Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders in the U.S. is $47,920 ($23.04 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $47,920
- Mean annual wage
- $50,220
- Median hourly wage
- $23.04
- Employment
- 31,600
31,600 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,860 | $17.72 |
| 25th percentile | $40,560 | $19.50 |
| Median (50th) | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| 75th percentile | $57,390 | $27.59 |
| 90th percentile | $66,540 | $31.99 |
Highest-paying states for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $70,150 | 280 |
| Alaska | $62,700 | 50 |
| Washington | $58,990 | 50 |
| Illinois | $58,840 | 180 |
| Oregon | $58,650 | 250 |
| Wisconsin | $57,640 | 1,150 |
| Minnesota | $57,560 | 670 |
| Nebraska | $57,280 | 650 |
| Missouri | $56,210 | 560 |
| New Jersey | $53,680 | 510 |
Lowest-paying states
- Montana: $35,670 median annual wage
- Mississippi: $37,390 median annual wage
- Alabama: $40,050 median annual wage
- Oklahoma: $40,400 median annual wage
- Utah: $40,600 median annual wage
About this occupation
Set up, operate, or tend welding, soldering, or brazing machines or robots that weld, braze, solder, or heat treat metal products, components, or assemblies. Includes workers who operate laser cutters or laser-beam machines.
Typical tasks
- Select torch tips, alloys, flux, coil, tubing, or wire, according to metal types or thicknesses, data charts, or records.
- Correct problems by adjusting controls or by stopping machines and opening holding devices.
- Clean, lubricate, maintain, and adjust equipment to maintain efficient operation, using air hoses, cleaning fluids, and hand tools.
- Set dials and timing controls to regulate electrical current, gas flow pressure, heating or cooling cycles, or shut-off.
- Transfer components, metal products, or assemblies, using moving equipment.
- Observe meters, gauges, or machine operations to ensure that soldering or brazing processes meet specifications.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 17.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 47.9% |
| Some college, no degree | 21.8% |
| Associate's degree | 8.8% |
| Bachelor's degree | 2.9% |
| Master's degree | 0.4% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.2% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,650
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,450
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,570
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,750
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,220
- Machinists$58,750
- Production Workers, All Other$40,110
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$45,850
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.