Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Operators
On the Job
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Operators set up, operate, or tend machines that weld, braze, solder, or heat treat metal products. They may operate laser cutters.
Physical Demands 
This career requires time standing, walking, or running.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Adjust equipment controls to regulate gas flow.
- Adjust flow of electricity to tools or production equipment.
- Align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly.
- Apply solutions to production equipment.
- Assemble machine tools, parts, or fixtures.
- Assemble metal or plastic parts or products.
- Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references.
- Feed materials or products into or through equipment.
- Heat material or workpieces to prepare for or complete production.
- Immerse objects or workpieces in cleaning or coating solutions.
Typical Working Conditions
- Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
- Standing.
- Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
- Exposure to sounds or noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable.
- Meeting strict deadlines.
- The importance of being accurate or exact.
- Having face-to-face discussions.
- Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.
- Working indoors in non-environmentally controlled conditions.

This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.