A Day In The Life
Manufacturing Industry
Salary Breakdown
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Average
$46,290
ANNUAL
$22.25
HOURLY
Entry Level
$30,790
ANNUAL
$14.80
HOURLY
Mid Level
$46,640
ANNUAL
$22.42
HOURLY
Expert Level
$60,800
ANNUAL
$29.23
HOURLY
Projected Jobs
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
17,630
Projected job openings through 2030
Sample Career Roadmap
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Job Titles
Entry Level
JOB TITLE
Apprentice/Trainee
Mid Level
JOB TITLE
Welder
Expert Level
JOB TITLE
Senior Welder
Degree Recommendations
Vincennes University
Southeastern Career Center
Southeastern Career Center
Southeastern Career Center
Knight School of Welding
Wagler Education Training Center
Top Expected Tasks
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
01
Operate safety equipment and use safe work habits.
02
Examine workpieces for defects and measure workpieces with straightedges or templates to ensure conformance with specifications.
03
Weld components in flat, vertical, or overhead positions.
04
Detect faulty operation of equipment or defective materials and notify supervisors.
05
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.
06
Select and install torches, torch tips, filler rods, and flux, according to welding chart specifications or types and thicknesses of metals.
07
Mark or tag material with proper job number, piece marks, and other identifying marks as required.
08
Determine required equipment and welding methods, applying knowledge of metallurgy, geometry, and welding techniques.
09
Prepare all material surfaces to be welded, ensuring that there is no loose or thick scale, slag, rust, moisture, grease, or other foreign matter.
10
Check grooves, angles, or gap allowances, using micrometers, calipers, and precision measuring instruments.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Common knowledge, skills & abilities needed to get a foot in the door.
KNOWLEDGE
Production and Processing
KNOWLEDGE
Mechanical
KNOWLEDGE
Mathematics
KNOWLEDGE
English Language
KNOWLEDGE
Design
SKILL
Quality Control Analysis
SKILL
Monitoring
SKILL
Critical Thinking
SKILL
Judgment and Decision Making
SKILL
Operations Monitoring
ABILITY
Arm-Hand Steadiness
ABILITY
Near Vision
ABILITY
Finger Dexterity
ABILITY
Problem Sensitivity
ABILITY
Control Precision
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