Average Salary for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
SOC 51-4122 · Production Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the United States is $47,060 ($22.62/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $35,780 at the 10th percentile to $66,190 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 36,290 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 33.8% since 2014.
Median Annual
$47,060
Mean Annual
$49,270
10th Pct
$35,780
75th Pct
$55,870
Employment
36,290
Salary Distribution
$36k
10th
$39k
25th
$47k
Median
$56k
75th
$66k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $78,460 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $64,720 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $61,320 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $61,140 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $59,910 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $59,110 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $57,420 |
| Ames, IA | $56,850 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $56,330 |
| Wichita, KS | $54,070 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $53,930 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $53,710 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $53,580 |
| Green Bay, WI | $53,040 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $52,980 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Utilities | $94,100 |
| Utilities | $94,100 |
| Metal Ore Mining | $83,010 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $82,980 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $82,980 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $78,440 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $76,210 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $76,210 |
| Engineering Services | $73,630 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $73,630 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $73,630 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $73,630 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | $65,240 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $57,190 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | $56,990 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $56,800 |
| Ship and Boat Building | $56,320 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | $55,910 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $55,860 |
| Repair and Maintenance | $55,860 |
| Communications Equipment Manufacturing | $55,370 |
| Other Miscellaneous Retailers | $54,050 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers | $54,050 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $52,000 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $52,000 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $52,000 |
| Utility System Construction | $50,850 |
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | $50,620 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $50,400 |
| Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | $50,130 |
| Construction of Buildings | $49,620 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | $49,460 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | $49,250 |
| Household Appliance Manufacturing | $49,120 |
| Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | $48,950 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $48,440 |
| Wholesale Trade | $48,440 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $48,440 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $48,040 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | $47,930 |
| Other Building Equipment Contractors | $47,840 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | $47,770 |
| Foundries | $47,620 |
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | $47,170 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $47,060 |
| Machine Shops | $47,060 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | $47,040 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | $47,040 |
| Manufacturing | $47,000 |
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | $46,950 |
| Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | $46,800 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | $46,400 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | $46,350 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | $46,340 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $46,080 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $45,600 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | $45,420 |
| Construction | $45,120 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | $44,890 |
| Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | $44,880 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | $44,810 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | $44,550 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | $44,550 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | $44,320 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $44,140 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $43,800 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $43,520 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $43,400 |
| Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | $43,370 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | $43,010 |
| Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | $42,680 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | $42,020 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | $41,190 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $40,150 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $40,150 |
| Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | $39,880 |
| Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | $39,880 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $39,780 |
| Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $39,670 |
| Employment Services | $39,510 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $39,510 |
| Temporary Help Services | $39,360 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | $38,800 |
| Retail Trade | $35,710 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $47,060 |
| 2023 | $45,350 |
| 2022 | $44,920 |
| 2021 | $38,580 |
| 2020 | $39,410 |
| 2019 | $38,310 |
| 2018 | $37,670 |
| 2017 | $37,190 |
| 2016 | $36,980 |
| 2015 | $36,150 |
| 2014 | $35,180 |