Dallas-Fort Worth ranks 72nd on pay. Most of the market sits between $39,210 and $76,920. Of the other field roles, fabrication supervisor pays the most locally, at a $69,940 median. National benchmarks by role are in the 2026 Welding & Fabrication Salary Guide.
| Role | Dallas-Fort Worth median | Typical range | National median | vs. national | Employed locally |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welder / CutterWelders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (51-4121) | $51,630 | $39,210–$76,920 | $53,750 | −4% | 10,620 |
| Structural Iron and Steel WorkerStructural Iron and Steel Workers (47-2221) | $53,600 | $45,620–$77,520 | $62,780 | −15% | 2,850 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator / FitterStructural Metal Fabricators and Fitters (51-2041) | $49,280 | $36,690–$67,880 | $51,330 | −4% | 1,170 |
| MachinistMachinists (51-4041) | $59,830 | $40,110–$81,930 | $58,750 | +2% | 4,660 |
| Fabrication SupervisorFirst-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers (51-1011) | $69,940 | $44,230–$106,830 | $74,450 | −6% | 16,880 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Dallas-Fort Worth metro. Range is 10th to 90th percentile. Headcount is shown for field occupations only; management, estimating and supervisory codes are counted across every industry in the metro.
What candidates expect. What credentials matter. What kills offers.
We don't tell prospective clients who their competitors are hiring - that's a discipline our clients value, and we'll honor it on a call. What we will share publicly: how DFW welding and fabrication hiring actually plays out in 2026.
Why we name the data center campuses and TI Sherman specifically
Both are named directly in the metro's own data as the drivers behind structural-steel and high-purity pipe welding demand.
Why the steady short supply is honest context here
The hub is explicit: AWS-certified structural and pipe welders with fab-scale experience are in steady short supply - a real constraint, not an average we'd smooth over.
What this means for sourcing
We source against verified AWS-certified structural welding experience for the data-center-adjacent roles, high-purity pipe welding experience for the TI Sherman-adjacent roles, and standard structural fabrication experience everywhere else.
Realistic timelines
Standard structural welding roles: 4-6 weeks intake to signed offer. High-purity pipe welding specialty roles run longer given the smaller certified pool. First slate of vetted candidates within 48 hours regardless.
The welding and fabrication positions we fill, most often.
Across all DFW welding and fabrication clients, these are the highest-volume roles we've recruited for in the last 24 months.
- AWS-certified structural welder (data center erection)
- High-purity pipe welder (semiconductor fab)
- Structural fabricator
- Welding & fabrication project manager
For the broader picture across every commercial trade in Dallas-Fort Worth, see the DFW metro overview. To learn more about welding and fabrication generally (across all 100+ markets we serve), see our Welding & Fabrication industry page.
How we recruit welding & fabrication in Dallas-Fort Worth, plainly.
Same approach we use in every market - but tuned for what works in DFW's welding and fabrication segment specifically:
- Same-day intake call. We get the role, the project context, the budget, your dealbreakers. For DFW welding work, we also confirm whether the role is high-purity pipe, structural, or standard fabrication scope.
- Candidate sourcing within 48 hours. We pull from our existing DFW welding and fabrication candidate network, filtered for verified AWS certification and fab-scale experience where relevant.
- Vetted short list (week one to several weeks). Three to five candidates. We verify real welding history and certifications rather than a line on a resume.
- Offer and close. Standard roles close in 4-6 weeks. We help with offer math against DFW's documented general context.
Dallas-Fort Worth sits at about the national rate for welding and fabrication — neither unusually deep nor unusually thin.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 , Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers. Metro-wide figures for the base occupation; the wage table above is role-specific and commercial.
How Dallas-Fort Worth's welding and fabrication market compares
In 2023 the Dallas-Fort Worth metro had 79 nonresidential structural steel contractors (counted by business location), with about 2,718 people on their payrolls. Average pay at those firms was $73,509, 6.3% below the national average of $78,464 for the same kind of employer. Headcount grew 22% over the year, faster than the 2.3% national increase, so local employers were adding people quicker than most of the country. The number of these employers fell 9.2%, as firms merged, closed or moved out. That works out to 1.0 per 100,000 residents against 1.2 nationally. Fewer local employers means experienced people are easier to identify, but many work for firms based outside the metro. These firms account for 1.2% of all construction employment in the metro.
In 2023 the Dallas-Fort Worth metro had 120 structural metal fabricators (counted by business location), with about 6,489 people on their payrolls. Average pay at those firms was $83,578, 11.8% above the national average of $74,756 for the same kind of employer. Headcount grew 6.9% over the year, faster than the 4.3% national increase, so local employers were adding people quicker than most of the country. That works out to 1.5 per 100,000 residents against 1.1 nationally, a crowded field where experienced people get approached often.
Among the 100 metros we cover with published BLS figures, Dallas-Fort Worth ranks 2nd for headcount, 62nd for median pay and 31st for concentration for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers.
| Metro | Employed | Median pay | Concentration | Commercial employers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 15,850 | $57,940 | 1.80 | 79 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 10,620 | $51,630 | 0.98 | 79 |
| San Antonio | 2,510 | $48,220 | 0.83 | 23 |
| Austin | 2,210 | $59,040 | 0.64 | 30 |
| El Paso | 650 | $45,000 | 0.71 | 11 |
| McAllen | 350 | $39,710 | 0.43 | 8 |
BLS OEWS occupation figures and QCEW business-location counts; a dash means not published.
