Occupation · 2026 assessment

Welder

The Welder role combines repeatable operations with decisions that require professional context. The index measures task exposure to AI, software automation and robotics—not the probability that the occupation disappears.

Low risk level Search jobs ↗
How risk may change

A forecast estimate, not a guaranteed scenario.

28%2026
33%2028
39%2030
50%2035

Which tasks are exposed

Risk applies to individual tasks—not to a person or an entire occupation.

TaskRisk
Setting up a standard production cycle40%
Visual quality control of serial production27%
Planning equipment utilization23%
Repeatable physical operations on a line63%
Diagnosing a non-standard equipment fault40%
Changeover, safety and result acceptance18%

Task map

AI replaces ↔ AI augments

Each task is positioned by AI capability and the degree of human involvement still required.

  1. 1Setting up a standard production cycleAI 40% · human 71%
  2. 2Visual quality control of serial productionAI 27% · human 69%
  3. 3Planning equipment utilizationAI 23% · human 76%
  4. 4Repeatable physical operations on a lineAI 63% · human 56%
  5. 5Diagnosing a non-standard equipment faultAI 40% · human 66%
  6. 6Changeover, safety and result acceptanceAI 18% · human 71%

Why technology can change this work

  • serial operations fit industrial robots
  • sensors and computer vision automate quality control
  • repeatable physical work can shift to robots in prepared environments
  • planning and maintenance are moving to predictive systems

What protects the occupation

  • equipment setup and non-standard fault resolution
  • production safety accountability
  • variable materials and low-volume processes

United States · before tax

Average pay and outlook

Estimated nominal monthly pay. The scenario reflects sector, demand and task resilience; it is not a guarantee of income.

2026$7 300per month
2035$10 550scenario estimate
2026: $7 30020262027: $7 60020272028: $7 90020282029: $8 25020292030: $8 60020302031: $8 95020312032: $9 35020322033: $9 70020332034: $10 15020342035: $10 5502035
Find jobs ↗The partner link may contain referral parameters. Data benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ↗

Job search and transitions

Find work with a lower risk index

Compare adjacent paths and open a current search for the selected occupation.

Skills you already have

  • manufacturing-process understanding
  • equipment operation
  • quality control
  • occupational safety

Skills to build

  • industrial robotics
  • predictive maintenance
  • computer vision
  • manufacturing digital twins
CurrentWelder · 28%
→
Keepmanufacturing-process understanding · equipment operation · quality control
→
Addindustrial robotics · predictive maintenance · computer vision

Sources and update

Updated: 2026-09-25 · Assessment confidence: Medium

International Labour Organization · 2025Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure

Nearly 30,000 tasks; a global assessment of GenAI exposure across detailed occupational groups.

World Economic Forum · 2025The Future of Jobs Report 2025

A survey of more than 1,000 employers representing over 14 million workers across 55 economies.

O*NET Resource Center · 2026O*NET Database

Occupational, task, skill and work-context structure.