{"v":"2026-11-02","dataVersion":"ONET-30.3+BLS-MAY25","code":"51-4121.00","slug":"welders-cutters-solderers-and-brazers","title":"Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers","alt":["Welder","Welder Operator","Arc Welder","Gas Welder","Metal Welder","Line Welder","Electric Welder","Oxyacetylene Welder","Steel Welder","Production Welder","Acetylene Torch Burner","Welding Technician"],"employment":416210,"wage":{"median":53750,"p25":46790,"p75":63010},"growthPct":2.2,"exposure":17.4,"taskCount":30,"highCount":0,"midCount":2,"lowCount":28,"aeiObserved":0,"fit":{"mix":{"none":87.6,"efficient":5.7,"standard":3.5,"frontier":3.2},"counts":{"none":26,"efficient":2,"standard":1,"frontier":1},"recommended":"frontier","coveragePct":12.4,"addressablePct":12.4},"tasks":[{"t":"Operate safety equipment and use safe work habits.","imp":4.61,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Performing General Physical Activities"},{"t":"Examine workpieces for defects and measure workpieces with straightedges or templates to ensure conformance with specifications.","imp":4.26,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information"},{"t":"Weld components in flat, vertical, or overhead positions.","imp":4.15,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Handling and Moving Objects"},{"t":"Check grooves, angles, or gap allowances, using micrometers, calipers, and precision measuring instruments.","imp":4.15,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information"},{"t":"Detect faulty operation of equipment or defective materials and notify supervisors.","imp":4.11,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings"},{"t":"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.","imp":4.09,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Handling and Moving Objects"},{"t":"Select and install torches, torch tips, filler rods, and flux, according to welding chart specifications or types and thicknesses of metals.","imp":4.09,"exp":20,"src":"heuristic","tier":"standard","gwa":"Making Decisions and Solving Problems"},{"t":"Mark or tag material with proper job number, piece marks, and other identifying marks as required.","imp":4.08,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events"},{"t":"Determine required equipment and welding methods, applying knowledge of metallurgy, geometry, and welding techniques.","imp":4.07,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Making Decisions and Solving Problems"},{"t":"Prepare all material surfaces to be welded, ensuring that there is no loose or thick scale, slag, rust, moisture, grease, or other foreign matter.","imp":4.06,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Performing General Physical Activities"},{"t":"Align and clamp workpieces together, using rules, squares, or hand tools, or position items in fixtures, jigs, or vises.","imp":4.05,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Handling and Moving Objects"},{"t":"Melt and apply solder to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products, using soldering equipment.","imp":4.01,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Handling and Moving Objects"},{"t":"Connect and turn regulator valves to activate and adjust gas flow and pressure so that desired flames are obtained.","imp":4,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Handling and Moving Objects"},{"t":"Position and secure workpieces, using hoists, cranes, wire, and banding machines or hand tools.","imp":3.97,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Handling and Moving Objects"},{"t":"Melt and apply solder along adjoining edges of workpieces to solder joints, using soldering irons, gas torches, or electric-ultrasonic equipment.","imp":3.96,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Handling and Moving Objects"},{"t":"Monitor the fitting, burning, and welding processes to avoid overheating of parts or warping, shrinking, distortion, or expansion of material.","imp":3.94,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings"},{"t":"Ignite torches or start power supplies and strike arcs by touching electrodes to metals being welded, completing electrical circuits.","imp":3.89,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Handling and Moving Objects"},{"t":"Grind, cut, buff, or bend edges of workpieces to be joined to ensure snug fit, using power grinders and hand tools.","imp":3.89,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Handling and Moving Objects"},{"t":"Weld separately or in combination, using aluminum, stainless steel, cast iron, and other alloys.","imp":3.76,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Handling and Moving Objects"},{"t":"Chip or grind off excess weld, slag, or spatter, using hand scrapers or power chippers, portable grinders, or arc-cutting equipment.","imp":3.75,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Handling and Moving Objects"},{"t":"Guide and direct flames or electrodes on or across workpieces to straighten, bend, melt, or build up metal.","imp":3.72,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Handling and Moving Objects"},{"t":"Use fire suppression methods in industrial emergencies.","imp":3.71,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Performing General Physical Activities"},{"t":"Develop templates and models for welding projects, using mathematical calculations based on blueprint information.","imp":3.69,"exp":50,"src":"heuristic","tier":"frontier","gwa":"Thinking Creatively"},{"t":"Repair products by dismantling, straightening, reshaping, and reassembling parts, using cutting torches, straightening presses, and hand tools.","imp":3.57,"exp":20,"src":"heuristic","tier":"efficient","gwa":"Handling and Moving Objects"},{"t":"Preheat workpieces prior to welding or bending, using torches or heating furnaces.","imp":3.54,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Handling and Moving Objects"},{"t":"Clean or degrease parts, using wire brushes, portable grinders, or chemical baths.","imp":3.49,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Performing General Physical Activities"},{"t":"Set up and use ladders and scaffolding as necessary to complete work.","imp":3.47,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Handling and Moving Objects"},{"t":"Hammer out bulges or bends in metal workpieces.","imp":3.39,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Handling and Moving Objects"},{"t":"Operate metal shaping, straightening, and bending machines, such as brakes and shears.","imp":3.25,"exp":15,"src":"heuristic","tier":null,"gwa":"Controlling Machines and Processes"},{"t":"Analyze engineering drawings, blueprints, specifications, sketches, work orders, and material safety data sheets to plan layout, assembly, and operations.","imp":3,"exp":50,"src":"heuristic","tier":"efficient","gwa":"Getting Information"}],"adjacent":[{"code":"51-4122.00","slug":"welding-soldering-and-brazing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders","title":"Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders","overlap":0.82,"months":6,"exposure":15.4,"strong":true},{"code":"51-2041.00","slug":"structural-metal-fabricators-and-fitters","title":"Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters","overlap":0.65,"months":13,"exposure":19.3,"strong":true},{"code":"47-2211.00","slug":"sheet-metal-workers","title":"Sheet Metal Workers","overlap":0.64,"months":13,"exposure":21.3,"strong":false},{"code":"47-2011.00","slug":"boilermakers","title":"Boilermakers","overlap":0.63,"months":13,"exposure":14.9,"strong":false},{"code":"47-2221.00","slug":"structural-iron-and-steel-workers","title":"Structural Iron and Steel Workers","overlap":0.61,"months":14,"exposure":17.9,"strong":false}]}