JobAfterNext

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.

Wages

Median annual wage, U.S.$53,750
Employment, U.S.416,210
Median hourly wage$25.84
Annual wage percentiles, U.S., May 2025
10th25thMedian75th90th
$39,240$46,790$53,750$63,010$77,530
By state (51)
StateEmploymentMedian annualLocation quotient
Alabama12,450$48,4902.20
Alaska790$80,8400.90
Arizona7,270$55,6000.84
Arkansas6,150$47,9701.76
California26,060$58,0600.53
Colorado4,970$58,5900.65
Connecticut1,790$64,8800.39
Delaware600$57,2700.46
District of Columbia280$60,1800.15
Florida16,420$50,6400.62
Georgia13,130$48,4301.00
Hawaii520$79,0000.31
Idaho3,300$50,5301.44
Illinois16,260$51,3201.00
Indiana13,280$49,7301.55
Iowa9,270$55,0902.22
Kansas6,370$49,4101.66
Kentucky6,630$51,4701.24
Louisiana13,690$62,2502.64
Maine1,690$62,2200.99
Maryland2,850$60,3100.39
Massachusetts2,830$62,5700.29
Michigan13,330$49,9901.13
Minnesota9,270$60,2801.17
Mississippi6,460$51,1002.08
Missouri10,600$51,9501.35
Montana1,530$55,6101.12
Nebraska4,200$52,2201.53
Nevada1,600$61,5200.39
New Hampshire1,110$62,3600.61
New Jersey3,730$59,4400.33
New Mexico2,390$59,8401.03
New York8,310$59,1400.32
North Carolina11,750$50,5900.89
North Dakota2,590$62,0002.26
Ohio20,330$50,3401.37
Oklahoma9,960$49,7202.18
Oregon5,240$59,4501.00
Pennsylvania17,850$52,9001.10
Rhode Island2,300$50,5801.71
South Carolina7,380$49,9801.20
South Dakota3,250$49,4402.66
Tennessee12,510$48,0401.43
Texas52,000$53,3401.38
Utah4,440$58,3800.96
Vermont340$60,8900.42
Virginia10,100$59,1800.92
Washington7,720$63,0200.81
West Virginia2,100$48,8101.12
Wisconsin15,320$58,4101.95
Wyoming1,850$63,8202.46

Similar occupations

Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.

#OccupationJob ZoneSimilarity
1Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic1-20.963
2Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters1-20.962
3Engine and Other Machine Assemblers1-20.957
4Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders1-20.957
5Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic1-20.954
6Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders1-20.952
7Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers1-20.952
8Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic1-20.951
9Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing1-20.951
10Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic1-20.950

One skill away

Among the 50 occupations most similar to Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.

OccupationSkill to buildLevel gapSimilarity
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticOperations Monitoring1.380.950
Print Binding and Finishing WorkersReading Comprehension0.760.949
Machine Feeders and OffbearersOperations Monitoring0.880.946
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersCoordination1.120.944
Shoe Machine Operators and TendersReading Comprehension0.760.943
Tire BuildersOperations Monitoring0.880.942
Etchers and EngraversReading Comprehension0.760.941
Helpers--CarpentersCoordination1.240.939

Software to learn next

Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, excluding software Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.

SoftwareSimilar jobs using itLift
Mastercam computer-aided design and manufacturing software3 of 2015.4x
SAP software9 of 201.5x
Autodesk AutoCAD6 of 201.6x
Dassault Systemes SolidWorks3 of 202.4x
Microsoft Word17 of 201.0x
Email software3 of 200.5x
Microsoft PowerPoint5 of 200.4x

Skills

From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.

