Will “Welding Operator” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

61% Chance of Automation

“Welding Operator” will maybe be replaced by robots.

This job is ranked #342 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.

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Job Description

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.

Job Details

The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 51-4122.00
The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 38,380.00
The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 18.00
Currently, there are 46,920 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders”.

Also Known As…

Tasks for “Welding Operator”

Start, monitor, and adjust robotic welding production lines.
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.
Mark weld points and positions of components on workpieces, using rules, squares, templates, or scribes.
Set dials and timing controls to regulate electrical current, gas flow pressure, heating or cooling cycles, or shut-off.
Read blueprints, work orders, or production schedules to determine product or job instructions or specifications.
Select, position, align, and bolt jigs, holding fixtures, guides, or stops onto machines, using measuring instruments and hand tools.
Record operational information on specified production reports.
Turn and press knobs and buttons or enter operating instructions into computers to adjust and start welding machines.
Select torch tips, alloys, flux, coil, tubing, or wire, according to metal types or thicknesses, data charts, or records.
Transfer components, metal products, or assemblies, using moving equipment.
Compute and record settings for new work, applying knowledge of metal properties, principles of welding, and shop mathematics.
Give directions to other workers regarding machine set-up and use.
Load or feed workpieces into welding machines to join or bond components.
Anneal finished workpieces to relieve internal stress.
Clean, lubricate, maintain, and adjust equipment to maintain efficient operation, using air hoses, cleaning fluids, and hand tools.
Set up, operate, or tend welding machines that join or bond components to fabricate metal products or assemblies.
Add chemicals or materials to workpieces or machines to facilitate bonding or to cool workpieces.
Remove completed workpieces or parts from machinery, using hand tools.
Correct problems by adjusting controls or by stopping machines and opening holding devices.
Immerse completed workpieces into water or acid baths to cool and clean components.
Dress electrodes, using tip dressers, files, emery cloths, or dressing wheels.
Fill hoppers and position spouts to direct flow of flux or manually brush flux onto seams of workpieces.
Tend auxiliary equipment used in welding processes.
Conduct trial runs before welding, soldering, or brazing and make necessary adjustments to equipment.
Devise or build fixtures or jigs used to hold parts in place during welding, brazing, or soldering.
Prepare metal surfaces or workpieces, using hand-operated equipment, such as grinders, cutters, or drills.
Inspect, measure, or test completed metal workpieces to ensure conformance to specifications, using measuring and testing devices.
Lay out, fit, or connect parts to be bonded, calculating production measurements as necessary.

Related Technology & Tools

C clamps
Hand clamps
Safety goggles
Micrometers
Hand scrapers
Side cutting pliers
Ball peen hammers
Product loading equipment
Cold-welding machines
Single-cut mill saw files
Slip joint pliers
Claw hammers
Power grinders
Spot welding guns
Welding torch tips
Wire brushes
Brazing robots
Welding robots
Outside micrometer calipers
Arc welding equipment
Vernier micrometers
Resistance welding guns
Vise grip pliers
Welding electrodes
Welding tip dressers
Portable welding machines
Undercut gauges
Layout squares
Fillet weld gauges
Rulers
Adjustable widemouth pliers
Magnifiers
Hydraulic booms
Computerized numerical control CNC oxy-fuel systems
Resistance welding machines
Power hoists
Welding tip cleaning files
Diffusion-welding machines
Heating furnaces
Measuring tapes
Workpiece positioning jigs
Laser cutters
Face masks
Tongs
Brazing machines
Soldering machines
Dial calipers
Hydraulic winches
Center punches
Chipping hammers
Gas welding torches
Bench vises
Welding helmets
Tungsten inert gas TIG welding equipment
Desktop computers
Walk-behind lift trucks
Laser-beam machines
Soldering robots
Safety gloves

Data entry software
Tool center point TCP setting software
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Word
Email software
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Office
Word processing software