Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Production
Hand-welding, flame-cutting, soldering, or brazing joins metal or fills holes, dents, and seams. Joints are made in flat, vertical, or overhead positions with equipment such as shielded metal arc and gas metal arc setups; torch tips, filler rods, and flux are chosen for the metal type and thickness. Finished pieces are checked for defects and measured with straightedges or templates, and faulty equipment or materials are reported to a supervisor. Safety equipment and safe habits are required, and pieces are marked so they stay identified. Suits people who like skilled hand work with metal, close visual checks, and matching the method to each joint.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$53'750
Median Wage Market Position
$53'750
What you might do
- Weld metal pieces flat, upright, or overhead
- Set up hand and power welding equipment
- Pick torches, filler rods, and flux
- Check workpieces for defects and fit
- Report faulty gear or defective materials
- Tag materials with job numbers and marks
Skills that matter
- Welding joints in vertical and overhead positions
- Choosing filler rods and flux for each metal
- Checking welds with straightedges and templates
- Reporting defective materials to supervisors
- Matching welding method to metal thickness
- Hearing and sharing safety instructions
AI & the future of this role
Field repairs, structural joints, and work in awkward or changing sites still favor skilled hands and visual judgment. Robotic cells may handle repetitive shop welds, but varied fabrication and on-site joining are likely to remain human-led.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details