51
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is a notable career in the 51 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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| soc | 51-4122 |
| title | Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
| onet code | 51-4122.00 |
| description | 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. |
| job zone | 2 |
| major group | 51 |
| tot emp | 36,290 |
| a mean | 49,270 |
| a median | 47,060 |
| a pct10 | 35,780 |
| a pct25 | 39,480 |
| a pct75 | 55,870 |
| a pct90 | 66,190 |
| h mean | 23 |
| h median | 22 |
The day-to-day work of a welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders typically centers on read blueprints, work orders, or production schedules to determine product or job instructions or specifications. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, and Reading Comprehension. Across the top 8 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.08 out of 5 — moderately weighted for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders, the most common entry qualification is a Post (35.8%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 0% of incumbents. Most workers enter without a four-year degree, making this a relatively accessible career path.
Median annual pay is highest in Washington at $78,460 and lowest in Alabama at $37,310 — a 2.1× spread. The top five states (Washington, Alaska, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota) average $68,474. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $78,460 | $76,460 | $52,310 | $96,470 | 70 |
| Alaska | $76,860 | $75,820 | $57,520 | $92,460 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $66,660 | $61,000 | $32,970 | $80,120 | 200 |
| Maryland | $62,560 | $62,670 | $44,090 | $98,840 | 240 |
| Minnesota | $57,830 | $59,600 | $46,990 | $82,980 | 360 |
| Kentucky | $57,590 | $60,440 | $42,420 | $73,720 | 2,400 |
| New Jersey | $57,140 | $56,130 | $38,800 | $64,570 | 480 |
| Connecticut | $56,750 | $58,900 | $38,040 | $81,110 | 400 |
| Colorado | $53,580 | $54,950 | $42,510 | $66,320 | 120 |
| Nebraska | $53,290 | $54,860 | $46,540 | $64,380 | 770 |
| Iowa | $52,100 | $52,340 | $42,280 | $60,900 | 1,650 |
| Oregon | $51,390 | $53,380 | $39,110 | $65,560 | 160 |
| Texas | $51,220 | $53,970 | $39,780 | $69,950 | 2,400 |
| South Dakota | $50,920 | $51,210 | $40,320 | $60,740 | 230 |
| Massachusetts | $49,920 | $50,870 | $37,370 | $66,370 | 710 |
| Illinois | $48,750 | $54,640 | $43,460 | $84,670 | 200 |
| Wisconsin | $48,170 | $50,890 | $40,150 | $61,760 | 1,210 |
| Arizona | $48,010 | $52,770 | $38,380 | $73,310 | 300 |
| Ohio | $47,830 | $50,370 | $37,560 | $66,710 | 2,840 |
| Missouri | $47,770 | $50,090 | $38,190 | $59,000 | 390 |
| Idaho | $47,550 | $50,150 | $40,140 | $63,440 | 60 |
| Utah | $47,320 | $48,360 | $37,440 | $62,050 | 90 |
| Virginia | $47,310 | $48,170 | $37,820 | $60,570 | 510 |
| California | $47,180 | $53,350 | $37,840 | $69,330 | 2,310 |
| New York | $46,890 | $48,560 | $37,370 | $61,690 | 660 |
| North Carolina | $46,660 | $47,980 | $35,720 | $63,990 | 810 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,530 | $48,150 | $36,750 | $63,090 | 1,030 |
| West Virginia | $46,370 | $58,400 | $32,650 | $96,460 | 160 |
| Nevada | $46,330 | $49,590 | $28,710 | $76,100 | 260 |
| New Hampshire | $46,050 | $47,880 | $38,850 | $59,210 | 310 |
| Kansas | $45,880 | $48,310 | $34,730 | $65,250 | 220 |
| Rhode Island | $45,870 | $47,770 | $37,060 | $61,110 | 260 |
| South Carolina | $45,640 | $46,010 | $35,240 | $61,490 | 250 |
| Tennessee | $45,600 | $44,860 | $35,940 | $50,480 | 1,980 |
| Maine | $45,160 | $48,770 | $43,940 | $56,970 | 90 |
| Arkansas | $43,700 | $44,060 | $28,260 | $58,770 | 150 |
| Georgia | $43,500 | $44,510 | $36,070 | $57,120 | 930 |
| Vermont | $42,280 | $42,140 | $34,010 | $48,340 | 40 |
| Oklahoma | $41,780 | $43,210 | $34,130 | $55,220 | 440 |
| Mississippi | $41,490 | $46,300 | $32,160 | $65,240 | 930 |
| Michigan | $40,470 | $43,290 | $35,060 | $52,630 | 4,360 |
| Florida | $39,790 | $42,330 | $37,410 | $51,670 | 930 |
| Indiana | $38,970 | $42,550 | $34,700 | $55,720 | 2,640 |
| Alabama | $37,310 | $41,140 | $29,030 | $53,700 | 1,540 |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Arc and Gas Welder or Arc Welding Machine Operator frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders compares to others in the 51 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.