Skills it runs on
The capabilities O*NET rates most important for this occupation — the human ground the work is built on.
See all skills →Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Occupation · SOC 51-4122.00
Set up, operate, or tend welding, soldering, or brazing machines or robots that weld, braze, solder, or heat treat metal products, components, or assemblies. Includes workers who operate laser cutters or laser-beam machines.
Also called: Fabricator · Machine Operator · Mig Welder · Spot Welder · Braze Operator · Certified Welder · Finishing Technician (Finishing Tech) · Laser Operator · Weld Technician (Weld Tech) · Welding Operator · Aluminum Welder · Arc Welding Machine Operator
Job family: Production Occupations
Take this to your AI
A source-stamped Markdown brief of this occupation — paste it into an agent, or fetch
/roles/role-51-4122-00/context.md directly.
AI work map
A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.
Market signal
Independent published positions, read together — not a forecast.
- Declining employment outlook (-9.0% by 2034)
- 3,200 openings/yr
- Low AI exposure
- Median pay $47,060/yr
- Work is mostly on-site (not teleworkable)
- 2013 flagged this for computerization (52nd); today's AI task-overlap is comparatively low (15th)
15th-percentile task overlap — yet about 3,200 openings a year (-9% projected, BLS) . What exposure means →
AI & job outlook
What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.
Exposure to current AI
Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.
| Measure | Rank vs all occupations | Percentile | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) Low | 17th | -1.0 | |
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) Low | 13th | 0.1 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) Low | 23rd | 0.1 |
OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.0), with simple added tooling (β 0.1), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.1). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.
This job mostly cannot be done remotely (Dingel–Neiman) — its hands-on tasks sit outside what software-based AI reaches.
Historical automation estimate (2013)
A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
Frey–Osborne probability 0.6 · 52nd percentile among occupations · Moderate
Job outlook
Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.
| Outlook | Declining · -9.0% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 3,200 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 38,900 → 35,400 |
“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.
Where this work sits on the global GenAI gradient
The ILO's 2025 global study scores generative-AI exposure on the international ISCO-08 occupation system, not US SOC. Bridged through the published (and approximate, many-to-many) IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 crosswalk, this US occupation corresponds to the international occupation below. Exposure here means how much of the work's tasks today's AI can attempt — task overlap, not automation, adoption, or jobs lost.
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits at the 11th percentile of 427
occupations on the global GenAI task-exposure gradient
— exposure rose from 2023 to 2025. Each dot is one occupation; the
ringed one is this work. Exposure is task overlap, not automation or jobs lost.
13% mean task exposure (2025)
11th percentile of 427 placed occupations
+2 pts shift 2023 → 2025
| International occupation (ISCO-08) | Task exposure (2025) | Most tasks fall in |
|---|---|---|
| Welders and Flame Cutters · 7212 | 13% | Not exposed |
Read the whole six-band gradient on the GenAI exposure gradient page. The crosswalk is approximate: a US occupation can map to several international ones, and the ILO scores describe the international occupation, not this exact US role.
Tasks
All 29 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
- Read blueprints, work orders, or production schedules to determine product or job instructions or specifications. Core · importance 4.2
- Inspect, measure, or test completed metal workpieces to ensure conformance to specifications, using measuring and testing devices. Core · importance 4.2
- Add chemicals or materials to workpieces or machines to facilitate bonding or to cool workpieces. Supplemental · importance 4.0
- Record operational information on specified production reports. Supplemental · importance 4.0
- Correct problems by adjusting controls or by stopping machines and opening holding devices. Core · importance 4.0
- Set up, operate, or tend welding machines that join or bond components to fabricate metal products or assemblies. Core · importance 4.0
- Select torch tips, alloys, flux, coil, tubing, or wire, according to metal types or thicknesses, data charts, or records. Supplemental · importance 4.0
- Lay out, fit, or connect parts to be bonded, calculating production measurements, as necessary. Core · importance 4.0
- Mark weld points and positions of components on workpieces, using rules, squares, templates, or scribes. Core · importance 4.0
- Prepare metal surfaces or workpieces, using hand-operated equipment, such as grinders, cutters, or drills. Core · importance 4.0
- Set dials and timing controls to regulate electrical current, gas flow pressure, heating or cooling cycles, or shut-off. Supplemental · importance 3.9
- Assemble, align, and clamp workpieces into holding fixtures to bond, heat-treat, or solder fabricated metal components. Core · importance 3.9
