Occupation · SOC 51-4121
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
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.
Median wage
$51,000
$38,130–$75,850
Projected growth
+2.2%
Slower than average
Annual openings
990
per year
Employed (US)
424,040
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
987 mapped
Core skills
Quality Control AnalysisMonitoring
Knowledge areas
Production and ProcessingMechanical
Technology & tools
Enterprise resource planning ERP softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareElectronic mail softwareSpreadsheet software
Representative tasks
Operate safety equipment and use safe work habits.Examine workpieces for defects and measure workpieces with straightedges or templates to ensure conformance with specifications.Weld components in flat, vertical, or overhead positions.Detect faulty operation of equipment or defective materials and notify supervisors.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.Select and install torches, torch tips, filler rods, and flux, according to welding chart specifications or types and thicknesses of metals.Mark or tag material with proper job number, piece marks, and other identifying marks as required.Determine required equipment and welding methods, applying knowledge of metallurgy, geometry, and welding techniques.Prepare all material surfaces to be welded, ensuring that there is no loose or thick scale, slag, rust, moisture, grease, or other foreign matter.Align and clamp workpieces together, using rules, squares, or hand tools, or position items in fixtures, jigs, or vises.Connect and turn regulator valves to activate and adjust gas flow and pressure so that desired flames are obtained.Position and secure workpieces, using hoists, cranes, wire, and banding machines or hand tools.Melt and apply solder along adjoining edges of workpieces to solder joints, using soldering irons, gas torches, or electric-ultrasonic equipment.Monitor the fitting, burning, and welding processes to avoid overheating of parts or warping, shrinking, distortion, or expansion of material.Grind, cut, buff, or bend edges of workpieces to be joined to ensure snug fit, using power grinders and hand tools.Weld separately or in combination, using aluminum, stainless steel, cast iron, and other alloys.Chip or grind off excess weld, slag, or spatter, using hand scrapers or power chippers, portable grinders, or arc-cutting equipment.Develop templates and models for welding projects, using mathematical calculations based on blueprint information.Repair products by dismantling, straightening, reshaping, and reassembling parts, using cutting torches, straightening presses, and hand tools.Clean or degrease parts, using wire brushes, portable grinders, or chemical baths.Hammer out bulges or bends in metal workpieces.Check grooves, angles, or gap allowances, using micrometers, calipers, and precision measuring instruments.Melt and apply solder to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products, using soldering equipment.Ignite torches or start power supplies and strike arcs by touching electrodes to metals being welded, completing electrical circuits.Guide and direct flames or electrodes on or across workpieces to straighten, bend, melt, or build up metal.Use fire suppression methods in industrial emergencies.Preheat workpieces prior to welding or bending, using torches or heating furnaces.Set up and use ladders and scaffolding as necessary to complete work.Operate metal shaping, straightening, and bending machines, such as brakes and shears.Analyze engineering drawings, blueprints, specifications, sketches, work orders, and material safety data sheets to plan layout, assembly, and operations.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Personal protective equipment and shop safety protocols — identify and apply under direct supervisor guidance on a production floor.Shielded metal arc and basic gas metal arc welding equipment — recognize components and set up with hands-on assistance in a vocational training environment.Flat-position weld beads on mild steel — execute following step-by-step instructor direction in a controlled shop setting.Workpiece dimensions and surface conditions — measure and visually inspect using straightedges and templates under close supervision before fabrication begins.Filler rods, flux, and torch tips — select from a provided welding chart with guidance from a journeyman welder on a light fabrication job.Faulty equipment operation or defective base materials — recognize common indicators and report immediately to a supervising welder or shop lead.Job numbers and piece marks — apply to finished components using standardized marking methods as directed by work order instructions.Hand tools common to the welding trade — identify, handle, and use safely under direct observation during entry-level shop tasks.Basic metallurgy terminology and weld joint types — recall and apply in guided classroom or on-the-job learning exercises.Work area cleanliness and hazard controls — maintain consistently as part of daily shop housekeeping routines directed by a supervisor.
developing
Safety equipment and lockout/tagout procedures — apply independently and verify compliance before beginning welding operations on a production line.Shielded metal arc and gas metal arc welding equipment — set up, adjust, and operate with reduced oversight across routine fabrication assignments.Weld joints in flat, vertical, and overhead positions — complete to specification on standard structural or sheet-metal components with occasional quality checks.Straightedges, squares, and weld inspection gauges — use routinely to confirm workpiece conformance to dimensional tolerances on familiar job types.Torches, torch tips, and filler materials — select and install independently by reading welding procedure specifications for common metal types and thicknesses.Equipment malfunctions and material defects — diagnose recurring issues, document findings, and notify supervisors with clear written or verbal descriptions.Job traveler tags and piece-mark systems — complete accurately and consistently to support production tracking on multi-piece fabrication orders.Welding method selection for common carbon and stainless steel applications — apply working knowledge of geometry and basic metallurgy with limited supervisor input.Weld quality and bead appearance — monitor in-process using visual inspection and basic destructive test results to catch non-conformances early.Production schedules and job priorities — interpret and follow using shop floor work orders and, when available, ERP system task lists.
