Skilled trades career profile

Welder

A fabrication trade joining and cutting metal with close attention to precision, safety and specifications. Compare official local market facts with clearly labelled work-signal context.

O*NET-SOC 51-4121.00Welder, Cutter, Solderer and BrazerLocal occupation match

United States facts

Pay, market and entry

United States figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 and 2024–34 employment projections.

Median annual earnings$51,000May 2025 / 2024–2034
Median annual earnings$51,000May 2025 / 2024–2034
Projected growth2%May 2025 / 2024–2034
Annual openings45.6KMay 2025 / 2024–2034
Typical educationHigh school diplomaMay 2025 / 2024–2034
Training / credentialTechnical training commonMay 2025 / 2024–2034

Missing, suppressed and stale facts are never replaced with another country’s values. Annualised figures and benchmarks are identified in their labels and source notes.

Work characteristics

What the work may involve

Occupation percentiles, not ratings. Work signals are native O*NET occupation percentiles.

Social interaction25
contact, teamwork and public-facing work
Physical demand90
movement, posture and hands-on activity
Pressure exposure55
time pressure, conflict and consequences
Analytical content40
analysis, reasoning and problem-solving
People-oriented20
helping, service and relationship work
Technical content65
technology, systems and troubleshooting

Useful foundations

  • Fabrication
  • Quality control
  • Equipment operation

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Meaningful adjacent choices

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Other countries

Sources and dates

What this profile uses

See the complete data-source register and PathGraph methodology.