SOC 51-4122 · Production Occupations

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries

U.S. median annual wage$47,920

U.S. median hourly wage$23.04

U.S. employment31,600

Nationally, welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders earned a median of $47,920 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 31,600 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.

National pay distribution

Pay by state

Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.

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Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: pay and employment by state
State
Arizona	$70,150	$33.72	280	0.1
Alaska	$62,700	$30.14	50	0.1
Washington	$58,990	$28.36	50	0.0
Illinois	$58,840	$28.29	180	0.0
Oregon	$58,650	$28.20	250	0.1
Wisconsin	$57,640	$27.71	1,150	0.4
Minnesota	$57,560	$27.67	670	0.2
Nebraska	$57,280	$27.54	650	0.6
Missouri	$56,210	$27.02	560	0.2
New Jersey	$53,680	$25.81	510	0.1
South Dakota	$52,520	$25.25	150	0.3
New York	$52,080	$25.04	740	0.1
Iowa	$51,740	$24.88	1,310	0.8
Texas	$51,310	$24.67	1,750	0.1
Idaho	$50,850	$24.45	100	0.1
Kentucky	$50,740	$24.39	1,000	0.5
Massachusetts	$50,480	$24.27	480	0.1
Rhode Island	$50,040	$24.06	160	0.3
Colorado	$49,860	$23.97	100	0.0
Virginia	$49,160	$23.64	410	0.1
California	$48,940	$23.53	2,290	0.1
Louisiana	$48,740	$23.43	320	0.2
Maine	$48,410	$23.28	60	0.1
Ohio	$48,190	$23.17	2,190	0.4
Connecticut	$47,900	$23.03	590	0.4
Nevada	$47,870	$23.01	170	0.1
North Carolina	$47,580	$22.87	820	0.2
Pennsylvania	$47,530	$22.85	1,120	0.2
New Hampshire	$47,500	$22.84	290	0.4
Tennessee	$47,180	$22.68	1,950	0.6
Maryland	$47,110	$22.65	430	0.2
Arkansas	$46,880	$22.54	210	0.2
Kansas	$46,710	$22.46	160	0.1
West Virginia	$46,460	$22.34	120	0.2
South Carolina	$46,260	$22.24	340	0.1
Georgia	$45,850	$22.04	840	0.2
Indiana	$43,960	$21.14	2,840	0.9
Michigan	$42,530	$20.45	3,150	0.7
Florida	$41,420	$19.92	740	0.1
Utah	$40,600	$19.52	120	0.1
Oklahoma	$40,400	$19.42	460	0.3
Alabama	$40,050	$19.25	1,250	0.6
Mississippi	$37,390	$17.98	480	0.4
Montana	$35,670	$17.15	Not published	Not published
Puerto Rico	$26,980	$12.97	90	0.1

Pay by metro area

All 128 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.

Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.