- Turn and press knobs and buttons or enter operating instructions into computers to adjust and start welding machines. Supplemental · importance 3.9
- Conduct trial runs before welding, soldering, or brazing, and make necessary adjustments to equipment. Core · importance 3.9
- Tend auxiliary equipment used in welding processes. Core · importance 3.9
- Give directions to other workers regarding machine set-up and use. Core · importance 3.9
- Clean, lubricate, maintain, and adjust equipment to maintain efficient operation, using air hoses, cleaning fluids, and hand tools. Core · importance 3.8
- Select, position, align, and bolt jigs, holding fixtures, guides, or stops onto machines, using measuring instruments and hand tools. Core · importance 3.8
- Remove completed workpieces or parts from machinery, using hand tools. Core · importance 3.8
- Compute and record settings for new work, applying knowledge of metal properties, principles of welding, and shop mathematics. Supplemental · importance 3.8
- Anneal finished workpieces to relieve internal stress. Supplemental · importance 3.7
- Load or feed workpieces into welding machines to join or bond components. Supplemental · importance 3.7
- Observe meters, gauges, or machine operations to ensure that soldering or brazing processes meet specifications. Supplemental · importance 3.7
- Fill hoppers and position spouts to direct flow of flux or manually brush flux onto seams of workpieces. Supplemental · importance 3.6
- Transfer components, metal products, or assemblies, using moving equipment. Core · importance 3.6
- Start, monitor, and adjust robotic welding production lines. Supplemental · importance 3.5
- Devise or build fixtures or jigs used to hold parts in place during welding, brazing, or soldering. Supplemental · importance 3.5
- Dress electrodes, using tip dressers, files, emery cloths, or dressing wheels. Supplemental · importance 3.2
- Immerse completed workpieces into water or acid baths to cool and clean components. Supplemental · importance 3.0
Work activities
- Enter commands, instructions, or specifications into equipment.
- Operate welding equipment.
- Load materials into production equipment.
- Feed materials or products into or through equipment.
- Direct operational or production activities.
- Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
- Record operational or production data.
- Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
- Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
- Assemble metal or plastic parts or products.
- Align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly.
- Lay out parts to prepare for assembly.
- Conduct test runs of production equipment.
- Solder parts or workpieces.
- Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.
- Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning.
- Select production equipment according to product specifications.
- Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
- Calculate specific material, equipment, or labor requirements for production.
- Reshape metal workpieces to established specifications.
- Operate grinding equipment.
- Operate cutting equipment.
- Clean production equipment.
- Maintain production or processing equipment.
- Lubricate production equipment.
- Adjust equipment controls to regulate gas flow.
- Adjust flow of electricity to tools or production equipment.
- Assemble machine tools, parts, or fixtures.
- Design tools, fixtures, or other devices for production equipment.
- Move products, materials, or equipment between work areas.
- Apply solutions to production equipment.
- Apply lubricants or coolants to workpieces.
- Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references.
- Heat material or workpieces to prepare for or complete production.
- Immerse objects or workpieces in cleaning or coating solutions.
Knowledge, skills & abilities
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
Knowledge
| Production and Processing | 3.8 | |
| Administration and Management | 3.5 | |
| Design | 3.1 | |
| Public Safety and Security | 2.9 | |
| English Language | 2.8 |
Abilities
| Near Vision | 3.8 | |
| Control Precision | 3.6 | |
| Visualization | 3.3 | |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.3 | |
| Manual Dexterity | 3.3 | |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.1 | |
| Information Ordering | 3.1 | |
| Selective Attention | 3.1 | |
| Multilimb Coordination | 3.1 | |
| Oral Expression | 3.0 | |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.0 | |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.0 | |
| Category Flexibility | 3.0 | |
| Perceptual Speed | 3.0 | |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.0 | |
| Rate Control | 3.0 | |
| Reaction Time | 3.0 | |
| Trunk Strength | 3.0 | |
| Extent Flexibility | 3.0 | |
| Far Vision | 3.0 | |
| Speech Recognition | 3.0 | |
| Speech Clarity | 3.0 | |
| Oral Comprehension | 2.9 | |
| Written Comprehension | 2.9 | |
| Flexibility of Closure | 2.9 | |
| Static Strength | 2.9 | |
| Auditory Attention | 2.9 |
Transferable skills
| Operations Monitoring | 3.4 | |
| Operation and Control | 3.3 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
Essential skills
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 | |
| Active Listening | 3.0 | |
| Speaking | 3.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 | |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
Skills in demand
Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.
