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.

Care to share? Click for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or XING. 👍

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”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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