What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers in the U.S. earn more than $53,750 a year — the middle 80% land between $39,240 and $77,530. About 416,210 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Plant and machine operators and assemblers earn about ₹17,329 a month on average — around ₹2.1 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$53,750typical pay / year
416,210people in this work
$77,530+top 10% earn
₹2.1 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Fixing3
Maintain equipment and machinery
+Perform preventive maintenance on the plasma cutter and bending press: follow the scheduled checklist,…
Maintain equipment and machinery
+Perform preventive maintenance on the plasma cutter and bending press: follow the scheduled checklist, replace worn consumables, calibrate temperatures and travel limits, note torque and clearances in the equipment log, and flag anything out of tolerance for repair.
The tools that do the workOmniFleet Equipment Maintenance ManagementESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Hammer out bulges or bends in metal workpieces.
+Hammer out the bulge in the left rear panel: secure the workpiece in the press, use the dolly and shrinking…
Hammer out bulges or bends in metal workpieces.
+Hammer out the bulge in the left rear panel: secure the workpiece in the press, use the dolly and shrinking hammer to level the metal, recheck fit against the jig, and mark any cracks or thin spots for replacement.
The tools that do the workRecordkeepingjob descriptionsO*NET
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Inspect structures or materials to be welded
+Inspect the steel frames and pipe spools for the tank rebuild, record weld joint gaps, note any cracks or…
Inspect structures or materials to be welded
+Inspect the steel frames and pipe spools for the tank rebuild, record weld joint gaps, note any cracks or porosity, remove two warped plates from the kit, and file a defect report to maintenance by Thursday afternoon.
The tools that do the workRecordkeepingjob descriptionsO*NET
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Make2
Weld materials according to blueprint specifications
+Weld the support brackets on Bay 3 to blueprint S-12, tack in position, run continuous fillet welds to…
Weld materials according to blueprint specifications
+Weld the support brackets on Bay 3 to blueprint S-12, tack in position, run continuous fillet welds to specified sizes, verify weld profile and penetration, and hand the assembly to QA for dye-penetrant by end of shift.
The tools that do the workValue Analysisjob descriptionsO*NET
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Melt and form a metal filler in between the joints
+Melt and feed the specified ER70 filler into the lap joints on the pressure manifold, maintain arc…
Melt and form a metal filler in between the joints
+Melt and feed the specified ER70 filler into the lap joints on the pressure manifold, maintain arc temperature for consistent puddle, grind out any slag inclusions, and sign off the weld log when all six joints pass visual checks.
The tools that do the workRecordkeepingESCOjob descriptions
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Learning1
Read and interpret blueprints, sketches, and specifications
+Study the erection drawings and detail sheet D-45, mark up two mismatched hole patterns on the flange sketch,…
Read and interpret blueprints, sketches, and specifications
+Study the erection drawings and detail sheet D-45, mark up two mismatched hole patterns on the flange sketch, confirm material thickness and groove angles, and call engineering before cutting or altering parts.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Officejob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work14
Spot metal imperfections
+Inspect the welded batch of A36 gussets on the bench, mark and catalogue all surface pits, cracks, cold laps…
Spot metal imperfections
+Inspect the welded batch of A36 gussets on the bench, mark and catalogue all surface pits, cracks, cold laps and porosity, flag pieces that exceed accept/reject criteria, photograph each defect, and log dispositions by end of shift.
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Prepare pieces for joining
+Strip mill scale from the twelve 3mm stainless tabs, bevel edges to specified joint geometry, preheat to the…
Prepare pieces for joining
+Strip mill scale from the twelve 3mm stainless tabs, bevel edges to specified joint geometry, preheat to the required temperature, clip out any warped or cracked blanks, and stage the prepared pieces in the welding jig labelled Line B for tomorrow's TIG run.
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Monitor the welding process and adjust heat as necessary
+Watch the weld seam on the chassis run, read the pyrometer and thermocouple, adjust torch heat and wire feed…
Monitor the welding process and adjust heat as necessary
+Watch the weld seam on the chassis run, read the pyrometer and thermocouple, adjust torch heat and wire feed to hold 650–720°C for the steel grade, note any burn-through, and log deviations in the shift report.
The tools that do the workOmniFleet Equipment Maintenance Managementjob descriptions
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Solder together two or more items, usually metals
+Tack the two stainless housings, bring the joint to the correct brazing temperature, feed the chosen filler…
Solder together two or more items, usually metals
+Tack the two stainless housings, bring the joint to the correct brazing temperature, feed the chosen filler evenly along the joint until capillary action is full, then cool and inspect for voids and insufficient wetting.
