What You'll Do

  • Weld components in flat, vertical, or overhead positions.
  • Operate safety equipment and use safe work habits.
  • Examine workpieces for defects and measure workpieces with straightedges or templates to ensure conformance with specifications.
  • 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.
  • Weld separately or in combination, using aluminum, stainless steel, cast iron, and other alloys.
  • Select and install torches, torch tips, filler rods, and flux, according to welding chart specifications or types and thicknesses of metals.
  • Ignite torches or start power supplies and strike arcs by touching electrodes to metals being welded, completing electrical circuits.
  • Connect and turn regulator valves to activate and adjust gas flow and pressure so that desired flames are obtained.
  • Determine required equipment and welding methods, applying knowledge of metallurgy, geometry, and welding techniques.
  • Monitor the fitting, burning, and welding processes to avoid overheating of parts or warping, shrinking, distortion, or expansion of material.

Essential Skills

Quality Control Analysis 3.12/5
Monitoring 3.0/5
Critical Thinking 2.88/5
Judgment and Decision Making 2.88/5
Operations Monitoring 2.75/5
Time Management 2.75/5
Active Listening 2.62/5
Speaking 2.62/5
Operation and Control 2.62/5
Reading Comprehension 2.5/5
Complex Problem Solving 2.5/5
Troubleshooting 2.5/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Dependability, Cooperation, Initiative, Self-Control

Want a personal read on fit. Take the free assessment and see your exact compatibility with this career and many related roles.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.62/5
Near Vision 3.38/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.25/5
Finger Dexterity 3.25/5
Manual Dexterity 3.12/5
Control Precision 3.12/5
Oral Comprehension 3.0/5
Deductive Reasoning 3.0/5

Technologies & Tools

Enterprise resource planning ERP software EZ Pipe Fred's Tip Cartridge Picker IBM Notes Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft Windows OmniFleet Equipment Maintenance Management Oracle Database Recordkeeping software Scientific Software Group Filter Drain FD Value Analysis

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.25/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.04/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 3.82/5)
  • Initiative (High importance: 3.81/5)
  • Self-Control (High importance: 3.78/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Acetylene Burner Acetylene Cutter Acetylene Operator Acetylene Torch Burner Acetylene Torch Operator Acetylene Torch Solderer Aluminum Welder Arc Cutter Arc Wedler Arc Welder Assembler Brazer Assembly Line Brazer Atomic Welder Bar Welder Barrel Ribs Solderer Basin Finish Operator Bit Welder Blade Worker Blow Torch Burner Blow Torch Operator Body Welder Boiler Welder Bonder Brazer Brazing Furnace Operator Burner Butt Welder Can Solderer Certified Maintenance Welder Combination Welder Connector Cutting Torch Operator Deicer Finisher Die Welder Dip Brazier Dipper Electric Arc Welder Electric Solderer Electric Spot Welder Electric Welder Electrical Solderer Experimental Welder Fabrication Welder Filament Welder Flame Burner Flame Cutter Flash Welder Frame Welder Gas Brazer Gas Burner Operator Gas Cutter Gas Torch Brazier Gas Torch Solderer Gas Welder Getter Welder Gun Welder Hand Thermal Cutter Heliarc Welder Helium Arc Welder Induction Heating Equipment Setter Industrial Welder Iron Cutter Lap Welder Line Welder Machine Operator Maintenance Welder Metal Fabrication Welder Metal Solderer Metal Welder MIG Welder (Metal Inert Gas Welder) Oxyacetylene Burner Oxyacetylene Cutter Oxyacetylene Torch Operator Oxyacetylene Welder Oxyhydrogen Welder Pipe Welder Production Line Solderer Production Line Welder Production Welder Rail Bonder Refrigeration Brazer Refrigeration Solderer Resistance Brazer Retrofit Welder Robotic Welder Scrap Burner Scrap Cutter Scrap Iron Cutter Scrap Metal Burner Setup Welder Sheet Metal Welder Shotweld Operator Silver Brazer Silver Solderer Solderer Solderer Dipper Soldering Technician (Soldering Tech) Spot Welder Steel Burner Steel Cutter Steel Welder Stick Welder Stitch Welder Structural Welder Sub Arc Operator Tack Welder Tank Welder Thermite Welder TIG Welder (Tungsten Inert Gas Welder) Torch Burner Torch Cutter Torch Heater Torch Operator Torch Shearer Torch Solderer Torch Straightener Ultrasonic Hand Solderer Ultrasonic Solderer Underwater Welder Unionmelt Operator Weld Layout Worker Welder Welder Fabricator Welder Fitter Welder Operator Welder Technician (Welder Tech) Welding Burner Welding Setter Welding Specialist Welding Technician Welding Tester Wire Welder Wirer