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Welder-machine operator skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted experts
Ryan Houtcooper,
Ryan Houtcooper
Welder-machine operator example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical welder-machine operator skills. We ranked the top skills for welder-machine operators based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 7.5% of welder-machine operator resumes contained arc welding as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a welder-machine operator needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 welder-machine operator skills for your resume and career

1. Arc Welding

Here's how welder-machine operators use arc welding:
  • Utilized Arc Welding equipment adjusting machine levels according to material and project.
  • Operated arc welding machines and inspected parts for shipment.

2. Safety Equipment

Here's how welder-machine operators use safety equipment:
  • Work accordingly with all safety equipment involved to insure quality and quantity.
  • Use of proper required safety equipment and clothing.

3. Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is an alloy of iron, chromium, carbon, and some other metals with corrosion-resistant properties. The components of steel include less than 1% carbon, 1% manganese, and small quantities of other elements such as phosphorus, silicon, sulfur, and oxygen. Iron and carbon are the two essential components of steel. Stainless steel is resistant to tarnishing and rust.

Here's how welder-machine operators use stainless steel:
  • Weld separately or in combination, using aluminum, stainless steel, and sheet metal.
  • Operate spot welder using a jig to make various plain and stainless steel baskets.

4. CNC

CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control. It is a subtractive manufacturing technique that usually uses computerized controls and machine tools to strip layers of material from a stock piece.

Here's how welder-machine operators use cnc:
  • Operated various industrial machinery including robotic welder, slider, CNC wire bender, press brake, and parts oven.
  • Performed various machine operation tasks, routine maintenance, and minor repairs on CNC and manual lathes and mills.

5. Tig Welding

Here's how welder-machine operators use tig welding:
  • Welded on steel, stainless steel, aluminum and all types of pipe using MIG, stick and TIG welding processes.
  • Experienced in mill industry maintenance, stick and TIG welding, torch burning, fabrication, forklift, and crane operation.

6. Tape Measure

A tape measure is a thin, flexible strip of plastic or metal that can be rolled up when it is not being used. The tape measure has numbers marked on it linearly which is used for measuring length.

Here's how welder-machine operators use tape measure:
  • Use tape measure, micrometer, Vernier caliper, blueprint, and other gauges to check for accuracy.
  • Used plasma cutter, cutting torch, welding gauges, tape measure, squares and grinders efficiently.

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7. Tack

A tack in nautical terms refers to the direction that a boat moves in order to align with the angle of the wind and to allow the boat receives the wind directly on its sails. Tack is also the word used to describe the fastening of a thing to a place. In the tailoring industry, it is used to describe the process of temporarily sewing pieces of materials.

Here's how welder-machine operators use tack:
  • Tack weld halves of axle housing together and inspect them before they are sent to next operation.
  • Job Responsibilities are to weld and tack turn out ties.

8. Overhead Cranes

Overhead cranes are major industrial equipment used for lifting heavy objects, loads, and tools from one location to another in construction sites. Operating an overhead crane takes much expertise, experience, and skill, as there is no ''one size, fits all''. Overhead cranes come in different components for different specific functions.

Here's how welder-machine operators use overhead cranes:
  • Loaded bundles of Steele using Tow motor and overhead cranes to transport to various lines.
  • Use of overhead cranes include 20 ton and assorted gantry and jib style cranes

9. Machine Operation

Here's how welder-machine operators use machine operation:
  • Trained new hires as a machine operators and mentored apprentices to perform effective machine operation procedures.
  • Assembled and oversaw machine operation of assembly of steel hosing, welding and fabrication of steel hosing.

10. Plasma Arc

Here's how welder-machine operators use plasma arc:
  • Cut material using plasma arc cutting and oxygen-acetylene equipment.
  • Demonstrated straight, bevel, and plasma arc cutting.

11. GMAW

Here's how welder-machine operators use gmaw:
  • Perform welding operations using several welding processes including: FCAW, SMAW, GMAW, SAW.
  • Transitioned from GMAW to GTAW for use on tubular steel and aluminum welding projects.

