Welding and Brazing Machine Operator Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Welding and brazing machine operators can receive formal training from high schools or postsecondary institutions. A large number of community colleges, vocational-technical institutes and private welding schools offer courses for candidates interested in this profession. Welding schools are operated by the U.S. Armed Forces too. In addition, the American Welding Society offers a certification courses through several welding schools. It is also beneficial to have a basic understanding of computers and electricity.
Training and Education
Employees often obtain a postsecondary vocational award before starting. The percentage of welding and brazing machine operators with college degrees is 2%. Workers with some college (less than a bachelor's degree) represent about 25% of the total. Some employees, about 73%, had a high-school education.
Job Overview
Welding and brazing machine operators work on machines to join the components of fabricated metal products. This bonding is done in accordance with specific blueprints, work orders and data charts. They also clean and lubricate their machines. Welding and brazing machine operators set up the machines, adjust attachments, set the controls and also compute the settings to be programmed into the machines. They are responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of the machines. When necessary, they correct problems, adjust controls or stop the machine. Once a product is finished, they inspect and test it to make sure that it is made according to the requirements.
Job Requirements
Employers prefer welding and brazing machine operators with some sort of experience or formal training. Since understanding the welding process is particularly important, many organizations tend to favor workers with a background in welding. A majority of welding and brazing machine operators learn their skills on the job from experienced workers. Employers also send their newer employees to training programs where they can learn additional skills.
General welding certifications, or certifications in special skills like robotic welding or inspection, may be required for certain specific jobs. Besides, manual dexterity, good eyesight and hand-eye coordination are vital in this profession. With additional training and experience, welding and brazing machine operators can advance to the positions of supervisors, inspectors or instructors.
Nature of Work
Welding and brazing machine workers are exposed to several physical hazards in the course of their job. It is therefore extremely important for them to take precautions in the form of safety shoes, goggles, hoods with protective lenses and other devices that are designed to prevent eye injuries and burns. Welding and brazing machine workers usually work in well-ventilated places. They may occasionally have to work outdoors in rough weather, or in small cramped places. The standard workweek lasts 40 hours, but overtime is common in this profession. Also, welding and brazing machine operators may have to work in 12-hour shifts.
Area Job Conditions
Popular locations for welding and brazing machine operators include Oshkosh (Wisconsin), Monroe (Michigan), and Springfield (Ohio). Fewer are found in Washington (District of Columbia), Las Vegas (Nevada), and Austin (Texas).
Workers looking for high salaries should look at Monroe (Michigan), Albany (New York), and Virginia Beach (Virginia), and should avoid Gadsden (Alabama), Houma (Louisiana), and Johnson City (Tennessee).
Part-Time and Self Employment
Part-time welding and brazing machine operators are 2% of all surveyed. Some workers, about 7%, work for themselves.
Welding and Brazing Machine Operators by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anniston | $38,000 | 70 | +913% |
| Birmingham | $37,000 | 110 | +29% |
| Huntsville | $33,000 | 100 | +185% |
| Mobile | $34,000 | 40 | +35% |
| Montgomery | $30,000 | 140 | +413% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $40,000 | 190 | -38% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | $31,000 | 80 | +34% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $32,000 | 470 | -34% |
| Oakland | $32,000 | 230 | +32% |
| Oxnard | $34,000 | 40 | -21% |
| Sacramento | $32,000 | 90 | -41% |
| San Diego | $35,000 | 190 | -17% |
| San Jose | $42,000 | 120 | -23% |
| Santa Ana | $33,000 | 270 | +6% |
| Stockton | $32,000 | 60 | +69% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $32,000 | 110 | -50% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford | $37,000 | 270 | +170% |
| New Haven | $39,000 | 70 | +50% |
