Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers use hand-held or remotely controlled equipment to join, repair, or cut metal parts and products
Is welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers a good career?
It scores 18/100 and ranks #361 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- High volume of openings — about 45,600 a year
- No college degree typically required to enter
Possible tradeoffs
- Pays below the U.S. median wage ($53,750 vs $61,390)
- Slower-than-average projected growth (+2.2%)
What welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn between $46,790 and $63,010 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers jobs
No live welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers openings yet
When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers openings will appear here — each shown against the $53,750 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.
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- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow slower than average through 2034.
Licenses, certifications & registrations
Welders must be licensed in some states and localities; requirements vary. Contact individual state or local government licensing agencies
Professional organizations offer courses leading to general certification. Some employers require general or specific certification for particular jobs. They may pay the cost of training and testing for employees.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that welders complete training on electrical safety. Other types of OSHA training are available but generally are not required.
Important qualities
Detail oriented. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers perform precision work, often with straight edges. The ability to see characteristics of the joint and detect changes in molten metal flows requires attention to detail.
Manual dexterity. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers must have a steady hand to hold a torch in place. They also need good hand–eye coordination.
Physical stamina. These workers must be able to endure long periods in awkward positions while bending, stooping, or standing.
Physical strength. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers must be able to lift heavy pieces of metal and move welding or cutting equipment.
Spatial-orientation skills. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers must be able to read and interpret two- and three-dimensional diagrams in order to fit metal products correctly.
Related occupations
How much do welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers make?
The national median wage is $53,750 a year, with the middle half earning between $46,790 and $63,010 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 18 of 100 and ranks #361 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +2.2% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a welders, cutters, solderers, and brazer?
The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.
Where do welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn the most?
Among states, Alaska pays the highest median ($80,840). Local pay for every state and metro is below.