Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
SOC Code: 51-4121
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers carries a 29% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $51,000 and +2.2% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 457,300 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 29% AI exposure, Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers sits 8 points below the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 26% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Where Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers has ai exposure of 29%. Distribution: 1 occupations at 0-10%; 43 occupations at 10-20%; 184 occupations at 20-30%; 332 occupations at 30-40%; 158 occupations at 40-50%; 64 occupations at 50-60%; 29 occupations at 60-70%; 15 occupations at 70-80%; 5 occupations at 80-90%; 1 occupations at 90-100%.
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers (SOC 51-4121) carries an AI exposure score of 29%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 457,300 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +2.2% change through 2034 - modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $51,000, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires High school diploma or equivalent, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Registered Apprenticeship Pathway Available
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers is a recognized registered apprenticeship occupation under the DOL RAPIDS system. Earn while you train, apprentices typically start at ~$16/hr and reach $28–$46/hr upon completion, depending on the specific trade and region.
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Operate safety equipment and use safe work habits.
- 2. Examine workpieces for defects and measure workpieces with straightedges or templates to ensure conformance with specifications.
- 3. Weld components in flat, vertical, or overhead positions.
- 4. Check grooves, angles, or gap allowances, using micrometers, calipers, and precision measuring instruments.
- 5. Detect faulty operation of equipment or defective materials and notify supervisors.
- 6. 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.
- 7. Select and install torches, torch tips, filler rods, and flux, according to welding chart specifications or types and thicknesses of metals.
- 8. Mark or tag material with proper job number, piece marks, and other identifying marks as required.
- 9. Determine required equipment and welding methods, applying knowledge of metallurgy, geometry, and welding techniques.
- 10. Prepare all material surfaces to be welded, ensuring that there is no loose or thick scale, slag, rust, moisture, grease, or other foreign matter.
Key Skills Required
- Quality Control Analysis
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Operations Monitoring
- Time Management
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Operation and Control
- Reading Comprehension
Knowledge Areas
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Design
- Engineering and Technology
- Education and Training
- Public Safety and Security
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers?
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers has an AI exposure score of 29%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers is projected to grow by 2.2% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 457,300 workers.
What skills are needed for Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers?
Key skills for Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers include Quality Control Analysis, Monitoring, Critical Thinking, and others. Typical entry-level education is High school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn?
The median annual wage for Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers is $51,000, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers?
The typical entry-level education for Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers is High school diploma or equivalent. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Moderate-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers?
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
Career Guides
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).