Occupations/51-4121.00
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.
Usually a high school diploma, plus some experience or short training.
AI automation risk
70%
Higher automation risk
Human characteristics
21%
Fewer uniquely human demands
Task orientation
59%
Mixed exposure
A day in this job
- Mostly routine
Operate safety equipment and use safe work habits.
- Mostly routine
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.
- Task
Examine workpieces for defects and measure workpieces with straightedges or templates to ensure conformance with specifications.
The tasks we can read here lean routine. That sits next to the AI risk rank — it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Operate safety equipment and use safe work habits.
- 02Examine workpieces for defects and measure workpieces with straightedges or templates to ensure conformance with specifications.
- 03Weld components in flat, vertical, or overhead positions.
- 04Detect faulty operation of equipment or defective materials and notify supervisors.
- 05Recognize, set up, and operate hand and power tools common to the welding trade, such as shielded metal arc and gas metal arc welding equipment.
- 06Select and install torches, torch tips, filler rods, and flux, according to welding chart specifications or types and thicknesses of metals.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks3.16
- Degree of automation1.76
- Time sitting2.52
- Originality (ability)2.12
- Conflict situations2.40
- Hands-on objects/tools4.51
- Outdoors / weather1.52
- Disease exposure1.09
- Decision freedom3.31
Top abilities
- Arm-Hand Steadiness3.62
- Near Vision3.38
- Problem Sensitivity3.25
- Finger Dexterity3.25
- Manual Dexterity3.12
- Control Precision3.12
- Selective Attention3.00
- Oral Comprehension3.00
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension2.50
- Active Listening2.62
- Writing1.75
- Speaking2.62
- Mathematics2.12
- Science1.62
- Critical Thinking2.88
- Active Learning2.25
- Learning Strategies2.00
- Monitoring3.00
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 30 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ · Public | Welding Engineering Technology/Technician 15.0614 | $12,000 | 90% | 69% | 1 yr — 2 yr $67,164 Bachelor's · CIP 15.06 |
Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN · Public | Welding Engineering Technology/Technician 15.0614 | $10,000 | 53% | 83% | 1 yr $66,020 2 yr $69,338 Bachelor's · CIP 15.06 |
San Jose State University San Jose, CA · Public | Welding Engineering Technology/Technician 15.0614 | $8,200 | 77% | 71% | 1 yr $64,196 2 yr $62,489 Bachelor's · CIP 15.06 |
Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato, MN · Public | Welding Engineering Technology/Technician 15.0614 | $9,700 | 71% | 62% | 1 yr $63,749 2 yr $59,824 Bachelor's · CIP 15.06 |
Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, NC · Public | Welding Engineering Technology/Technician 15.0614 | $2,900 | 100% | 31% | 1 yr $58,912 2 yr $53,483 Bachelor's · CIP 15.06 |
Bemidji State University Bemidji, MN · Public | Welding Engineering Technology/Technician 15.0614 | $9,900 | 77% | 58% | 1 yr $58,673 2 yr $55,512 Bachelor's · CIP 15.06 |
St Cloud State University St. Cloud, MN · Public | Welding Engineering Technology/Technician 15.0614 | $9,600 | 95% | 56% | 1 yr $56,776 2 yr $51,273 Bachelor's · CIP 15.06 |
Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MN · Public | Welding Technology/Welder 48.0508 | $5,900 | 100% | 28% | 1 yr $54,035 2 yr $55,512 Associate · CIP 48.05 |
North Dakota State University Fargo, ND · Public | Welding Engineering Technology/Technician 15.0614 | $10,900 | 96% | 68% | 1 yr $49,214 2 yr $63,005 Bachelor's · CIP 15.06 |
Saint Paul College St. Paul, MN · Public | Welding Technology/Welder 48.0508 | $6,100 | 100% | 29% | 1 yr $40,551 2 yr $42,363 Certificate · CIP 48.05 |
Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead, MN · Public | Welding Technology/Welder 48.0508 | $9,800 | 71% | 61% | 1 yr $38,289 2 yr $34,704 Certificate · CIP 48.05 |
Century College White Bear Lake, MN · Public | Welding Technology/Welder 48.0508 | $6,000 | 100% | 31% | 1 yr $35,594 2 yr $34,704 Certificate · CIP 48.05 |