SkillTypeImportanceLevel
Quality Control AnalysisTransferable skill 3.12 3.00
MonitoringEssential skill 3.00 2.75
Judgment and Decision MakingTransferable skill 2.88 2.62
Critical ThinkingEssential skill 2.88 2.38
Operations MonitoringTransferable skill 2.75 2.50
Time ManagementTransferable skill 2.75 2.25
Operation and ControlTransferable skill 2.62 2.50
Active ListeningEssential skill 2.62 2.38
SpeakingEssential skill 2.62 2.00
Complex Problem SolvingTransferable skill 2.50 2.50
Reading ComprehensionEssential skill 2.50 2.12
TroubleshootingTransferable skill 2.50 2.12
CoordinationTransferable skill 2.38 1.88
Social PerceptivenessTransferable skill 2.25 2.12
Equipment SelectionTransferable skill 2.25 2.00
Active LearningEssential skill 2.25 1.75
Systems AnalysisTransferable skill 2.25 1.75
MathematicsEssential skill 2.12 2.12
Service OrientationTransferable skill 2.12 1.50
Systems EvaluationTransferable skill 2.12 1.50
InstructingTransferable skill 2.00 2.12
Learning StrategiesEssential skill 2.00 2.00
RepairingTransferable skill 1.88not rated
Management of Personnel ResourcesTransferable skill 1.88 1.62
PersuasionTransferable skill 1.88 1.50
NegotiationTransferable skill 1.88 1.38
WritingEssential skill 1.75 1.50
Operations AnalysisTransferable skill 1.75 1.12
Equipment MaintenanceTransferable skill 1.62 1.25
ScienceEssential skill 1.62 1.00
Management of Financial ResourcesTransferable skill 1.62 0.88
Management of Material ResourcesTransferable skill 1.62 0.88
InstallationTransferable skill 1.50 1.00
Technology DesignTransferable skill 1.50 0.75
ProgrammingTransferable skill 1.00not rated
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
Knowledge
NameImportanceLevel
Production and Processing 3.49 3.36
Mechanical 3.10 3.18
Mathematics 2.94 2.21
English Language 2.87 2.25
Design 2.82 2.59
Engineering and Technology 2.58 2.71
Education and Training 2.53 2.58
Public Safety and Security 2.51 1.90
Customer and Personal Service 2.49 2.10
Administration and Management 2.44 2.16
Building and Construction 2.39 2.05
Physics 2.14 1.81
Administrative 2.00 1.41
Personnel and Human Resources 1.99 1.13
Computers and Electronics 1.97 1.67
Chemistry 1.94 1.56
Psychology 1.83 1.40
Transportation 1.72 0.68
Law and Government 1.71 0.90
Communications and Media 1.52not rated
Sales and Marketing 1.51 0.84
Economics and Accounting 1.44 0.36
Foreign Language 1.37not rated
Medicine and Dentistry 1.32 0.50
Sociology and Anthropology 1.31 0.56
Telecommunications 1.19not rated
Biology 1.16not rated
Philosophy and Theology 1.16not rated
Food Production 1.14not rated
Therapy and Counseling 1.13not rated
Geography 1.09not rated
Fine Arts 1.08not rated
History and Archeology 1.07not rated
Abilities
NameImportanceLevel
Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.62 3.50
Near Vision 3.38 3.50
Finger Dexterity 3.25 3.12
Problem Sensitivity 3.25 3.12
Control Precision 3.12 3.25
Manual Dexterity 3.12 2.88
Oral Comprehension 3.00 3.12
Deductive Reasoning 3.00 3.00
Selective Attention 3.00 2.88
Visualization 2.88 3.38
Category Flexibility 2.88 3.00
Far Vision 2.88 2.88
Inductive Reasoning 2.88 2.88
Trunk Strength 2.88 2.88
Flexibility of Closure 2.88 2.75
Information Ordering 2.88 2.50
Depth Perception 2.75 2.88
Oral Expression 2.75 2.75
Perceptual Speed 2.75 2.62
Static Strength 2.62 2.88
Multilimb Coordination 2.62 2.75
Reaction Time 2.62 2.75
Rate Control 2.62 2.50
Visual Color Discrimination 2.62 2.50
Auditory Attention 2.62 2.38
Speech Recognition 2.62 2.12
Extent Flexibility 2.50 2.75
Response Orientation 2.50 2.50
Speech Clarity 2.50 2.00
Time Sharing 2.38 2.50
Written Comprehension 2.38 2.38
Fluency of Ideas 2.38 2.12
Hearing Sensitivity 2.25 2.38
Glare Sensitivity 2.25 2.25
Speed of Closure 2.25 2.25
Stamina 2.25 2.00
Originality 2.12 2.12
Dynamic Strength 2.12 2.00
Explosive Strength 2.12 1.88
Gross Body Equilibrium 2.12 1.75
Mathematical Reasoning 2.12 1.75
Wrist-Finger Speed 2.00not rated
Spatial Orientation 2.00 1.75
Gross Body Coordination 2.00 1.62
Number Facility 2.00 1.50
Peripheral Vision 1.88 1.62
Sound Localization 1.88 1.62
Memorization 1.88 1.50
Written Expression 1.75 1.50
Night Vision 1.75 1.25
Dynamic Flexibility 1.62 1.00
Speed of Limb Movement 1.25not rated

Software used

Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.

Where it concentrates

Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.

Metro areaEmploymentLocation quotientMedian annual
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA1,3506.03$56,990
Elkhart-Goshen, IN2,0005.86$50,950
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS2,2205.23$63,440
Wausau, WI9305.00$55,780
Elizabethtown, KY6604.80$59,900
Sheboygan, WI7404.57$59,460
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX1,9804.52$59,190
Casper, WY4804.51$62,660
St. Joseph, MO-KS6104.21$66,060
Longview, TX1,2704.03$52,300

More metros, other thresholds