What does a Solderer do?
A solderer is a professional who joins metals or other materials using soldering techniques. Their primary responsibilities include assembling components, such as resistors and capacitors, to circuit boards, following drawings and schematics. They also inspect finished products, ensure quality according to ISO and FDA standards, and clean work pieces using chemical solutions, files, wire brushes, or grinders. Solderers may work with BGA assemblies, SMT or hand solder parts, and operate pick and place machines. They are skilled in using tools like soldering irons, tweezers, and jigs, and may work with medical equipment or devices, battery packs, and electronic circuit boards.
Solderer responsibilities
Soldering technicians play a crucial role in the production of electronic devices and equipment. They solder components, such as resistors and capacitors, onto circuit boards, often using magnifying devices for precision. They also clean work pieces to remove dirt or excess acid and inspect finished products for quality according to industry standards. Regular tasks may also include operating soldering equipment, connecting component leads, and performing visual inspections of components and end products.
Here are examples of responsibilities from real solderer resumes:
- Follow all establish ESD, safety, ergonomic and security policies.
- Measure parts to determine tolerances by using precision measuring instruments such as micrometers and calipers.
- Diagnose and troubleshoot malfunctions in electrical components, including solid state and transistorize subsystems.
Solderer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 23% of Solderers are proficient in Hand Tools, Mechanical Assembly, and PCB. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Manual dexterity, and Physical strength.
We break down the percentage of Solderers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Hand Tools, 23%
Utilize small hand tools for positioning parts to assist in assembly operation, stripping wire and, forming leads.
- Mechanical Assembly, 8%
Performed Electro/Mechanical assembly when needed and was also back up wave solder operator.
- PCB, 7%
Entered PCB records into MES system and checking process flows to prepare boards for advancement in production.
- Soldering Irons, 7%
Connected component leads using solder equipment including solder pots and soldering irons.
- SMT, 6%
Inventory parts handler: Collaborated with employees to gather SMT or hand solder parts to bring to them as needed.
- IPC-A-610, 6%
Have certificate of completion for the IPC-A-610 acceptability standards requirements program.
Most solderers use their skills in "hand tools," "mechanical assembly," and "pcb" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential solderer responsibilities here:
Detail oriented. The most essential soft skill for a solderer to carry out their responsibilities is detail oriented. This skill is important for the role because "welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers perform precision work, often with straight edges." Additionally, a solderer resume shows how their duties depend on detail oriented: "interpret detailed schematics, engineering drawings, wiring schematics, etc. "
Manual dexterity. Many solderer duties rely on manual dexterity. "welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers must have a steady hand to hold a torch in place," so a solderer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways solderer responsibilities rely on manual dexterity: "operated automatic soldering equipment in support of sub-assembly process for finished product line * manual and mechanical coatings processes. "
Physical strength. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of solderers is physical strength. This skill is critical to many everyday solderer duties, as "welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers must be able to lift heavy pieces of metal and move welding or cutting equipment." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "performed mechanical assembly, physical inspection, cleaning and packaging of final assemblies, accomplishments ability to work 12 hour shift. "
The three companies that hire the most solderers are:
- Jabil4 solderers jobs
- Eaton4 solderers jobs
- The Reserves Network4 solderers jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable solderer resume templates
Build a professional solderer 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 solderer resume.
Compare different solderers
Solderer vs. Brazing furnace operator
An electronic assembler is responsible for connecting electronic parts and systems, analyzing schematics and blueprints, and following clients' specifications. Electronic assemblers utilize various hand tools and equipment to perform their duties, requiring them to be knowledgeable of the mechanical industry to inspect equipment efficiency, perform repairs, and replace defective components to boost optimization. An electronic assembler must adhere to the safety precautions during operations to prevent electrical hazards in the workplace. They should also work closely with the maintenance team for the completion of the assembly process.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a solderer are more likely to require skills like "hand tools," "mechanical assembly," "pcb," and "soldering irons." On the other hand, a job as a brazing furnace operator requires skills like "part drawings," "manual operation," "safety equipment," and "clamp." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Brazing furnace operators tend to reach similar levels of education than solderers. In fact, brazing furnace operators are 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Solderer vs. Electronic assembler
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that solderer responsibilities requires skills like "tip," "solder joints," "j-std-001," and "through-hole components." But an electronic assembler might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "dexterity," "sub assemblies," "manual dexterity," and "calipers."
Electronic assemblers earn a higher average salary than solderers. But electronic assemblers earn the highest pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $34,858. Additionally, solderers earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $30,786 annually.In general, electronic assemblers achieve similar levels of education than solderers. They're 1.2% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Solderer vs. Brazer
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a solderer is likely to be skilled in "mechanical assembly," "pcb," "smt," and "ipc-a-610," while a typical brazer is skilled in "dexterity," "safety procedures," "cranes," and "lean manufacturing."
Brazers earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $40,171. Comparatively, solderers have the highest earning potential in the technology industry, with an average salary of $30,786.brazers typically earn similar educational levels compared to solderers. Specifically, they're 1.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Solderer vs. Assembler brazer
Even though a few skill sets overlap between solderers and assembler brazers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a solderer might have more use for skills like "hand tools," "mechanical assembly," "pcb," and "soldering irons." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of assembler brazers require skills like "cranes," "part numbers," "lean manufacturing," and "electrical blueprints. "
In general, assembler brazers hold similar degree levels compared to solderers. Assembler brazers are 0.0% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of solderer
Updated April 25, 2024
