Shipfitter Jobs in Jacksonville, FL
Lay out, cut, fit, and align steel plate and structure for the welders.
What shipfitters earn around Jacksonville
The median, range, and annual figures above are market data — Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics for Florida, via the U.S. Department of Labor's CareerOneStop. Cost of living here runs about 2% below the national average — your paycheck goes further. AMS pays $35–$40/hr plus overtime opportunities.
Shipfitters in the Jacksonville market
Jacksonville is a major Navy and commercial ship-repair hub on the northeast Florida coast, anchored by BAE Systems' ship-repair yard and Naval Station Mayport. AMS has crews working the Jacksonville market now.
The shipfitter's job around Jacksonville is blueprint layout, cutting & fit-up, bracing & tacking — the layout that has to be right before a welder ever strikes an arc on work staged through yards like BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair. Get the fit wrong and the weld cannot save it.
- BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair
- Naval Station Mayport
Named as public-record market activity — where marine work happens in this area, not a statement of AMS contracts.
- City population
- 961,739
- Median household income
- $66,981
- Average commute
- 24 min
- Cost of living (US = 100)
- 98.492
Source: U.S. Census ACS 5-year · BEA Regional Price Parities. Figures are for Jacksonville city, Florida, not the wider metro area.
What a shipfitter does in Jacksonville
Shipfitters turn plans into steel — reading blueprints, laying out and cutting plate and structural members, then fitting, bracing, and tacking them into alignment so the welders can finish the joint. It's the layout and fit-up craft at the front of every structural job, on new construction and repair alike, and it demands a sharp eye for tolerance and a feel for how a hull goes together.
Why Jacksonville needs shipfitters right now
Every steel repair starts with a fitter. Before a welder strikes an arc on a hull insert, a shipfitter has templated the opening, cut the plate, and faired and braced it into alignment — and on repair work, nothing is square, flat, or where the drawing says. Jacksonville's mix of government and commercial repair demands that skill constantly: frame renewals, foundation replacements, shell inserts, and structural mods, all fit inside a working ship on an availability clock. Layout ability is the bottleneck on structural repair jobs, which makes good fitters the first call on every one.
Jacksonville is an active-crew AMS market — one of four, alongside Houma, Mobile, and Pascagoula — so shipfitters hired here join crews already producing, at $35–$40 an hour plus overtime opportunities. One honest note about the trade: shipbuilding and repair recorded 4.8 recordable injuries per 100 full-time workers in 2024, higher than most industrial work. Fitting is cutting, grinding, and moving steel in tight quarters — safety capability is a production skill, not a slogan. Out-of-area fitters work on travel with per diem, and a resume is optional.
If you've templated a shell insert off a cropped hull, set and faired frame renewals in a double bottom, or fit foundations on an availability where three trades shared the space, Jacksonville's repair work is your trade at full speed. Panel-line and unit-erection fitters from new construction adapt quickly. Experienced shipfitters are among the hardest hires in marine work — AMS has crews working Jacksonville now and pays $35–$40 an hour for a proven eye, not an entry-level tryout.
Bring your experience to AMSShipfitter jobs in Jacksonville — FAQ
How much do shipfitters make in Jacksonville, FL?
In Florida, shipfitters earn a median of about $27.97 per hour — typically $19.39–$38.59 per hour (BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics via the U.S. Department of Labor's CareerOneStop). With local prices at 98.492 against a national 100, that median buys roughly what $28.40 an hour would nationally. AMS pays $35–$40/hr plus overtime opportunities; the rate for a specific role is discussed when you apply.
Does AMS hire shipfitters in Jacksonville?
Yes. AMS has crews working the Jacksonville market and hires shipfitters for shipbuilding and ship repair. Apply through our Employment / Job Application page and tell us your trade and experience.
What do I need to get hired as a shipfitter in Jacksonville?
For shipfitters, AMS looks first at blueprint layout and cutting & fit-up. Every role also requires passing a shipyard safety orientation and a drug screen, and a TWIC card is usually needed for yard access at BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair and similar facilities. Bring your certifications — apply and an AMS representative will go over the specifics.
What is the commute like for Jacksonville yard work?
Workers in Jacksonville city, Florida report an average commute of about 24 minutes (U.S. Census ACS). Yard start times are early, so most crews plan the drive around shift change rather than rush hour. If you would rather travel to the work than commute to it, AMS runs per-diem assignments across the Gulf Coast.
Ready to work as a shipfitter in Jacksonville?
Tell us your trade and experience — an AMS representative will follow up. Résumé optional.