12. Spot Welding

Here's how welder-machine operators use spot welding:
  • Document assignments and meet production quotas in spot welding parts for the Automotive Industry.
  • Spot welding press operator, assembler, packer, and general laborer.

13. Torches

Here's how welder-machine operators use torches:
  • Operated shears and multiple hand tools including grinders, torches, drills, and band saws.
  • Straightened warped and bent parts, using sledges, hand torches, straightening presses.

14. Assembly Line

Assembly line is a process used in industries to ensure the production of products in a cost effective manner by dividing up the responsibilities of each labor. Assembly lines enabled industries to hire more workers, therefore providing more employment opportunities to labors. This is possible because in this process the burden of all the tasks related to production are not laid on a single person, they are divided into small baby steps for each labor.

Here's how welder-machine operators use assembly line:
  • Operated a range of welding machines used to produce window frames to feed an assembly line in a fast paced environment.
  • Lead over assembly line and air unit, Cooper brassier/ welding, and ran air pressure test,

15. Aluminum

Aluminum is the most common nonferrous metal and the most prevalent metallic material in the Earth's crust. Aluminum is never found in its metallic form in nature, but its compounds can be found in varying degrees in nearly all minerals, vegetation, and animals. Cans, foils, cooking utensils, door frames, kegs, and aeroplane pieces are all made of aluminum.

Here's how welder-machine operators use aluminum:
  • Supervised fabrication area, fabricated and welded aluminum enclosures, gave presentations at stock holder meetings.
  • Welded both steel and aluminum pressure tanks for both train and truck air brake systems.
top-skills

What skills help Welder-Machine Operators find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on welder-machine operator resumes?

Ryan Houtcooper

Professor of Welding, University of Alaska Southeast

The skills that stand out most depend a great deal on the geographic location of the individual. For example, if I were to have someone approach me for a job here in Ketchikan, I would look for two things. Is the person capable of welding aluminum and stainless steel? Now, if I were still down in the midwest chasing pipelines and someone came to me for a job, I would be looking for two different things. Is the person capable and efficient at fitting and welding pipes? However, should a person who has a magnitude of experience and is well rounded in most welding processes ever approach for a job, then that person would supersede anyone who has just one or two capabilities.

What soft skills should all welder-machine operators possess?

Ryan Houtcooper

Professor of Welding, University of Alaska Southeast

For a welder, having PATIENCE is the biggest attribute. But there are a few other key factors that go into the success of a welder's career, such as having good communication skills, both written and oral. Having the knowledge and ability to do mathematical problem solving, along with the ability to read blueprints/shop drawings. These are the most critical aspects to the welder.

What hard/technical skills are most important for welder-machine operators?

Ryan Houtcooper

Professor of Welding, University of Alaska Southeast

Knowing how to troubleshoot welding equipment, setting up and taking down equipment related to the trade (pan breaks, plate rollers, plate shears, torch sets, overhead cranes, forklifts, CNC machines, etc...). Rigging heavy objects for crane picks is also an important factor for big outfits.

List of welder-machine operator skills to add to your resume

Welder-machine operator skills

The most important skills for a welder-machine operator resume and required skills for a welder-machine operator to have include:

  • Arc Welding
  • Safety Equipment
  • Stainless Steel
  • CNC
  • Tig Welding
  • Tape Measure
  • Tack
  • Overhead Cranes
  • Machine Operation
  • Plasma Arc
  • GMAW
  • Spot Welding
  • Torches
  • Assembly Line
  • Aluminum
  • Quality Checks
  • Punch Press
  • Drill Press
  • Mig
  • Tig
  • Spot Welders
  • Jigs
  • Press Brake
  • Brazing
  • Safety Procedures
  • Customer Specifications
  • GTAW
  • Clamp
  • Welding Robots
  • Quality Standards
  • PPE
  • Carbon Steel
  • Robotic
  • Tack Welding
  • Hoists
  • Press Machine
  • SMAW
  • Quality Inspection
  • FCAW
  • Toyota
  • Honda
  • Production Schedules
  • Structural Steel
  • Production Reports
  • Laser Welding
  • Overhead Positions
  • Band Saws
  • Safety Guidelines
  • Chart Specifications

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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