AITakeover Tracker
45%medium risk

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

Set up, operate, or tend welding, soldering, or brazing machines or robots that weld, braze, solder, or heat treat metal products, components, or assemblies. Includes workers who operate laser cutters or laser-beam machines.

Higher risk than 90% of occupations

AI Impact Summary

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 45/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 90% of all analyzed occupations. Of 29 analyzed tasks, 5 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.

Skill Impact Analysis

AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)

Information Ordering5%

High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Mathematics10%

High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Reading Comprehension10%

Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Mathematics10%

Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Memorization5%

Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Programming15%

Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

AI-Resistant Skills (11)

Adaptability/Flexibility85%

Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Manual Dexterity80%

Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Leadership88%

Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Complex Problem Solving75%

Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Coordination70%

Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Social Perceptiveness90%

Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Equipment Maintenance78%

Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Instructing75%

Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

AI-Augmented Skills (7)

Critical ThinkingMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningWritingSystems AnalysisTechnology Design

Recommended Courses

Courses matched to Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.

Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.

Upskill to Reduce Risk

Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills

DataCampbeginner

SQL Fundamentals Skill Track

by DataCamp

21 hours$25/mo4.7Certificate
Addresses vulnerability: Information Ordering

Estimated Impact

-6.8pt risk+$2K/yr salary

AI-Augmentation Tools

Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity

Pluralsightbeginner

Cybersecurity Fundamentals Path

by Pluralsight

30 hours$29/mo4.5Certificate
Enhances AI augmentation: Monitoring

Estimated Impact

-4.8pt risk+$2K/yr salary

Strengthen Your Edge

Double down on skills AI can't replicate

Courseraintermediate

Leading People and Teams Specialization

by University of Michigan

~6 weeks$49/mo4.7Certificate
Strengthens resilience: Leadership

Estimated Impact

-3.6pt risk+$3K/yr salary

We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.

Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.

Education & Training

Percentage of workers at each education and training level

Education Level

Less than High School20%
High School Diploma50%
Some College29%
Post-Secondary Certificate1%

Prior Experience Needed

Work experience required to enter this job

None22%
Up to 1 month3%
1-3 months1%
3-6 months28%
6 months - 1 year22%
1-2 years14%
2-4 years1%
8-10 years5%
Over 10 years4%

Training Provided After Hiring

How long it typically takes to learn on the job

None7%
Up to 1 month18%
1-3 months28%
3-6 months30%
6 months - 1 year2%
1-2 years11%
4-6 years4%

How AI Impacts Each Task

29 tasks analyzed

Inspect, measure, or test completed metal workpieces to ensure conformance to specifications, using measuring and testing devices.

Risk: 63.0%AI: 75EstimatedTime: 5%

Read blueprints, work orders, or production schedules to determine product or job instructions or specifications.

Risk: 86.0%AI: 92EstimatedTime: 4%

Load or feed workpieces into welding machines to join or bond components.

Risk: 57.0%AI: 60EstimatedTime: 8%

Observe meters, gauges, or machine operations to ensure that soldering or brazing processes meet specifications.

Risk: 87.2%AI: 95EstimatedTime: 5%

Assemble, align, and clamp workpieces into holding fixtures to bond, heat-treat, or solder fabricated metal components.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 45EstimatedTime: 6%

Set up, operate, or tend welding machines that join or bond components to fabricate metal products or assemblies.

Risk: 57.0%AI: 60EstimatedTime: 8%

Turn and press knobs and buttons or enter operating instructions into computers to adjust and start welding machines.

Risk: 63.0%AI: 75EstimatedTime: 3%

Lay out, fit, or connect parts to be bonded, calculating production measurements as necessary.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 40EstimatedTime: 4%

Compute and record settings for new work, applying knowledge of metal properties, principles of welding, and shop mathematics.

Risk: 87.2%AI: 95EstimatedTime: 3%

Correct problems by adjusting controls or by stopping machines and opening holding devices.

Risk: 61.0%AI: 70EstimatedTime: 3%

Set dials and timing controls to regulate electrical current, gas flow pressure, heating or cooling cycles, or shut-off.

Risk: 63.0%AI: 75EstimatedTime: 3%

Give directions to other workers regarding machine set-up and use.

Risk: 29.0%AI: 35EstimatedTime: 2%

Select, position, align, and bolt jigs, holding fixtures, guides, or stops onto machines, using measuring instruments and hand tools.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 40EstimatedTime: 4%

Mark weld points and positions of components on workpieces, using rules, squares, templates, or scribes.