proficient
Full-scope welding operations across multiple processes — perform autonomously on complex fabrications including structural steel, pipe, and pressure components in a manufacturing environment.Non-routine weld defects such as porosity, undercut, and incomplete fusion — diagnose root causes and implement corrective action without supervisor direction.Welding procedure specifications and qualified procedure selection — interpret and apply independently across varied metal types, thicknesses, and joint configurations.Precision fit-up and dimensional conformance — verify using calibrated inspection tools and correct deviations before and during welding on tight-tolerance assemblies.Equipment selection for specialized applications — evaluate and configure GMAW, GTAW, SMAW, or oxy-fuel systems to match material and position requirements.Quality control checkpoints and weld acceptance criteria — apply AWS or applicable code standards consistently across an entire production run without prompting.Material identification and traceability documentation — manage piece marks, heat numbers, and job records to satisfy customer and regulatory requirements.Metallurgical considerations including preheat, interpass temperature, and post-weld treatment — determine and apply for alloy steels and dissimilar metal joints.CAD drawings and engineering sketches — read and interpret to extract weld symbols, dimensions, and assembly sequence for complex fabrication projects.Welding-related data and production metrics — record and report using spreadsheet or ERP software to support shop-floor quality and efficiency tracking.
advanced
Welding program standards and best practices — establish and maintain across a production department, setting quality benchmarks aligned with industry codes and customer requirements.New welders and trainees — mentor and evaluate systematically, providing structured on-the-job coaching to accelerate skill development and credential attainment.Welding procedure development and qualification testing — lead from concept through documentation, ensuring compliance with AWS, ASME, or applicable certification bodies.Cross-functional process improvement initiatives — drive by analyzing weld defect trends, cycle times, and rework costs using ERP and quality data to reduce waste.Equipment procurement decisions and capital investment recommendations — inform by evaluating emerging welding technologies and presenting cost-benefit analyses to management.Production scheduling and resource allocation — coordinate across welding cells and shifts, using ERP and scheduling software to meet delivery commitments at organizational scale.Safety culture and hazard-mitigation programs — champion by authoring procedures, conducting risk assessments, and leading incident investigations across the fabrication facility.Welding specification compliance and third-party audits — manage by preparing documentation packages, interfacing with inspectors, and resolving non-conformance reports at the organizational level.Workforce competency frameworks and skills matrices — design and implement to align welder qualifications with production demands and career advancement pathways.Strategic supplier and materials partnerships — cultivate by evaluating filler metal and base material performance data and negotiating quality agreements that support long-term production goals.
Also known as
250 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Ultrasonic Hand SoldererLap WelderSoldererFlame BurnerWeapons and Tactics Crew Chief Instructor (Marine Corps 6177)Steel WelderFixed-Wing Aircraft Mechanic, AV-8/TAV-8 (Marine Corps 6212)Blow Torch BurnerFixed-Wing Aircraft Safety Equipment Mechanic-Trainee (Marine Corps 6281)Welder, Production LineMIG Welder (Metal Inert Gas Welder)Fabrication WelderArc CutterEnlisted Aircrew/Aerial Observer/Gunner (Marine Corps 6199)Welding TechnicianUltrasonic SoldererMachinery Repairman Apprentice (Navy 003156)Welder Apprentice, CombinationBar WelderWelder FabricatorScrap CutterWire WelderHelicopter/Tiltrotor Dynamic Components Mechanic (Marine Corps 6132)Aircraft Structural Maintenance Apprentice (Air Force 2A733)Welder-FitterThermal Cutter, Hand IIFixed-Wing Aircraft Mechanic, KC-130 (Marine Corps 6216)Fixed-Wing Aircraft Power Plants Mechanic, F-404 (Marine Corps 6227)Induction Heating Equipment SetterBlade WorkerWelder Apprentice, ArcGas WelderMachinist (Marine Corps 2161)Torch HeaterDamage Controlman (Coast Guard DC)Fixed-Wing Aircraft Safety Equipment Mechanic, F/A-18 (Marine Corps 6287)Structural Craftsman (Air Force 3E371)Thermite WelderWelder, GasWelder, Combination