Post job

Explore jobs

Find specific jobs

Explore careers

Explore professions

Best companies

Explore companies

OverviewJobsResume

Skills

EducationCertificationsDemographicsJob DescriptionHow To HireBest CompaniesJob OutlookEntry Level jobsFull Time jobs
zippia ai icon

Automatically apply for jobs with Zippia

Upload your resume to get started.

Welder/machinist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted experts
Ryan Houtcooper,
Ryan Houtcooper
Welder/machinist example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical welder/machinist skills. We ranked the top skills for welder/machinists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 9.4% of welder/machinist resumes contained manual lathes as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a welder/machinist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 welder/machinist skills for your resume and career

1. Manual Lathes

Here's how welder/machinists use manual lathes:
  • ACE - Built hydraulic rams and components from scratch using manual lathes and mills, grinders, welders, etc.
  • Set up, operate Manual lathes and mills to manufacture new parts and repair old parts for textile use.

2. Hand Tools

Here's how welder/machinists use hand tools:
  • Disassembles/Reassembled machines using hand tools.
  • Learned how to MIG weld, use different hand tools, drove forklift, fabricated parts, and light office work.

3. CNC Machines

Here's how welder/machinists use cnc machines:
  • Read blue prints and used Solid Works program to design and program the CNC machine I owned and operated.
  • Fabricate mechanical components using various equipment and machines including CNC machines, cutting machines and hydraulic presses.

4. Blueprint Specifications

Blueprints are layouts or designs about the construction of a building or structure. It consists of accurate engineering drawing on light-sensitive sheets allowing to create copies easily.

Here's how welder/machinists use blueprint specifications:
  • Used hand and power tools to fabricate or modify components to fit to work order or blueprint specifications.
  • Use calipers, snap gauges, and micrometers to make parts within thousandths of blueprint specifications.

5. Arc Welding

Here's how welder/machinists use arc welding:
  • Weld metal parts or components together, using MIG, flex core or arc welding and torch cutting equipment.
  • Perform oxyacetylene welding and cutting operations as well as arc welding procedures and operation of plasma arc cutter.

6. Grinders

Here's how welder/machinists use grinders:
  • Work performed on a variety of machine tools including sheet metal equipment: Manual mill and lathe, grinders and welders.
  • Operated a band saw chop saw, milling machine, presses, drill presses, grinders & sanders.

Choose from 10+ customizable welder/machinist resume templates

Build a professional welder/machinist resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your welder/machinist resume.

7. 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/machinists use stainless steel:
  • Used TIG welding process to accurately assemble and weld production and prototype parts made of aluminum and stainless steel.
  • Used steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, Teflon and plastic to make parts on the lathes.

8. 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/machinists use aluminum:
  • Fabricate and repair steel and aluminum structures, laying out, measuring cutting, shaping and fabricating structures and parts.
  • Experienced in aluminum welding, MIG, TIG, wire and stick welding techniques on a variety of metals.

9. Safety Equipment

Here's how welder/machinists use safety equipment:
  • Operated safety equipment, monitoring the welding processes to avoid overheating of parts or expansion of material
  • Observed and followed all safety rules and procedures, including wearing required personal safety equipment.

10. Engineering Drawings

Engineering drawings are technical drawings that tell about the requirements for engineering components or equipment. Such drawings have standardized languages and symbols. There are multiple types of engineering drawings such as isometric drawing, orthographic or multiview drawing, schematic drawings, one view, and two view drawings, etc.

Here's how welder/machinists use engineering drawings:
  • Produced and reviewed engineering drawings for manufacturability and accurate procurement.
  • Evaluate all engineering drawings, ensure implementation according to welding specifications and finished products performing quality checks on products.

11. Drill Press

A drill press refers to a device used to produce holes in hard substances. When drilling the holes, you need to clamp the workpiece on a table and hold the drill in a rotating spindle and feed it into the workpiece.

Here's how welder/machinists use drill press:
  • Machine specialty parts as per customer using shop tools including lathes, mills, drill presses and other assorted shop tools.
  • Completed setups and operated conventional mills and lathes, CNC Drill Presses, a burning table and boring bar.

12. Tig Welding

Here's how welder/machinists use tig welding:
  • Started in the welding department repairing trays for re-screening - tig welding, grinding, sand blasting.
  • Repair machining and MIG,TIG welding.

13. AWS

Here's how welder/machinists use aws:
  • Performed numerous welding and visual inspections throughout South Florida using D1.1, D1.2, B2.1, and D1.6 AWS welding codes.
  • Performed welding inspections as a AWS CWI/ CWE throughtout the United Arab Emirates Military Organizations.

14. Micrometers

A micrometer is a measuring instrument used in various laboratories to measure even the tiniest components in-depth with great precision and accuracy and to make precise linear measurements of dimensions such as diameters, thicknesses, and lengths of solid bodies. They are essential measuring instruments used by mechanical engineers, machinists, and workers in other technical professions. They allow workers to take extremely precise measurements, which can be viewed either in imperial or metric format. Most micrometers are designed to measure within one-thousandth of an inch! It's a snug fit. Accurate measurements like this are needed when even the smallest distance between objects can cause problems or difficulties.

Here's how welder/machinists use micrometers:
  • Inspected finished product Visually for defects, Using micrometers and calipers to ensure manufactures specification.
  • Examine work pieces for defects, measure work with calipers, micrometers, and rules to ensure conformance with specifications.

15. Mig

Here's how welder/machinists use mig:
  • Completed fabrication and machine shop work with MIG, TIG and stick welders, manual and CNC mills and lathes.
  • Welded ferrous and non ferrous metals using ARC, MIG, and TIG processes to tolerances outlined in prints.
top-skills

What skills help Welder/Machinists find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on welder/machinist 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/machinists 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/machinists?

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.

What type of skills will young welder/machinists need?

Miles FreeMiles Free LinkedIn profile

Director, Industry Affairs, Precision Machined Products Association

Skills are essential, but most of our precision machining shops hire for attitude. We will help reliable candidates develop the skills that they need. If we look at employers having wants and needs: want - someone that knows their software. Needs - someone that knows how to adjust code; we'll teach them our software. Wants - excellent math skills. Requires the ability to do high school algebra, geometry, and trig.

Needs - people that can communicate an issue verbally and in writing.
That's where we see it. Critical thinking, ability to understand problems and their potential causes, ability to work well with others, without this, even a super-competent technically skilled person will probably find themselves changing jobs many times.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about welder/machinist

List of welder/machinist skills to add to your resume

Welder/machinist skills

The most important skills for a welder/machinist resume and required skills for a welder/machinist to have include:

  • Manual Lathes
  • Hand Tools
  • CNC Machines
  • Blueprint Specifications
  • Arc Welding
  • Grinders
  • Stainless Steel
  • Aluminum
  • Safety Equipment
  • Engineering Drawings
  • Drill Press
  • Tig Welding
  • AWS
  • Micrometers
  • Mig
  • Tig
  • Brazing
  • Hydraulic Systems
  • Overhead Positions
  • Machine Shop Equipment
  • Gas Welding
  • Shop Mathematics
  • Jigs
  • Machine Tools
  • SMAW
  • Titanium
  • Hydraulic Presses
  • GMAW
  • GTAW
  • Mild Steel
  • Torches
  • FCAW
  • Tack Welding
  • Support Equipment
  • Engine Lathes
  • CAD
  • Hoists
  • Manual Machines
  • Carbon Steel
  • Press Brake
  • Manual Mill
  • Surface Grinders
  • Overhead Cranes
  • Haas
  • Reference Points
  • Landing Gear
  • Band Saws

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse production and manufacturing jobs