Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers use hand-held or remotely controlled equipment to join or cut metal parts. They also fill holes, indentations, or seams of metal products.

Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers may work outdoors, often in inclement weather, or indoors, sometimes in a confined area. They may work on a scaffold, high off the ground, and they occasionally must lift heavy objects and work in awkward positions. Although most work full time, overtime is common.

A high school diploma or equivalent combined with technical and on-the-job training is typically required to become a welder, cutter, solderer, or brazer.

Employment of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2014 to 2024, slower than the average for all occupations. Despite slower than average employment growth, skilled welders with up-to-date training should have good job opportunities.

This occupation supported 357,400 jobs in 2012 and 397,900 jobs in 2014, reflecting an increase of 11.3%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 5.8% in 2022 to 378,200 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 361,500, compared with an observed value of 397,900, 10.1% higher than expected. This indicates current employment trends are much better than the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to increase by 4.0% in 2024 to 412,300 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 382,300 jobs for 2024, 7.3% lower than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are much better than the 2012 trend within this occupation.