Takeover Tracker
24%low risk
Crane and Tower Operators
vs

47 shared · 17 different

core competencies

45%medium risk
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricCrane and Tower OperatorsWelding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Risk Score23.8%44.6%
Risk TierLow RiskMedium Risk
Risk Percentile16th90th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)5 / 1211 / 15
Median Salary$66,370$47,060
Employment42K36K

Skill Comparison

|

Sorted by largest difference

Depth Perception
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
Response Orientation
Multilimb Coordination
Controlling Machines and Processes
Mechanical
Far Vision
Reaction Time
Control Precision
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Rate Control
Performing General Physical Activities

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Crane and Tower Operators

26%

total discount

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

25%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Crane and Tower Operators

5 of 12 at risk
88%Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities to prevent overload.
88%Weigh bundles, using floor scales, and record weights for company records.
86%Review daily work or delivery schedules to determine orders, sequences of deliveries, or special loading instructions.
84%Inspect bundle packaging for conformance to regulations or customer requirements and remove and batch packaging tickets.
57%Load or unload bundles from trucks or move containers to storage bins, using moving equipment.

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

11 of 15 at risk
87%Observe meters, gauges, or machine operations to ensure that soldering or brazing processes meet specifications.
87%Compute and record settings for new work, applying knowledge of metal properties, principles of welding, and shop mathematics.
86%Read blueprints, work orders, or production schedules to determine product or job instructions or specifications.
63%Inspect, measure, or test completed metal workpieces to ensure conformance to specifications, using measuring and testing devices.
63%Turn and press knobs and buttons or enter operating instructions into computers to adjust and start welding machines.

Wage Comparison

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earns -$19,310(-29%) vs Crane and Tower Operators
Crane and Tower OperatorsWelding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
10th
$41,670$35,780
25th
$50,970$39,480
Median
$66,370$47,060
75th
$81,630$55,870
90th
$102,400$66,190

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Crane and Tower Operators2028–2035
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders2028–2035
20242030203520402045

Crane and Tower Operators has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)

Crane and Tower Operators

$50,567

from $66,370

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

$26,085

from $47,060

After adjusting for AI risk, Crane and Tower Operators offers $24,482 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

1%

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

0

Unique to Crane

0

Unique to Welding,

Combined Protection Strategy

Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors

Creativity
Decision Complexity
Fine Manipulation
Regulatory Barriers
Crane and Tower OperatorsWelding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Find transitions from Crane and Tower OperatorsFind transitions from Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders