Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
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Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand-soldering, or brazing equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.
Sample of reported job titles: Aluminum Welder, Assembly Line Brazer, Brazer, Fabrication Welder, Fabricator, Maintenance Welder, Solderer, Sub Arc Operator, Welder, Wirer
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Tasks | Technology Skills | Tools Used | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities | Work Activities | Detailed Work Activities | Work Context | Job Zone | Credentials | Interests | Work Styles | Work Values | Related Occupations | Wages & Employment | Job Openings | Additional Information
Tasks
All 30 displayed- Weld components in flat, vertical, or overhead positions.
- Operate safety equipment and use safe work habits.
- Examine workpieces for defects and measure workpieces with straightedges or templates to ensure conformance with specifications.
- Recognize, set up, and operate hand and power tools common to the welding trade, such as shielded metal arc and gas metal arc welding equipment.
- Weld separately or in combination, using aluminum, stainless steel, cast iron, and other alloys.
- Select and install torches, torch tips, filler rods, and flux, according to welding chart specifications or types and thicknesses of metals.
- Ignite torches or start power supplies and strike arcs by touching electrodes to metals being welded, completing electrical circuits.
- Connect and turn regulator valves to activate and adjust gas flow and pressure so that desired flames are obtained.
- Determine required equipment and welding methods, applying knowledge of metallurgy, geometry, and welding techniques.
- Monitor the fitting, burning, and welding processes to avoid overheating of parts or warping, shrinking, distortion, or expansion of material.
- Mark or tag material with proper job number, piece marks, and other identifying marks as required.
- Chip or grind off excess weld, slag, or spatter, using hand scrapers or power chippers, portable grinders, or arc-cutting equipment.
- Prepare all material surfaces to be welded, ensuring that there is no loose or thick scale, slag, rust, moisture, grease, or other foreign matter.
- Preheat workpieces prior to welding or bending, using torches or heating furnaces.
- Align and clamp workpieces together, using rules, squares, or hand tools, or position items in fixtures, jigs, or vises.
- Develop templates and models for welding projects, using mathematical calculations based on blueprint information.
- Guide and direct flames or electrodes on or across workpieces to straighten, bend, melt, or build up metal.
- Position and secure workpieces, using hoists, cranes, wire, and banding machines or hand tools.
- Detect faulty operation of equipment or defective materials and notify supervisors.
- Clean or degrease parts, using wire brushes, portable grinders, or chemical baths.
- Melt and apply solder along adjoining edges of workpieces to solder joints, using soldering irons, gas torches, or electric-ultrasonic equipment.
- Grind, cut, buff, or bend edges of workpieces to be joined to ensure snug fit, using power grinders and hand tools.
- Repair products by dismantling, straightening, reshaping, and reassembling parts, using cutting torches, straightening presses, and hand tools.
- Check grooves, angles, or gap allowances, using micrometers, calipers, and precision measuring instruments.
- Operate metal shaping, straightening, and bending machines, such as brakes and shears.
- Set up and use ladders and scaffolding as necessary to complete work.
- Hammer out bulges or bends in metal workpieces.
- Melt and apply solder to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products, using soldering equipment.
- Use fire suppression methods in industrial emergencies.
- Analyze engineering drawings, blueprints, specifications, sketches, work orders, and material safety data sheets to plan layout, assembly, and operations.
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Technology Skills
All 9 displayed Show 110 tools used- Analytical or scientific software — Fred’s Tip Cartridge Picker; Scientific Software Group Filter Drain FD; Value Analysis
- Calendar and scheduling software — OmniFleet Equipment Maintenance Management
- Computer aided design CAD software
— EZ Pipe - Data base user interface and query software — Oracle software ; Recordkeeping software
- Electronic mail software — IBM Notes ; Microsoft Outlook
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Office suite software — Microsoft Office
- Operating system software — Microsoft Windows
- Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel
Hot Technology — a technology requirement frequently included in employer job postings.
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Knowledge
All 1 displayed- Production and Processing — Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
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Skills
No skills met the minimum score.