Risk: 59.0%AI: 65EstimatedTime: 3%

Clean, lubricate, maintain, and adjust equipment to maintain efficient operation, using air hoses, cleaning fluids, and hand tools.

Risk: 47.0%AI: 35EstimatedTime: 4%

Prepare metal surfaces or workpieces, using hand-operated equipment, such as grinders, cutters, or drills.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 40EstimatedTime: 4%

Transfer components, metal products, or assemblies, using moving equipment.

Risk: 63.0%AI: 75EstimatedTime: 3%

Record operational information on specified production reports.

Risk: 88.0%AI: 97EstimatedTime: 2%

Conduct trial runs before welding, soldering, or brazing and make necessary adjustments to equipment.

Risk: 57.0%AI: 60EstimatedTime: 3%

Remove completed workpieces or parts from machinery, using hand tools.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 45EstimatedTime: 4%

Select torch tips, alloys, flux, coil, tubing, or wire, according to metal types or thicknesses, data charts, or records.

Risk: 86.0%AI: 92EstimatedTime: 2%

Tend auxiliary equipment used in welding processes.

Risk: 53.0%AI: 50EstimatedTime: 3%

Fill hoppers and position spouts to direct flow of flux or manually brush flux onto seams of workpieces.

Risk: 53.0%AI: 50EstimatedTime: 2%

Devise or build fixtures or jigs used to hold parts in place during welding, brazing, or soldering.

Risk: 17.0%AI: 20EstimatedTime: 2%

Start, monitor, and adjust robotic welding production lines.

Risk: 65.0%AI: 80EstimatedTime: 3%

Add chemicals or materials to workpieces or machines to facilitate bonding or to cool workpieces.

Risk: 53.0%AI: 50EstimatedTime: 2%

Immerse completed workpieces into water or acid baths to cool and clean components.

Risk: 61.0%AI: 70EstimatedTime: 2%

Dress electrodes, using tip dressers, files, emery cloths, or dressing wheels.

Risk: 63.0%AI: 75EstimatedTime: 2%

Anneal finished workpieces to relieve internal stress.

Risk: 61.0%AI: 70EstimatedTime: 2%

Protective Factors

Total protective discount: 25.4%

Essential Soft Skills

Traits that are hard for AI to replicate

Attention to DetailDependabilityInitiativeCooperationSelf ControlIntegrityAchievement/EffortConcern for OthersIndependencePersistenceAdaptability/FlexibilityLeadership

Wage & Employment (2024)

Median Wage

$47,060

per year

Mean Wage

$49,270

per year

Employment

36K

workers

Wage Range

$35,780 - $66,190

10th - 90th pct

Wage Distribution

$35,780Median: $47,060$66,190
Career Planning

Explore other career paths

Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.

Alternate Career Paths

See all transitions

Welders, Cutters, and Welder Fitters

21%
Low Risk

Median salary: $51,000

Higher risk than 10% of other occupations

Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood

34%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $39,950

Higher risk than 63% of other occupations

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

35%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $45,590

Higher risk than 64% of other occupations

Print Binding and Finishing Workers

37%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $39,820

Higher risk than 71% of other occupations

Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

38%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $41,600

Higher risk than 75% of other occupations

Engine and Other Machine Assemblers

38%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $52,540

Higher risk than 76% of other occupations

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

40%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $48,620

Higher risk than 79% of other occupations

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing

40%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $40,440

Higher risk than 81% of other occupations

Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

43%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $45,130

Higher risk than 87% of other occupations

Machine Feeders and Offbearers

51%
High Risk

Median salary: $39,700

Higher risk than 98% of other occupations

Sales Managers

25%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 20% of other occupations

Chief Executives

26%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 23% of other occupations

General and Operations Managers

28%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 29% of other occupations

Marketing Managers

30%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 38% of other occupations

Advertising and Promotions Managers

31%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 43% of other occupations

Computer and Information Systems Managers

31%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 45% of other occupations

Subscribed — always updated

Recommendations

Skills to Develop

These skills are at risk from AI automation. Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders professionals should diversify beyond them.

  • Information Ordering

    High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Mathematics

    High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Reading Comprehension

    Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

  • Mathematics

    Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

  • Memorization

    Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Skills to Leverage

These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.

  • Adaptability/Flexibility

    Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Manual Dexterity

    Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Leadership

    Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Complex Problem Solving

    Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Coordination

    Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Tools to Adopt

AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.

  • Critical Thinking

    Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Monitoring

    Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Judgment and Decision Making

    Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Active Learning

    Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Writing

    Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

Score History

Risk score over 2 scoring runs

+5.8

overall change

Checking for existing plan...