The tools that do the workRecordkeepingESCO
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Ensure correct metal temperature
+Confirm material spec and thickness, verify pyrometer and thermocouple readings, heat the area to the target…
Ensure correct metal temperature
+Confirm material spec and thickness, verify pyrometer and thermocouple readings, heat the area to the target temperature band for that alloy, and shim or slow travel if readings drift outside tolerance.
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Select filler metal
+Check the job ticket for alloy and joint type, compare available rods and wires to spec, pick the filler that…
Select filler metal
+Check the job ticket for alloy and joint type, compare available rods and wires to spec, pick the filler that matches composition and melting point, and stage enough spools for the run with labels attached.
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Remove inadequate workpieces
+Inspect the batch, clamp suspect pieces off the line, mark failed parts with defect code, cut out or grind…
Remove inadequate workpieces
+Inspect the batch, clamp suspect pieces off the line, mark failed parts with defect code, cut out or grind back the faulty area for rework, and update the part status in the work log before continuing.
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Check grooves, angles, or gap allowances, using micrometers, calipers, and precision measuring instruments.
+Verify groove widths, bevel angles and root gaps on the ten fabrication spools for Job 4127 using micrometers…
Check grooves, angles, or gap allowances, using micrometers, calipers, and precision measuring instruments.
+Verify groove widths, bevel angles and root gaps on the ten fabrication spools for Job 4127 using micrometers and calipers, record any out-of-tolerance readings, tag affected parts for rework, and notify Sean on first shift by noon.
The tools that do the workRecordkeepingO*NET
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Weld components in flat, vertical, or overhead positions.
+Lay out and weld the two assembly plates for Order 587 in flat then vertical positions, switch to overhead…
Weld components in flat, vertical, or overhead positions.
+Lay out and weld the two assembly plates for Order 587 in flat then vertical positions, switch to overhead only for the final tack if required, monitor travel speed and puddle, and stop immediately to remove any piece showing burn-through.
The tools that do the workRecordkeepingO*NET
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Mark or tag material with proper job number, piece marks, and other identifying marks as required.
+Mark each finished brace for Project Kestrel with the Job 302 number, the piece mark, and my initials using…
Mark or tag material with proper job number, piece marks, and other identifying marks as required.
+Mark each finished brace for Project Kestrel with the Job 302 number, the piece mark, and my initials using the stencil and scribe, photograph the batch, and hand the labelled pieces to Lisa in shipping at 3pm.
The tools that do the workRecordkeepingO*NET
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Connect and turn regulator valves to activate and adjust gas flow and pressure so that desired flames are obtained.
+Hook up the oxygen and acetylene lines to torch set 4, open regulators and tune pressure so the neutral flame…
Connect and turn regulator valves to activate and adjust gas flow and pressure so that desired flames are obtained.
+Hook up the oxygen and acetylene lines to torch set 4, open regulators and tune pressure so the neutral flame forms, confirm with Maria and weld test coupon A before starting on the structural channel run.
The tools that do the workOmniFleet Equipment Maintenance ManagementO*NET
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Use fire suppression methods in industrial emergencies.
+Respond to the shop smoke alarm at Bay B, deploy the portable extinguisher to the smouldering packing crate,…
Use fire suppression methods in industrial emergencies.
+Respond to the shop smoke alarm at Bay B, deploy the portable extinguisher to the smouldering packing crate, cut power to nearby torches, account for crew, and complete an incident note for Bill in safety before shift end.
The tools that do the workRecordkeepingO*NET
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Calculate and measure dimensions of parts to be welded
+Measure and calculate all part dimensions for the six gusset plates on Drawing G-12, enter finished…
Calculate and measure dimensions of parts to be welded
+Measure and calculate all part dimensions for the six gusset plates on Drawing G-12, enter finished dimensions and tolerances into the parts log, flag any that need grinding to fit, and send the list to procurement by 4pm.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Value analysis
+Update the value analysis for the welded pressure manifold built for Parker Compressors, recording material…
Value analysis
+Update the value analysis for the welded pressure manifold built for Parker Compressors, recording material substitutes tested, labor hours, scrap rates and final unit cost before I sign off tomorrow morning.
The tools that do the workValue AnalysisO*NET
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses