Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
SOC code 51-4122 · O*NET-SOC 51-4122.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$47,920
a year
Hourly
$23.04
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$50,220
$24.15 per hour
Middle 50%
$40,560 – $57,390
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$36,860 – $66,540
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
31,600
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $36,860
- $17.72/hr
- 25th percentile
- $40,560
- $19.50/hr
- Median percentile
- $47,920
- $23.04/hr
- 75th percentile
- $57,390
- $27.59/hr
- 90th percentile
- $66,540
- $31.99/hr
What do welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders do?
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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
- Add chemicals or materials to workpieces or machines to facilitate bonding or to cool workpieces.
- 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.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold post-secondary certificate — 36% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Post-Secondary Certificate36%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)32%
- Less than a High School Diploma22%
- Some College Courses10%
Common questions
How much does a welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders earn?
The national median is $47,920 a year. The full range runs from $36,860 at the 10th percentile to $66,540 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension3.0/5
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.0/5
- Monitoring3.0/5
- Active Learning2.6/5
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing3.8/5
- Administration and Management3.5/5
- Design3.1/5
- Public Safety and Security2.9/5
- English Language2.8/5
- Mechanical2.8/5
- Customer and Personal Service2.7/5
- Engineering and Technology2.7/5
Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making.