Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenderss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Alaska$70,110
- Arizona$68,030
- Illinois$61,020
- Washington$60,410
- Oregon$60,220
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Montana$38,430
- Mississippi$40,690
- Utah$42,710
- Alabama$43,420
- Oklahoma$43,860
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $70,110 | $62,700 | $34 | +39.6% | 50 |
| 2 | Arizona | $68,030 | $70,150 | $33 | +35.5% | 280 |
| 3 | Illinois | $61,020 | $58,840 | $29 | +21.5% | 180 |
| 4 | Washington | $60,410 | $58,990 | $29 | +20.3% | 50 |
| 5 | Oregon | $60,220 | $58,650 | $29 | +19.9% | 250 |
| 6 | Louisiana | $57,500 | $48,740 | $28 | +14.5% | 320 |
| 7 | Nebraska | $56,740 | $57,280 | $27 | +13% | 650 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $56,670 | $57,560 | $27 | +12.8% | 670 |
| 9 | New York | $56,230 | $52,080 | $27 | +12% | 740 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $56,140 | $57,640 | $27 | +11.8% | 1,150 |
| 11 | Missouri | $55,980 | $56,210 | $27 | +11.5% | 560 |
| 12 | Idaho | $53,610 | $50,850 | $26 | +6.8% | 100 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $53,440 | $47,900 | $26 | +6.4% | 590 |
| 14 | California | $53,170 | $48,940 | $26 | +5.9% | 2,290 |
| 15 | Texas | $52,860 | $51,310 | $25 | +5.3% | 1,750 |
| 16 | Iowa | $52,530 | $51,740 | $25 | +4.6% | 1,310 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $52,390 | $50,740 | $25 | +4.3% | 1,000 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $52,360 | $50,040 | $25 | +4.3% | 160 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $52,310 | $53,680 | $25 | +4.2% | 510 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $51,970 | $52,520 | $25 | +3.5% | 150 |
| 21 | Colorado | $51,890 | $49,860 | $25 | +3.3% | 100 |
| 22 | Massachusetts | $51,550 | $50,480 | $25 | +2.6% | 480 |
| 23 | Ohio | $51,130 | $48,190 | $25 | +1.8% | 2,190 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $51,080 | $47,580 | $25 | +1.7% | 820 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $50,820 | $46,460 | $24 | +1.2% | 120 |
| 26 | Nevada | $50,710 | $47,870 | $24 | +1% | 170 |
| 27 | Kansas | $50,430 | $46,710 | $24 | +0.4% | 160 |
| 28 | Maine | $50,080 | $48,410 | $24 | -0.3% | 60 |
| 29 | Maryland | $49,900 | $47,110 | $24 | -0.6% | 430 |
| 30 | Virginia | $49,670 | $49,160 | $24 | -1.1% | 410 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $49,450 | $47,530 | $24 | -1.5% | 1,120 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $49,220 | $47,500 | $24 | -2% | 290 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $49,000 | $46,260 | $24 | -2.4% | 340 |
| 34 | Indiana | $47,520 | $43,960 | $23 | -5.4% | 2,840 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $46,950 | $46,880 | $23 | -6.5% | 210 |
| 36 | Georgia | $46,460 | $45,850 | $22 | -7.5% | 840 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $46,330 | $47,180 | $22 | -7.7% | 1,950 |
| 38 | Florida | $44,690 | $41,420 | $21 | -11% | 740 |
| 39 | Michigan | $44,610 | $42,530 | $21 | -11.2% | 3,150 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $43,860 | $40,400 | $21 | -12.7% | 460 |
| 41 | Alabama | $43,420 | $40,050 | $21 | -13.5% | 1,250 |
| 42 | Utah | $42,710 | $40,600 | $21 | -15% | 120 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $40,690 | $37,390 | $20 | -19% | 480 |
| 44 | Montana | $38,430 | $35,670 | $18 | -23.5% | — |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 171 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $82,250 | $61,860 | 40 |
| 2 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $75,200 | $69,770 | 230 |
| 3 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $74,910 | $63,620 | 60 |
| 4 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $68,880 | $61,090 | 590 |
| 5 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $66,570 | $59,140 | 40 |
| 6 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $64,380 | $65,410 | 40 |
| 7 | Winston-Salem, NC | $64,120 | $55,530 | 80 |
| 8 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $62,990 | $55,520 | 100 |
| 9 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $62,550 | $55,830 | 120 |
| 10 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $61,700 | $62,490 | 230 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenderss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $85,680 | $81,840 | 60 |
| 2 | Metal Ore Mining | $85,680 | $84,390 | 50 |
| 3 | Sector 21 - Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $85,680 | $79,720 | 70 |
| 4 | Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $79,160 | $72,850 | 180 |
| 5 | Chemical Manufacturing | $75,830 | $71,000 | 50 |
| 6 | Rental and Leasing Services | $75,210 | $81,920 | — |
| 7 | Sector 53 - Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $75,210 | $81,920 | — |
| 8 | Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) | $75,210 | $81,920 | — |
| 9 | Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $68,640 | $67,380 | 290 |
| 10 | Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers | $64,140 | $58,420 | — |
| 11 | Other Miscellaneous Retailers | $64,140 | $58,420 | — |
| 12 | Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $63,430 | $73,450 | 200 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders make in the U.S.?
The median welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders salary in the United States is $47,920 per year (mean $50,220), and about 80% earn between $36,860 and $66,540.
How much do welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders make per hour?
Roughly $24 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $50,220 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders the most?
Alaska has the highest average pay for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders at $70,110 per year (median $62,700).
What is the job outlook for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Employment is projected to change -9% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 3,200 openings per year.