Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in the U.S.
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the U.S. earn a median of $47,920 a year ($23.04 an hour), based on BLS data for 31,600 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,540 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $50,220, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,860 | $17.72 |
| 25th percentile | $40,560 | $19.50 |
| Median | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| 75th percentile | $57,390 | $27.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,540 | $31.99 |
| Average (mean) | $50,220 | $24.15 |
Half of welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,993.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,996.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,843.08 |
| Weekly | $921.54 |
| Hourly | $23.04 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| South Dakota | $52,520 | 150 |
| New York | $52,080 | 740 |
| Iowa | $51,740 | 1,310 |
| Texas | $51,310 | 1,750 |
| Idaho | $50,850 | 100 |
| Kentucky | $50,740 | 1,000 |
| Massachusetts | $50,480 | 480 |
| Rhode Island | $50,040 | 160 |
| Colorado | $49,860 | 100 |
| Virginia | $49,160 | 410 |
| California | $48,940 | 2,290 |
| Louisiana | $48,740 | 320 |
| Maine | $48,410 | 60 |
| Ohio | $48,190 | 2,190 |
| Connecticut | $47,900 | 590 |
| Nevada | $47,870 | 170 |
| North Carolina | $47,580 | 820 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,530 | 1,120 |
| New Hampshire | $47,500 | 290 |
| Tennessee | $47,180 | 1,950 |
| Maryland | $47,110 | 430 |
| Arkansas | $46,880 | 210 |
| Kansas | $46,710 | 160 |
| West Virginia | $46,460 | 120 |
| South Carolina | $46,260 | 340 |
| Georgia | $45,850 | 840 |
| Indiana | $43,960 | 2,840 |
| Michigan | $42,530 | 3,150 |
| Florida | $41,420 | 740 |
| Utah | $40,600 | 120 |
| Oklahoma | $40,400 | 460 |
| Alabama | $40,050 | 1,250 |
| Mississippi | $37,390 | 480 |
| Montana | $35,670 | n/a |
| Puerto Rico | $26,980 | 90 |
Best-paying metro areas for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $82,250 | 40 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $75,200 | 230 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $74,910 | 60 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $66,570 | 40 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $64,380 | 40 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $64,120 | 80 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $61,700 | 230 |
| Boise City, ID | $61,530 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $60,600 | 180 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $60,180 | 130 |
| Green Bay, WI | $58,890 | 50 |
| Asheville, NC | $58,450 | 40 |
| Springfield, MO | $58,320 | 50 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $57,900 | 440 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $57,690 | 40 |
Metro areas with the most welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,190 | $44,060 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 830 | $45,990 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 730 | $41,760 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 720 | $51,290 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 700 | $54,500 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 550 | $38,970 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 460 | $50,740 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 440 | $57,900 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 420 | $46,280 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 410 | $51,740 |
| Cleveland, OH | 400 | $47,020 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 400 | $52,800 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 390 | $45,580 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 360 | $50,230 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 360 | $48,520 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-4122. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders make in the U.S.?
The median salary for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders in the U.S. is $47,920 a year, or $23.04 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders in the U.S. earn at least $66,540 a year. The top 25% earn $57,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,860 a year, and a quarter of welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $40,560 or less.
How many welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders work in the U.S.?
About 31,600 welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.