Welding is a valuable skill in many industries. Gain hands-on training by taking a class at your school or in your community. If you're not sure where to start, try your local community college!

Take a welding class.

Research internship opportunities for machining. Gain valuable skills and training for your future career! 

Find a machining internship.

Watch clips from "How It's Made" to see how objects like artificial limbs, nails, footballs, mustard, and more are made. Choose a few to watch--which one surprised you most?

Watch how the objects all around us are made.

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

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.

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Workers

Production Occupations

Metal Workers and Plastic Workers

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.

Record operational information on specified production reports.

Correct problems by adjusting controls or by stopping machines and opening holding devices.

Set up, operate, or tend welding machines that join or bond components to fabricate metal products or assemblies.

Select torch tips, alloys, flux, coil, tubing, or wire, according to metal types or thicknesses, data charts, or records.

Lay out, fit, or connect parts to be bonded, calculating production measurements, as necessary.

Prepare metal surfaces or workpieces, using hand-operated equipment, such as grinders, cutters, or drills.

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.

Linux

Microsoft operating system

Microsoft Windows

Microsoft PowerPoint

Email software

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Excel

SAP software

Microsoft Office software

Microsoft Word

Tool center point TCP setting software

Portable welding machines

Resistance welding guns

Resistance welding machines

Spot welding guns

Dial calipers

Outside micrometer calipers

Undercut gauges

Brazing robots

Soldering robots

Welding tip cleaning files

Welding electrodes

Single-cut mill saw files

Vernier micrometers

Measuring tapes

Welding torch tips

Heating furnaces

Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.

How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets

Every day

How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?

Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable

How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

Extremely important

Very important

Important

Continually or almost continually

More than half the time

About half the time

How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?

Once a week or more but not every day

How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?

How much does this job require making repetitive motions?

Less than half the time

How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?

Very high responsibility

High responsibility

Moderate responsibility

How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Overview

Career

What Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Do

Other Job Titles Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Overview

Career

What Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Do

Other Job Titles Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Majors Related to Career

Related Leaders