Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks
SOC 51-4122 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data
Median Annual Salary
$47,923
$23.04/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is $47,923 per year ($23.04/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $40,560 and $57,387 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $66,539 per year. There are approximately 31,600 welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
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.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
-9.0%
Much slower than average
Annual openings
3K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
39K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
0% from new growth100% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing
NAICS 336300
4K
$43,130
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only)
NAICS 3330A1
4K
$50,850
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only)
NAICS 3320A2
4K
$50,470
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only)
NAICS 3320A1
3K
$48,930
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing
NAICS 334400
2K
$45,280
Wage range across top 5 industries: $43,130 to $50,850 (18% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$17.72
$36,858
P25
$19.50
$40,560
P50MEDIAN
$23.04
$47,923
P75
$27.59
$57,387
P90
$31.99
$66,539
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · manufacturing sector
Stable
Openings Rate
3.5%
Quits Rate
1.4%
Manufacturing openings ticked up to 462K (+19K) in March, with the rate at 3.5%. Hires rose to 310K. The sector has stabilized after late-2025 softening.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders salary?
The national median salary for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is $47,923 per year ($23.04/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $40,560 and $57,387 annually.
How much do top-earning welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders make?
The 90th percentile salary for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is $66,539 per year ($31.99/hr). The 75th percentile is $57,387 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Entry-level Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (10th percentile) earn approximately $36,858 per year ($17.72/hr). The 25th percentile is $40,560 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
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