Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
SOC Code: 51-4121Also known as:
Acetylene Burner, Acetylene Cutter, Acetylene Operator, Acetylene Torch Burner, Acetylene Torch Operator
Median Annual Salary
$51,000
+2.2% growth (2024-2034)
46K
Openings/Year
457K
Current Jobs
What Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers Do
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.
💰 Salary
$51,000
Median annual wage (2024)
📈 Job Growth
+2.2%
As fast as average
🎓 Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical entry-level requirement
🚀 Annual Openings
46K
Projected average per year
📚 On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Expected training period
Employment Projections (2024-2034)
Current Employment (2024)
457,300
Projected Employment (2034)
467,200
Related Careers
Boilermakers
$73,340 •
-2.4% growth
Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers
$61,680 •
-14.5% growth
Engine and other machine assemblers
$52,540 •
-21.1% growth
Structural metal fabricators and fitters
$49,900 •
-16.3% growth
Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders
$47,060 •
-9.0% growth
Top Skills Required
Quality Control Analysis
Monitoring
Critical Thinking
Judgment and Decision Making
Operations Monitoring
Daily Tasks & Responsibilities
- 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.
Technology & Tools
📚 Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Most common requirement
🎯 Recommended Education
High School Diploma
O*NET recommended level
Degree Programs for Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers:
Welding Technology/Welder
57,768 degrees awarded •
902 colleges offer this program
Welding Engineering Technology/Technician
609 degrees awarded •
30 colleges offer this program
Best Colleges for Becoming a Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers.
Want this ranking as a spreadsheet? Investor Pro+ members can export any Repit table to CSV. See plans →
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers make?
The median annual salary for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers is $51,000.
What education do welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers need?
Most welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent.
Common degree programs include Welding Technology/Welder, Welding Engineering Technology/Technician.
Is becoming welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers a good career choice?
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers is projected to see +2.2% job growth from 2024 to 2034,
which is about average for all occupations. With approximately 45,600 job openings expected annually,
there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers?
Top colleges for aspiring welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers include
Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College, Texas State Technical College, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, South Texas College, Maysville Community and Technical College.
These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers?
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers may also be known as: Acetylene Burner, Acetylene Cutter, Acetylene Operator, Acetylene Torch Burner, Acetylene Torch Operator, Acetylene Torch Solderer, Aluminum Welder, Arc Cutter, Arc Wedler, Arc Welder, Assembler Brazer, Assembly Line Brazer, Atomic Welder, Bar Welder, Barrel Ribs Solderer, Basin Finish Operator, Bit Welder, Blade Worker, Blow Torch Burner, Blow Torch Operator.
These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.