Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

What the job really is

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.

At a glance

• Sector: Production
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-4121
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Hammer out bulges or bends in metal workpieces.
• 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.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Windows, Oracle Database, Adjustable widemouth pliers, Adjustable wrenches, Air chisels, Air drills, Air scalers, Angle finders, Anvils

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
• Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
• Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
• Boilermakers
• Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
• Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
• Tool and Die Makers

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.