Tools & technology
| Example | Category | |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | Operating system software | Hot technology |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | Hot technology |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | Hot technology |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | Hot technology |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software | Hot technology |
| Microsoft Windows | Operating system software | Hot technology |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | Hot technology |
| SAP software | Enterprise resource planning ERP software | Hot technology |
| Email software | Electronic mail software | |
| Tool center point TCP setting software | Industrial control software |
Work context
How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.
How to get in
- Job zone
- Zone 2 — Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Typical entry-level education
- High school diploma or equivalent · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement
- Related experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Preparation level
- SVP (Below 6.0) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.
What to study: Precision Production . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.
Education of current workers
Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.
| High School Diploma | 32.0% | |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 21.8% |
Interests & work styles
The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.
Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)
| Realistic | 7.0 | |
| Conventional | 3.9 | |
| Investigative | 2.0 | |
| Enterprising | 1.5 | |
| Artistic | 1.3 |
Interest areas
Work styles
| Attention to Detail | 2.3 | |
| Dependability | 2.3 | |
| Cautiousness | 1.9 |
Wages & employment
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $35,780 |
| 25th percentile | $39,480 |
| Median (50th) | $47,060 |
| 75th percentile | $55,870 |
| 90th percentile | $66,190 |
| People employed | 36,290 |
Industries that employ this occupation
Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.
| Industry | Workers | National median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing · Sector | 30,940 | $47,000 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | 1,700 | $48,440 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 1,460 | $39,780 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 1,370 | $39,360 |
| Machine Shops · National industry | 1,230 | $47,060 |
| Construction · Sector | 960 | $45,120 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | 410 | $73,630 |
| Engineering Services · National industry | 410 | $73,630 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) · Sector | 270 | $55,860 |
| Utilities · Sector | 120 | $94,100 |
| Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing · National industry | 120 | $39,880 |
| Retail Trade · Sector | 120 | $35,710 |
Where this work is most concentrated
Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).
| Industry | Concentration | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing · National industry | 25.59× | 120 |
| Machine Shops · National industry | 20.12× | 1,230 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | 10.3× | 30,940 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 2.2× | 1,370 |
| Engineering Services · National industry | 1.51× | 410 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | 1.2× | 1,700 |
| Utilities · Sector | 0.88× | 120 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 0.69× | 1,460 |
Related occupations
Part of the Construction career cluster.
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers · 51-4121.00 Compare →
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic · 51-4035.00 Compare →
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters · 51-2041.00 Compare →
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic · 51-4034.00 Compare →
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers · 51-2011.00 Compare →
- Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers · 51-2022.00 Compare →
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics · 49-9041.00 Compare →
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic · 51-4081.00 Compare →
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic · 51-4022.00 Compare →
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners · 51-4194.00 Compare →
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic · 51-4033.00 Compare →
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers · 51-2031.00 Compare →
Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.
What you can do with this
Options the data surfaces for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.
Skills that travel
Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.
Adjacent roles
Occupations O*NET rates as related — the nearby moves on the map.
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers Compare →
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Compare →
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Compare →
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Compare →
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers Compare →
Paths in
How people typically prepare for this work.
- High school diploma or equivalent · typical entry level
- Job zone 2 — Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed · preparation tier
- Precision Production · field of study
Zoom out
On the global GenAI exposure gradient this work sits around the 11th percentile of 427 international occupations.
Write a report on thisheadline · factoids · citation
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders show 15th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 3,200 annual U.S. openings
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders rank in the 15th percentile (Low band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated.Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE
- The occupation is projected to see about 3,200 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- BLS projects employment to be declining (-9%) from 2024 to 2034.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- Median annual pay is $47,060, across about 36,290 U.S. workers.BLS OEWS (May 2024)
Copy the whole kit
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders show 15th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 3,200 annual U.S. openings • Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders rank in the 15th percentile (Low band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE) • The occupation is projected to see about 3,200 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • BLS projects employment to be declining (-9%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $47,060, across about 36,290 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) Source: Singulariki — "Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-51-4122-00 Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
AssetsShare imageMethodology & sourcesPress & newsroomThe newsroom
Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
Sources for this page
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
- O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
- “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic
- AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans academic
- ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025 International Labour Organization
- IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022 Institute for Structural Research (IBS)
- Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation academic
- Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome academic
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Cite this page
Plain
Singulariki. "Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-51-4122-00
APA
Singulariki. (2026). Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-51-4122-00
BibTeX
@misc{singulariki-role-51-4122-00,
title = {Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-51-4122-00}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.