National
| Median wages (2008) |
$15.20 hourly, $31,610 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
53,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Slower than average (3% to 6%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
13,000 additional employees |
51-4122.00 - 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.
Sample of reported job titles:
Welder, Fabricator, Finishing Technician, Fitter-Welder, Mig Welder, Robot Operator, Braze Operator, Machine Operator, Spot Welder, Technical Associate (TA)
Tasks
- Turn and press knobs and buttons or enter operating instructions into computers to adjust and start welding machines.
- Set up, operate, and tend welding machines that join or bond components to fabricate metal products or assemblies.
- Load or feed workpieces into welding machines to join or bond components.
- Give directions to other workers regarding machine set-up and use.
- Correct problems by adjusting controls or by stopping machines and opening holding devices.
- Inspect, measure, or test completed metal workpieces to ensure conformance to specifications, using measuring and testing devices.
- Record operational information on specified production reports.
- Start, monitor, and adjust robotic welding production lines.
- Read blueprints, work orders, and production schedules to determine product or job instructions and specifications.
- Assemble, align, and clamp workpieces into holding fixtures to bond, heat-treat, or solder fabricated metal components.
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Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Gas welding or brazing or cutting apparatus — Arc welding equipment; Brazing machines; Computerized numerical control CNC oxy-fuel systems |
| Hammers — Ball peen hammers; Claw hammers |
| Micrometers — Vernier micrometers |
| Welders — Cold-welding machines; Diffusion-welding machines; Resistance welding guns; Welding machines |
| Welding robots — Brazing robots; Soldering robots |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Data base user interface and query software — Data entry software |
| Electronic mail software — Email software |
| Industrial control software — Tool center point TCP setting software |
| Spreadsheet software |
| Word processing software |
| 51-4011.00 |
Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic 
|
| 51-4022.00 |
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4031.00 |
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
|
| 51-4033.00 |
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4072.00 |
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4081.00 |
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
|
| 51-4191.00 |
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-6091.00 |
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers |
| 51-9012.00 |
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
|
| 51-9032.00 |
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
