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.
Also called: Acetylene Burner, Acetylene Cutter, Acetylene Operator, Acetylene Torch Burner, Acetylene Torch Operator, Acetylene Torch Solderer
Median pay
$53,750
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$39,240 – $77,530
People employed
416,210
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 2.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 3.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 4.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 5.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 6.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Long hours on your feet
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers pay by state
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers salary in every state →
What welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers do
- 01Operate safety equipment and use safe work habits.
- 02Examine workpieces for defects and measure workpieces with straightedges or templates to ensure conformance with specifications.
- 03Weld components in flat, vertical, or overhead positions.
- 04Check grooves, angles, or gap allowances, using micrometers, calipers, and precision measuring instruments.
- 05Detect faulty operation of equipment or defective materials and notify supervisors.
- 06Recognize, set up, and operate hand and power tools common to the welding trade, such as shielded metal arc and gas metal arc welding equipment.
Skills that matter most
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Design
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters89% · −5%
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers88% · 0%
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers85% · +22%
- Boilermakers82% · +42%
- Tire Builders81% · +7%
Change into welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters86% · $51,330
- Tire Builders81% · $57,390
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic79% · $46,170
- Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers79% · $58,970
- Sewing Machine Operators79% · $36,670
Majors that lead here
- Welding Engineering Technology/Technician
- Welding Technology/Welder
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.