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Abilities
All 8 displayed- Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
- Control Precision — The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
- Manual Dexterity — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
- Finger Dexterity — The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
- Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
- Visualization — The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
- Multilimb Coordination — The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
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Work Activities
All 12 displayed- Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
- Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
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Detailed Work Activities
All 30 displayed- Operate welding equipment.
- Maintain safety.
- Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
- Select production equipment according to product specifications.
- Adjust equipment controls to regulate gas flow.
- Ignite fuel to activate heating equipment.
- Determine metal or plastic production methods.
- Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information.
- Monitor equipment operation to ensure that products are not flawed.
- Operate grinding equipment.
- Clean workpieces or finished products.
- Trim excess material from workpieces.
- Heat material or workpieces to prepare for or complete production.
- Align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly.
- Design templates or patterns.
- Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
- Notify others of equipment repair or maintenance needs.
- Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions.
- Melt metal, plastic, or other materials to prepare for production.
- Solder parts or workpieces.
- Clean production equipment.
- Operate firefighting equipment.
- Reshape metal workpieces to established specifications.
- Cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing.
- Disassemble equipment for maintenance or repair.
- Repair parts or assemblies.
- Operate metal or plastic forming equipment.
- Assemble temporary equipment or structures.
- Shape metal workpieces with hammers or other small hand tools.
- Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
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Work Context
All 22 displayed- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
- Face-to-Face Discussions — How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
- Time Pressure — How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
- Exposed to Contaminants — How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
- Work With Work Group or Team — How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
- Contact With Others — How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions — How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
- Frequency of Decision Making — How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
- Responsible for Others’ Health and Safety — How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
- Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable — How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
- Structured versus Unstructured Work — To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
- Spend Time Standing — How much does this job require standing?
- Exposed to Hazardous Equipment — How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
- Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings — How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
- Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled — How often does this job require working indoors in non-controlled environmental conditions (e.g., warehouse without heat)?
- Coordinate or Lead Others — How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
- Freedom to Make Decisions — How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?
- Consequence of Error — How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable?
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Job Zone
| Title | Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed |
| Education | These occupations usually require a high school diploma. |
| Related Experience | Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public. |
| Job Training | Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations. |
| Job Zone Examples | These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers. |
| SVP Range | (4.0 to < 6.0) |
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Credentials
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Interests
All 3 displayedInterest code: RCI Want to discover your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move.
- Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
- Investigative — Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
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Work Styles
All 16 displayed- Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
- Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
- Independence — Job requires developing one’s own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
- Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
- Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
- Innovation — Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
- Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
- Self-Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
- Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others’ needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
- Leadership — Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
- Analytical Thinking — Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
- Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
- Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
- Social Orientation — Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
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Work Values
All 3 displayed- Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
- Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
- Working Conditions — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
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Related Occupations
All 10 displayed| 51-4031.00 | Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4034.00 | Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4072.00 | Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4122.00 | Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
| 51-5113.00 | Print Binding and Finishing Workers |
| 51-7041.00 | Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood |
| 51-9111.00 | Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders |
| 51-9124.00 | Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
| 51-9141.00 | Semiconductor Processing Technicians |
| 51-9195.00 | Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic  Bright Outlook |
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Wages & Employment Trends
| Median wages (2020) | $21.25 hourly, $44,190 annual |
| State wages | |
| Local wages | |
| Employment (2020) | 418,200 employees |
| Projected growth (2020-2030) |  Average (5% to 10%) |
| Projected job openings (2020-2030) | 49,200 |
| State trends | |
| Top industries (2020) |
Manufacturing
Construction
|
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2020 wage data 
and 2020-2030 employment projections . “Projected growth” represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2020-2030). “Projected job openings” represent openings due to growth and replacement.
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Job Openings on the Web
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Sources of Additional Information
All 9 displayedDisclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.
- American Welding Society
- ASM International
- Fabricators & Manufacturers Association International
- International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers
- International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
- International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
- IPC
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Precision Machined Products Association
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This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.