| Norwich | $43,000 | 50 | +148% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $40,000 | 70 | -84% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | $36,000 | 70 | -59% |
| Tampa | $33,000 | 90 | -55% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $33,000 | 400 | -1% |
| Augusta | $26,000 | 90 | +159% |
| Savannah | $36,000 | 110 | +343% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $38,000 | 1,040 | +58% |
| Peoria | $40,000 | 30 | +5% |
| Rockford | $37,000 | 60 | +157% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart | $27,000 | 360 | +1944% |
| Fort Wayne | $32,000 | 90 | +161% |
| Gary | $30,000 | 90 | +96% |
| Indianapolis | $31,000 | 680 | +335% |
| South Bend | $25,000 | 110 | +416% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $34,000 | 30 | +30% |
| Des Moines | $34,000 | 110 | +94% |
| Dubuque | $33,000 | 280 | +3315% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $37,000 | 110 | +123% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | $40,000 | 40 | +366% |
| Lexington | $37,000 | 60 | +47% |
| Louisville | $30,000 | 210 | +99% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $33,000 | 170 | +165% |
| Houma | $29,000 | 110 | +617% |
| Shreveport | 50 | +66% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $48,000 | 120 | -48% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $35,000 | 140 | -54% |
| Haverhill | $39,000 | 70 | +433% |
| Lowell | $36,000 | 60 | +204% |
| Springfield | $40,000 | 120 | +135% |
| Worcester | $34,000 | 80 | +87% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids | $35,000 | 560 | +759% |
| Lansing | $37,000 | 110 | +228% |
| Monroe | $54,000 | 210 | +3796% |
| Warren | $42,000 | 370 | +96% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $40,000 | 370 | +18% |
| St Cloud | $37,000 | 110 | +610% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joplin | $30,000 | 60 | +377% |
| Kansas City | $33,000 | 80 | -55% |
| Springfield | $36,000 | 40 | +24% |
| St Louis | $46,000 | 250 | +7% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $35,000 | 40 | -51% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashua | $33,000 | 130 | +472% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edison | $38,000 | 110 | -39% |
| Newark | $30,000 | 90 | -49% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nassau | $35,000 | 60 | -73% |
| New York | $33,000 | 250 | -73% |
| Rochester | $32,000 | 90 | +2% |
| Syracuse | $37,000 | 30 | -44% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $31,000 | 50 | +68% |
| Charlotte | $32,000 | 390 | +161% |
| Fayetteville | $32,000 | 40 | +92% |
| Greensboro | $33,000 | 50 | -19% |
| Raleigh | $36,000 | 40 | -55% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | $45,000 | 110 | +975% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $35,000 | 160 | +189% |
| Canton | $30,000 | 200 | +616% |
| Cincinnati | $33,000 | 1,010 | +469% |
| Cleveland | $38,000 | 560 | +213% |
| Columbus | $31,000 | 290 | +80% |
| Springfield | $53,000 | 70 | +860% |
| Toledo | $31,000 | 200 | +296% |
| Youngstown | $34,000 | 80 | +108% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $31,000 | 180 | +79% |
| Tulsa | $38,000 | 170 | +128% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene | $37,000 | 50 | +114% |
| Portland | $37,000 | 180 | +1% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $41,000 | 70 | +17% |
| Erie | $27,000 | 90 | +324% |
| Philadelphia | $37,000 | 230 | -31% |
| Pittsburgh | $35,000 | 200 | 0% |
| Reading | $41,000 | 30 | +7% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $33,000 | 160 | +65% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson | $29,000 | 40 | +359% |
| Charleston | $34,000 | 60 | +22% |
| Columbia | $33,000 | 80 | +32% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $34,000 | 60 | +55% |
| Kingsport | $32,000 | 170 | +750% |
| Knoxville | $28,000 | 60 | +4% |
| Memphis | $34,000 | 70 | -35% |
| Nashville | $30,000 | 130 | +1% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $30,000 | 170 | +24% |
| Dallas | $27,000 | 350 | -5% |
| Fort Worth | $27,000 | 100 | -34% |
| Houston | $36,000 | 800 | +73% |
| Longview | $35,000 | 30 | +94% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logan | 60 | +735% | |
| Salt Lake City | $31,000 | 60 | -43% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg | $46,000 | 100 | +955% |
| Lynchburg | $42,000 | 70 | +336% |
| Richmond | $34,000 | 140 | +31% |
| Virginia Beach | $40,000 | 600 | +353% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $36,000 | 300 | +22% |
| Spokane | $37,000 | 90 | +159% |
| Tacoma | $49,000 | 40 | -12% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $35,000 | 70 | +20% |
| Milwaukee | $41,000 | 420 | +189% |
| Oshkosh | $34,000 | 70 | +396% |
| Racine | $44,000 | 30 | +154% |