Occupation Details
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
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.
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Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Values
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$35,660.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$46,810.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$56,670.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
580
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
640
+6 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
70
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.1%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Some Training - Certificate or hands-on training
Experience Requirements
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Education Requirements
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Apprenticeship
Contact your regional representative to learn more about apprenticeships available in your area by visiting Apprenticeship Contacts.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Design
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Adjustable widemouth pliers
- Arc welding equipment
- Ball peen hammers
- Bench vises
- Brazing machines
- Brazing robots
- C clamps
- Center punches
- Chipping hammers
- Claw hammers
- Cold-welding machines
- Computerized numerical control CNC oxy-fuel systems
- Desktop computers
- Dial calipers
- Diffusion-welding machines
- Face masks
- Fillet weld gauges
- Gas welding torches
- Hand clamps
- Hand scrapers
- Heating furnaces
- Hydraulic booms
- Hydraulic winches
- Laser cutters
- Laser-beam machines
- Layout squares
- Magnifiers
- Measuring tapes
- Micrometers
- Outside micrometer calipers
Technology
- Email software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Linux
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft operating system
- SAP business and customer relations management software
- Spreadsheet software
- Tool center point TCP setting software
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- maintain production or work records
- set up computer numerical control machines
- lay out machining, welding or precision assembly projects
- test manufactured products or materials
- demonstrate or explain assembly or use of equipment
- use spot or tack welding techniques
- adjust production equipment/machinery setup
- set up production equipment or machinery
- clean equipment or machinery
- install equipment or attachments on machinery or related structures
- monitor production machinery/equipment operation to detect problems
- understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
- recognize characteristics of metals
- perform safety inspections in manufacturing or industrial setting
- examine products or work to verify conformance to specifications
- use precision measuring tools or equipment
- operate metal or plastic fabricating equipment/machinery
- use hand or power tools
- use non-destructive test equipment
- use acetylene welding/cutting torch
- weld together metal parts, components, or structures
- solder metal parts or components together
- braze metal parts or components together
- operate hoist, winch, or hydraulic boom
- read blueprints
- read specifications
- read production layouts
- read technical drawings
- read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
- move or fit heavy objects
- preheat metal before welding, brazing, or soldering
- clean or degrease weld, or parts to be welded or soldered
- position, clamp or assemble workpiece prior to welding
- fabricate, assemble, or disassemble manufactured products by hand
- load or unload material or workpiece into machinery
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Inspect, measure, or test completed metal workpieces to ensure conformance to specifications, using measuring and testing devices.
- Read blueprints, work orders, or production schedules to determine product or job instructions or specifications.
- Load or feed workpieces into welding machines to join or bond components.
- Observe meters, gauges, or machine operations to ensure that soldering or brazing processes meet specifications.
- Assemble, align, and clamp workpieces into holding fixtures to bond, heat-treat, or solder fabricated metal components.
- Set up, operate, or tend welding machines that join or bond components to fabricate metal products or assemblies.
- Turn and press knobs and buttons or enter operating instructions into computers to adjust and start welding machines.
- Lay out, fit, or connect parts to be bonded, calculating production measurements, as necessary.
- Compute and record settings for new work, applying knowledge of metal properties, principles of welding, and shop mathematics.
- Correct problems by adjusting controls or by stopping machines and opening holding devices.
- Set dials and timing controls to regulate electrical current, gas flow pressure, heating or cooling cycles, or shut-off.
- Give directions to other workers regarding machine set-up and use.
- Select, position, align, and bolt jigs, holding fixtures, guides, or stops onto machines, using measuring instruments and hand tools.
- Mark weld points and positions of components on workpieces, using rules, squares, templates, or scribes.
- Record operational information on specified production reports.
- Prepare metal surfaces or workpieces, using hand-operated equipment, such as grinders, cutters, or drills.
- Clean, lubricate, maintain, and adjust equipment to maintain efficient operation, using air hoses, cleaning fluids, and hand tools.
- Transfer components, metal products, or assemblies, using moving equipment.
- Conduct trial runs before welding, soldering, or brazing, and make necessary adjustments to equipment.
- Remove completed workpieces or parts from machinery, using hand tools.
- Select torch tips, alloys, flux, coil, tubing, or wire, according to metal types or thicknesses, data charts, or records.
- Tend auxiliary equipment used in welding processes.
- Fill hoppers and position spouts to direct flow of flux or manually brush flux onto seams of workpieces.
- Start, monitor, and adjust robotic welding production lines.
- Devise or build fixtures or jigs used to hold parts in place during welding, brazing, or soldering.
- Add chemicals or materials to workpieces or machines to facilitate bonding or to cool workpieces.
- Immerse completed workpieces into water or acid baths to cool and clean components.
- Dress electrodes, using tip dressers, files, emery cloths, or dressing wheels.
- Anneal finished workpieces to relieve internal stress.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Welding, soldering, and brazing workers
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
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