JOB OVERVIEW In general, layout technicians are types of workers responsible for laying out reference points and dimensions on materials and objects such as metal or plastic stock or metal or plastic made work pieces, such as sheets, plates, or even several machine parts, for further processing. Shipfitters are also included. They are the ones to fit those measured pieces to be welded or assembled onto the frame or the bigger object pieces.
EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
There is no required high educational attainment to become a layout technician. The most common level of education for this position however, is a high school diploma or simply put, a GED. A person can expect to undergo only a short period of skills training to become a layout technician more especially ,if he/she already completed a secondary school diploma. In the state of California, there are a total of twenty-four schools of higher education more specifically in the area of Fresno, already including two other schools within twenty-five miles of Fresno approximately, where an applicant can get a degree and training so as to get started to a layout technician career.
ABILITIES AND SKILLS
A layout technician must have the following skills: he/she should be detail-oriented, meaning to say that he sees minute details of every project at a very fine level of focus. Patience is also a virtue in this work, as he should be dealing with a continuous task of measuring and marking layout points. He/ She must be able to visualize images of how things come together before the processing and post procedure and take note of the accuracy of the specifications on different objects made of differnt materials depending on the projects.at hand. He has to be organized in dealing with the processes associated with the job.
DUTIES
More than measuring and marking or simply laying our reference points on different materials and their pieces, layout technicians also fit and align these components to be secured or welded , or assembled. They also do lifting as well as positioning of several workpieces, in relation to the surface plates. This can be done manually or with the help of and/or within hoists.
Also, equally important as the other tasks , layout technicians have to lay out and fabricate metal structural components such as plates and frames. Finally, they mark significant curves and welding symbols onto workpieces. This can be accomplished with the use of scribes, soapstones, punches, even hand drills. In addition, they also suggest, fomulate and afterwards develop layouts from blueprints and templates. This task needs an application of knowledge in mathematics such as trigonometry, general layout, physics such as the effects of heat, and chemistry such as the properties of metals.
EARNINGS AND JOB OUTLOOK
As mentioned above, the requirements and trainings invloved are not difficult to attain. Therefore, the income set for the services rendered by a layout techinician is not expected to equal that of the professionals. The average income of a layout technician is about $13 on an hourly basis or in total, $27,990 annually. This estimate is based on the income census in California. In the U.S. as a whole, the income is about $16 on an hourly basis or in total, $34,920 annually, on the average.
Paula Hiz is a researcher and a human resource specialist who helps newly graduates, job applicants and post graduate professionals be aware of the opportunities and trainings for skills and practice upgrading.