Will “Operator” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

61% Chance of Automation

“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 “Operator”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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