Career Paths From Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersLateral Move88% skill match
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (88% match). Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 11% lower.
Current median salary
$53,750
Target median salary
$47,920
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move89.4% skill match
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (89% match). Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 9% lower.
Current median salary
$53,750
Target median salary
$49,030
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move87% skill match
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (87% match). Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move.
Current median salary
$53,750
Target median salary
$52,800
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move89.3% skill match
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (89% match). Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 13% lower.
Current median salary
$53,750
Target median salary
$46,550
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Structural Iron and Steel WorkersCareer Change89% skill match
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and Structural Iron and Steel Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (89% match). Structural Iron and Steel Workers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 17% higher.
Current median salary
$53,750
Target median salary
$62,780
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Layout Workers, Metal and PlasticLateral Move89.9% skill match
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (90% match). Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 19% higher.
Current median salary
$53,750
Target median salary
$63,870
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticLateral Move88.7% skill match
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (89% match). Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 14% lower.
Current median salary
$53,750
Target median salary
$46,170
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Reinforcing Iron and Rebar WorkersCareer Change87.4% skill match
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (87% match). Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 10% higher.
Current median salary
$53,750
Target median salary
$58,970
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Automotive Body and Related RepairersCareer Change89% skill match
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and Automotive Body and Related Repairers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (89% match). Automotive Body and Related Repairers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set.
Current median salary
$53,750
Target median salary
$54,890
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move89.6% skill match
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (90% match). Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 11% lower.
Current median salary
$53,750
Target median salary
$47,720
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersCareer Change88.3% skill match
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (88% match). Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 10% higher.
Current median salary
$53,750
Target median salary
$58,930
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersLateral Move87.5% skill match
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (88% match). Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 15% lower.
Current median salary
$53,750
Target median salary
$45,760
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Ophthalmic Laboratory TechniciansLateral Move88% skill match
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians share a similar Transferable Skills profile (88% match). Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 27% lower.
Current median salary
$53,750
Target median salary
$39,460
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodLateral Move88.4% skill match
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood share a similar Transferable Skills profile (88% match). Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 20% lower.
Current median salary
$53,750
Target median salary
$42,770
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move88% skill match
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (88% match). Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 9% lower.
Current median salary
$53,750
Target median salary
$49,080
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.