How much do Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make?
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earn a median annual salary of $47,920 in the United States, which works out to roughly $23.04 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $36,860 at the entry level and $66,540 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $40,560 and $57,390 a year.
That is $13,470 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary range by percentile
Half of all Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earn between $40,560 and $57,390 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,860 | $17.72 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $40,560 | $19.50 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $47,920 | $23.04 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $57,390 | $27.59 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,540 | $31.99 |
Highest-paying states for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Arizona leads the country for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay at $70,150 a year, followed by Alaska ($62,700) and Washington ($58,990). At the other end, Montana posts the lowest median at $35,670 — a gap of $34,480 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $70,150 | $33.73 | +46% |
| 2 | Alaska | $62,700 | $30.14 | +31% |
| 3 | Washington | $58,990 | $28.36 | +23% |
| 4 | Illinois | $58,840 | $28.29 | +23% |
| 5 | Oregon | $58,650 | $28.20 | +22% |
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 44 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 32,000 people work as Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $50,220 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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