Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more
- Job Outlook
-
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 5% (As fast as average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.) - Licenses/Certifications
- Courses leading to certification are offered at many welding schools. For example, the American Welding Society offers the Certified Welder designation.
- Median pay: How much do Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers make?
- $39,390 Annual Salary
- $18.94 per hour
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers use hand-held or remotely controlled equipment to join or cut metal parts. They also fill holes, indentations, or seams in metal products.
What do Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers do?
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers typically do the following:
- Study blueprints, sketches, or specifications
- Calculate the dimensions of parts to be welded
- Inspect structures or materials to be welded
- Ignite torches or start power supplies
- Monitor the welding process to avoid overheating
- Maintain equipment and machinery
Welding is the most common way of permanently joining metal parts. In this process, heat is applied to metal pieces, melting and fusing them to form a permanent bond. Because of its strength, welding is used in shipbuilding, automobile manufacturing and repair, aerospace applications, and thousands of other manufacturing activities. Welding also is used to join steel beams in the construction of buildings, bridges, and other structures and to join pipes in pipelines, power plants, and refineries.