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Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: pay and employment by metro area
Metro area
Tuscaloosa, AL	$82,250	$39.54	40	0.3
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$75,200	$36.15	230	0.1
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	$74,910	$36.02	60	0.1
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$66,570	$32.00	40	0.1
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	$64,380	$30.95	40	0.3
Winston-Salem, NC	$64,120	$30.83	80	0.3
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$61,700	$29.66	230	0.4
Boise City, ID	$61,530	$29.58	40	0.1
St. Louis, MO-IL	$60,600	$29.13	180	0.1
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$60,180	$28.93	130	0.1
Green Bay, WI	$58,890	$28.31	50	0.3
Asheville, NC	$58,450	$28.10	40	0.2
Springfield, MO	$58,320	$28.04	50	0.2
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$57,900	$27.84	440	0.0
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY	$57,690	$27.74	40	0.1
Fond du Lac, WI	$57,640	$27.71	120	2.8
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$57,570	$27.68	360	0.2
Kansas City, MO-KS	$56,320	$27.08	90	0.1
Jackson, MS	$55,550	$26.71	70	0.3
Omaha, NE-IA	$55,450	$26.66	170	0.4
Chambersburg, PA	$55,110	$26.49	30	0.5
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$54,970	$26.43	60	0.0
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$54,500	$26.20	700	0.2
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	$54,470	$26.19	50	0.6
Madison, WI	$54,440	$26.17	60	0.1
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$54,390	$26.15	280	0.1
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$53,680	$25.81	130	0.3
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$52,980	$25.47	260	0.6
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$52,800	$25.39	400	0.4
Wausau, WI	$52,670	$25.32	30	0.5
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$52,180	$25.09	230	0.3
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$51,740	$24.88	410	0.1
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$51,320	$24.68	60	0.7
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$51,290	$24.66	720	0.7
Richmond, VA	$51,270	$24.65	40	0.1
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$51,110	$24.57	70	0.1
Springfield, MA	$51,110	$24.57	70	0.3
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	$51,000	$24.52	90	0.5
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	$50,860	$24.45	40	0.2
Worcester, MA	$50,760	$24.40	60	0.2
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$50,740	$24.39	460	0.7
Rochester, NY	$50,530	$24.30	50	0.1
Niles, MI	$50,370	$24.22	80	1.3
Waterbury-Shelton, CT	$50,370	$24.22	60	0.4
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$50,230	$24.15	360	0.1
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI	$50,120	$24.10	70	0.8
Dubuque, IA	$49,930	$24.01	30	0.6
Cedar Rapids, IA	$49,920	$24.00	60	0.4
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$49,840	$23.96	320	0.1
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$49,820	$23.95	220	0.1
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$49,780	$23.93	180	0.3
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$49,390	$23.75	190	0.1
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$49,160	$23.64	110	0.2
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$48,840	$23.48	180	0.3
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$48,820	$23.47	240	0.3
Decatur, AL	$48,620	$23.38	70	1.1
Spartanburg, SC	$48,580	$23.36	40	0.2
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$48,520	$23.33	360	0.3
New Haven, CT	$48,320	$23.23	70	0.3
Baton Rouge, LA	$48,260	$23.20	140	0.3
Canton-Massillon, OH	$48,190	$23.17	90	0.5
Toledo, OH	$48,110	$23.13	170	0.6
Tulsa, OK	$48,000	$23.08	250	0.5
Reading, PA	$47,960	$23.06	40	0.3
Reno, NV	$47,930	$23.05	50	0.2
Knoxville, TN	$47,920	$23.04	350	0.8
Elkhart-Goshen, IN	$47,840	$23.00	240	1.9
Mansfield, OH	$47,690	$22.93	40	0.8
Akron, OH	$47,570	$22.87	70	0.2
Fresno, CA	$47,560	$22.87	40	0.1
Manchester-Nashua, NH	$47,500	$22.84	160	0.8
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$47,450	$22.81	210	0.5
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$47,440	$22.81	170	0.1
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	$47,380	$22.78	50	0.3
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	$47,260	$22.72	60	0.2
Pittsburgh, PA	$47,180	$22.68	190	0.2
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	$47,090	$22.64	40	0.1
Cleveland, OH	$47,020	$22.60	400	0.4
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$46,790	$22.50	100	0.1
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$46,710	$22.46	320	0.1
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	$46,560	$22.39	80	0.2
Eugene-Springfield, OR	$46,550	$22.38	40	0.3
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	$46,460	$22.34	60	0.5
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$46,450	$22.33	60	0.1
Lynchburg, VA	$46,390	$22.30	70	0.7
Gainesville, GA	$46,380	$22.30	60	0.6
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN	$46,370	$22.29	40	0.4
Lancaster, PA	$46,330	$22.28	80	0.3
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$46,280	$22.25	420	0.4
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	$46,200	$22.21	130	0.3
York-Hanover, PA	$46,090	$22.16	90	0.5
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$46,030	$22.13	110	0.3
Jacksonville, FL	$45,990	$22.11	Not published	Not published
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$45,990	$22.11	830	0.1
Columbus, OH	$45,830	$22.03	180	0.2
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$45,580	$21.91	390	0.1
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$45,540	$21.90	90	0.1
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$45,090	$21.68	120	0.0
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$44,980	$21.63	150	0.6
Wichita, KS	$44,760	$21.52	80	0.3
Fort Wayne, IN	$44,670	$21.48	70	0.3
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$44,450	$21.37	60	0.2
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$44,370	$21.33	Not published	Not published
Evansville, IN	$44,240	$21.27	50	0.4
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$44,060	$21.18	1,190	0.6
Huntsville, AL	$44,030	$21.17	190	0.7
Youngstown-Warren, OH	$43,910	$21.11	50	0.3
Birmingham, AL	$43,480	$20.90	150	0.3
Fort Smith, AR-OK	$43,450	$20.89	40	0.4
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$43,230	$20.79	130	0.1
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI	$42,830	$20.59	90	1.5
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	$41,760	$20.08	730	1.2
Erie, PA	$41,530	$19.97	60	0.5
Jackson, MI	$41,180	$19.80	40	0.6
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$40,560	$19.50	50	0.1
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI	$40,240	$19.35	170	1.4
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$40,150	$19.30	110	0.1
Montgomery, AL	$40,050	$19.25	190	1.1
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$39,980	$19.22	230	0.2
Oklahoma City, OK	$39,840	$19.15	70	0.1
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$38,970	$18.74	550	0.5
Ann Arbor, MI	$38,900	$18.70	50	0.2
Springfield, OH	$38,440	$18.48	40	0.9
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	$37,040	$17.81	40	0.1
Lima, OH	$36,490	$17.55	40	0.8
Jackson, TN	$36,350	$17.48	100	1.2
Traverse City, MI	$36,260	$17.44	40	0.6
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	$26,980	$12.97	80	0.1

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.