Takeover Tracker
21%low risk
Welders, Cutters, and Welder Fitters
vs

56 shared · 11 different

core competencies

38%medium risk
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricWelders, Cutters, and Welder FittersEngine and Other Machine Assemblers
Risk Score21.4%38.2%
Risk TierLow RiskMedium Risk
Risk Percentile10th76th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)5 / 158 / 12
Median Salary$51,000$52,540
Employment424K38K

Skill Comparison

|

Sorted by largest difference

Design
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
Assisting and Caring for Others
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
Training and Teaching Others
Customer and Personal Service
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
Mechanical
Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
Coaching and Developing Others
Thinking Creatively

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Welders, Cutters, and Welder Fitters

27%

total discount

Engine and Other Machine Assemblers

26%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Welders, Cutters, and Welder Fitters

5 of 15 at risk
84%Examine workpieces for defects and measure workpieces with straightedges or templates to ensure conformance with specifications.
77%Mark or tag material with proper job number, piece marks, and other identifying marks as required.
73%Select and install torches, torch tips, filler rods, and flux, according to welding chart specifications or types and thicknesses of metals.
57%Analyze engineering drawings, blueprints, specifications, sketches, work orders, and material safety data sheets to plan layout, assembly, and welding operations.
55%Determine required equipment and welding methods, applying knowledge of metallurgy, geometry, and welding techniques.

Engine and Other Machine Assemblers

8 of 12 at risk
84%Read and interpret assembly blueprints or specifications manuals and plan assembly or building operations.
63%Lay out and drill, ream, tap, or cut parts for assembly.
61%Set up and operate metalworking machines, such as milling or grinding machines, to shape or fabricate parts.
60%Verify conformance of parts to stock lists or blueprints, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, gauges, or micrometers.
59%Inspect, operate, and test completed products to verify functioning, machine capabilities, or conformance to customer specifications.

Wage Comparison

Engine and Other Machine Assemblers earns +$1,540(+3%) vs Welders, Cutters, and Welder Fitters
Welders, Cutters, and Welder FittersEngine and Other Machine Assemblers
10th
$38,130$37,950
25th
$45,580$42,790
Median
$51,000$52,540
75th
$61,610$70,050
90th
$75,850$74,300

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Welders, Cutters, and Welder Fitters2028–2035
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers2028–2035
20242030203520402045

Welders, Cutters, and Welder Fitters has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Engine and Other Machine Assemblers.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

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

Welders, Cutters, and Welder Fitters

$40,096

from $51,000

Engine and Other Machine Assemblers

$32,480

from $52,540

After adjusting for AI risk, Welders, Cutters, and Welder Fitters offers $7,616 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

1%

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

0

Unique to Welders,

0

Unique to Engine

Combined Protection Strategy

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

Creativity
Fine Manipulation
Social Intelligence
Decision Complexity
Welders, Cutters, and Welder FittersEngine and Other Machine Assemblers
Find transitions from Welders, Cutters, and Welder FittersFind transitions from Engine and Other Machine Assemblers