How To Become A Welder-Machine Operator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a welder-machine operator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

The average welder-machine operator salary is $37,171. The most common degree is a high school diploma degree with an precision metal working major. It usually takes 3-6 months of experience to become a welder-machine operator. Welder-machine operators with a Certified Welding Engineer certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -5% and produce -45,900 job opportunities across the U.S.

ScoreWelder-Machine OperatorUS Average

Salary

2.9

Avg. Salary $37,171

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.1

Growth rate -5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

9.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.61%

Asian 2.71%

Black or African American 11.03%

Hispanic or Latino 17.52%

Unknown 4.00%

White 63.13%

Gender

female 15.45%

male 84.55%

Age - 40

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 40

Stress level

4.1

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.5

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.8

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a welder-machine operator

Explore welder-machine operator education requirements

Most common welder-machine operator degrees

High School Diploma

52.5 %

Associate

16.4 %

Diploma

15.6 %

Start to develop specific welder-machine operator skills

Skills	Percentages
Arc Welding	7.46%
Safety Equipment	7.21%
Stainless Steel	6.04%
CNC	5.59%
Tig Welding	5.45%

Complete relevant welder-machine operator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New welder-machine operators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a welder-machine operator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real welder-machine operator resumes.

Research welder-machine operator duties and responsibilities

Weld required parts using GMAW, GTAW, and SMAW.
Require to weld a wide veriety of assemblies, fabricate parts and maintain equipment and fixtures employing GMAW and GTAW techniques.
Operate the welding robots and do rework with the MIG welder.
Weld both steel and aluminum pressure tanks for both train and truck air brake systems.

Prepare your welder-machine operator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your welder-machine operator resume.

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