Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: Career Overview
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.
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What Do Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders span:
- Read blueprints, work orders, or production schedules to determine product or job instructions or specifications.
- Inspect, measure, or test completed metal workpieces to ensure conformance to specifications, using measuring and testing devices.
- Record operational information on specified production reports.
- Correct problems by adjusting controls or by stopping machines and opening holding devices.
- Set up, operate, or tend welding machines that join or bond components to fabricate metal products or assemblies.
- Select torch tips, alloys, flux, coil, tubing, or wire, according to metal types or thicknesses, data charts, or records.
- Lay out, fit, or connect parts to be bonded, calculating production measurements, as necessary.
- Prepare metal surfaces or workpieces, using hand-operated equipment, such as grinders, cutters, or drills.
What Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Need to Know
Successful welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Aluminum Welder
- Arc Welding Machine Operator
- Arc and Gas Welder
- Billet Assembler
- Braze Operator
- Brazing Machine Operator
- Brazing Machine Setter
- Brazing Machine Setter Operator
Job Outlook
There are roughly 229,159 welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +12.7% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $50,993 |
| Hourly median | $24.52 |
| 10th percentile | $30,603 |
| 25th percentile | $40,798 |
| 75th percentile | $61,188 |
| 90th percentile | $71,383 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $78,460 |
| Alaska | $76,860 |
| Louisiana | $66,660 |
| Maryland | $62,560 |
| Minnesota | $57,830 |
| Kentucky | $57,590 |
| New Jersey | $57,140 |
| Connecticut | $56,750 |
| Colorado | $53,580 |
| Nebraska | $53,290 |
| Iowa | $52,100 |
| Oregon | $51,390 |
| Texas | $51,220 |
| South Dakota | $50,920 |
| Massachusetts | $49,920 |
| Illinois | $48,750 |
| Wisconsin | $48,170 |
| Arizona | $48,010 |
| Ohio | $47,830 |
| Missouri | $47,770 |
| Idaho | $47,550 |
| Utah | $47,320 |
| Virginia | $47,310 |
| California | $47,180 |
| New York | $46,890 |
| North Carolina | $46,660 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,530 |
| West Virginia | $46,370 |
| Nevada | $46,330 |
| New Hampshire | $46,050 |
| Kansas | $45,880 |
| Rhode Island | $45,870 |
| South Carolina | $45,640 |
| Tennessee | $45,600 |
| Maine | $45,160 |
| Arkansas | $43,700 |
| Georgia | $43,500 |
| Vermont | $42,280 |
| Oklahoma | $41,780 |
| Mississippi | $41,490 |
| Michigan | $40,470 |
| Florida | $39,790 |
| Indiana | $38,970 |
| Alabama | $37,310 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plains States | $52,003 | 10.0% | 3.02 |
| Middle Atlantic | $50,338 | 6.7% | 0.52 |
| Rocky Mountains | $50,153 | 0.7% | 0.23 |
| New England | $49,779 | 5.0% | 1.24 |
| Southwest | $49,590 | 8.7% | 0.76 |
| Far Western US | $48,726 | 7.9% | 0.54 |
| Southeast | $46,584 | 29.8% | 2.57 |
| Great Lakes | $42,951 | 31.1% | 3.20 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $78,460 | 60 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $64,720 | 60 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $61,320 | 450 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $61,140 | 120 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $59,910 | 50 |
| Chambersburg, PA | PA | $59,110 | 30 |
| Jefferson City, MO | MO | $57,420 | 60 |
| Ames, IA | IA | $56,850 | 70 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 30,940 | $47,000 |
| Wholesale Trade | 1,700 | $48,440 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,460 | $39,780 |
| Construction | 960 | $45,120 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 410 | $73,630 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 270 | $55,860 |
| Utilities | 120 | $94,100 |
| Retail Trade | 120 | $35,710 |
Below are examples of industries where welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders work:
Tools and Technology
- Operating system software: Linux (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Time Pressure
How to Become Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Entry-level welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders positions require some college, no degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (Supplemental)
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics (Primary-Long)
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers (Primary-Short)
- Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers (Primary-Long)
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers (Supplemental)
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters (Primary-Short)
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Supplemental)
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Aspiring welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders often complete programs in:
Precision Production
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-4122.00 (Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders).
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