What this means for hiring:For welding and fabrication employers in Dallas-Fort Worth, the pool is about the national norm for its size and local employers are adding people, so expect competing offers on experienced candidates and keep the process short.
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 annual averages and BLS OEWS May 2025, Dallas-Fort Worth metro. Employers are counted by business location.
How Dallas-Fort Worth's welding & fabrication market has changed since 2018.
Dallas-Fort Worth lost nonresidential structural steel contractors between 2018 and 2023, from 80 business locations to 79 (down 1%), behind the 4% growth nationally. Headcount at those firms went down 11%, to about 2,718 people. Average annual pay there went from $56,387 to $73,509 (+30%), faster than the 22% national increase, a sign employers here have had to bid up. The number of structural metal fabricators in Dallas-Fort Worth rose from 105 in 2018 to 120 in 2023, up 14%, close to the 13% national change. Headcount at those firms went up 15%, to about 6,489 people. Average annual pay there went from $64,670 to $83,578 (+29%), in step with the 26% national increase.
| Measure | 2018 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresidential structural steel contractors: business locations | 80 | 79 | −1% |
| Nonresidential structural steel contractors: employment | 3,068 | 2,718 | −11% |
| Nonresidential structural steel contractors: average annual pay | $56,387 | $73,509 | +30% |
| Structural metal fabricators: business locations | 105 | 120 | +14% |
| Structural metal fabricators: employment | 5,620 | 6,489 | +15% |
| Structural metal fabricators: average annual pay | $64,670 | $83,578 | +29% |
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, private employers, annual averages. A dash means BLS did not publish the figure.
Frequently asked — welding & fabrication hiring in Dallas-Fort Worth.
What are DFW's named welding demand centers?
Multiple data center campuses (~$8B announced 2024-2026) for structural-steel fabrication, and the $30B Texas Instruments Sherman fab for high-purity pipe welding - both named directly in the metro's own data.
Is welding and fabrication talent expensive to staff in Dallas-Fort Worth?
AWS-certified structural and pipe welders with fab-scale experience are in steady short supply here, which puts real upward pressure on offers for both specialties.
What do welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn in Dallas-Fort Worth?
BLS puts the Dallas-Fort Worth median for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers at $51,630 a year, 4% below the $53,750 national median. That ranks 72nd of 112 metros with published figures, in the middle of the pack. Most of the market sits between $39,210 and $76,920, a 2.0x gap and a moderate spread, so a few thousand dollars over the median buys real experience. Within Texas, Austin pays more, at $59,040.
Is it hard to hire welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Dallas-Fort Worth?
It is about average. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers are as common in Dallas-Fort Worth as they are nationally (location quotient 0.98), with about 10,620 in the metro. The 79 nonresidential structural steel contractors here average about 34 employees per location, which means a handful of large operators set the pace on pay.
Which welding & fabrication roles pay the most in Dallas-Fort Worth?
Of the roles we recruit for, Fabrication Supervisor pays the most in Dallas-Fort Worth, a $69,940 median. Structural Metal Fabricator / Fitter is the lowest-paid field role at $49,280. Structural Iron and Steel Worker trails national pay the most (15% below).
How many nonresidential structural steel contractors operate in Dallas-Fort Worth?
BLS counted 79 nonresidential structural steel contractors in Dallas-Fort Worth in 2023, employing about 2,718 people between them. That is roughly where the count stood in 2018 (80). That averages 34 people per location, so a few large operators dominate hiring. They pay an average of $73,509, 6% below the $78,464 national average for the same kind of employer. BLS counted 120 structural metal fabricators in Dallas-Fort Worth in 2023, employing about 6,489 people between them. Up from 105 in 2018, a 14% increase against 13% growth nationally. That averages 54 people per location, so a few large operators dominate hiring. They pay an average of $83,578, 12% above the $74,756 national average for the same kind of employer.
Which nearby metros compete with Dallas-Fort Worth for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers?
The closest metros we cover with published figures are Austin (182 miles, about 2,210, $59,040 median), Oklahoma City (190 miles, about 2,200, $48,760 median) and Houston (225 miles, about 15,850, $57,940 median). Austin pays 14% more, which is where Dallas-Fort Worth employers tend to lose people.
We have not closed a welding & fabrication search in Dallas-Fort Worth yet. Here is what we have closed.
These are other trades in the same market. We would rather show you the searches we have actually run in Dallas-Fort Worth than imply a record in this trade that we do not have yet.
- Apprentice ElectricianA tradesman already in our network for nine months, matched to the right opening and hired within a week.
- Electrical Service ManagerTwenty-five years running electrical service departments, with the national accounts to match.
- Electrical SuperintendentFourteen weeks, and worth it: a superintendent who has run USACE electrical work on a remote Pacific atoll.
One welding & fabrication seat is open in Dallas-Fort Worth right now.
The wage figures above are what the market pays. These are the actual openings behind them - live searches we are running here today.
- Mechanical Welding SuperintendentApply →
Every open role we are running →
Board last synced September 28, 2026. Roles move fast; /jobs/ is always the current list.
Hiring welding & fabrication talent in Dallas-Fort Worth?
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