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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

51-4122 Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

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.


National estimates for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Industry profile for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Geographic profile for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

National estimates for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
30,940 2.1 % $ 22.17 $ 46,110 0.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 15.35 $ 17.92 $ 21.60 $ 24.87 $ 30.29
Annual Wage (2) $ 31,930 $ 37,270 $ 44,920 $ 51,730 $ 63,010


Industry profile for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) 4,470 0.60 $ 23.04 $ 47,930
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) 4,150 0.86 $ 21.12 $ 43,930
Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing 3,320 0.61 $ 19.67 $ 40,910
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) 3,230 0.69 $ 21.03 $ 43,740
Motor Vehicle Manufacturing 2,430 0.90 $ 28.24 $ 58,750

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing 410 1.01 $ 22.14 $ 46,040
Motor Vehicle Manufacturing 2,430 0.90 $ 28.24 $ 58,750
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) 4,150 0.86 $ 21.12 $ 43,930
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) 3,230 0.69 $ 21.03 $ 43,740
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing 2,300 0.61 $ 22.30 $ 46,380

Top paying industries for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 330 0.02 $ 30.03 $ 62,470
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (8) (8) $ 29.14 $ 60,610
Motor Vehicle Manufacturing 2,430 0.90 $ 28.24 $ 58,750
Building Equipment Contractors (8) (8) $ 27.68 $ 57,570
Ship and Boat Building (8) (8) $ 26.39 $ 54,900


Geographic profile for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Indiana 3,260 1.05 5.04 $ 21.09 $ 43,870
California 3,010 0.17 0.82 $ 24.45 $ 50,850
Kentucky 2,290 1.21 5.77 $ 26.46 $ 55,040
Michigan 2,090 0.49 2.35 $ 20.78 $ 43,210
Tennessee 2,020 0.65 3.09 $ 19.55 $ 40,670


Map of location quotient of welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Kentucky 2,290 1.21 5.77 $ 26.46 $ 55,040
Indiana 3,260 1.05 5.04 $ 21.09 $ 43,870
Iowa 1,500 0.99 4.71 $ 22.99 $ 47,820
Nebraska 760 0.78 3.75 $ 22.11 $ 45,980
Mississippi 760 0.67 3.20 $ 22.65 $ 47,120


Map of annual mean wages of welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska 110 0.35 1.69 $ 29.20 $ 60,730
West Virginia 140 0.21 1.00 $ 28.53 $ 59,340
Maryland 130 0.05 0.23 $ 27.28 $ 56,740
Connecticut 220 0.13 0.64 $ 27.25 $ 56,680
Kentucky 2,290 1.21 5.77 $ 26.46 $ 55,040



Map of employment of welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,020 0.17 0.80 $ 23.15 $ 48,140
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN 810 0.77 3.69 $ 20.75 $ 43,160
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 670 0.36 1.72 $ 22.32 $ 46,420
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 600 0.20 0.94 $ 25.44 $ 52,910
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 570 0.51 2.45 $ 27.61 $ 57,440
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN 540 0.52 2.51 $ 20.91 $ 43,490
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 530 0.19 0.93 $ 23.12 $ 48,100
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN 520 0.81 3.87 $ 23.56 $ 48,990
Elkhart-Goshen, IN 500 3.55 16.97 $ 20.61 $ 42,870
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI 470 0.85 4.08 $ 20.49 $ 42,620


Map of location quotient of welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Elkhart-Goshen, IN 500 3.55 16.97 $ 20.61 $ 42,870
Jackson, TN 170 2.56 12.22 $ 17.86 $ 37,150
Grand Island, NE 80 2.04 9.76 $ 21.84 $ 45,420
Columbus, IN 80 1.72 8.23 $ 21.70 $ 45,140
Dubuque, IA 100 1.67 7.96 $ 24.32 $ 50,580
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN 160 1.64 7.83 $ 23.90 $ 49,720
Morristown, TN 70 1.53 7.31 $ 17.58 $ 36,570
Muskegon, MI 90 1.40 6.67 $ 22.18 $ 46,140
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD 100 1.11 5.31 $ 22.37 $ 46,520
Mansfield, OH 50 1.05 5.03 $ 19.79 $ 41,170


Map of annual mean wages of welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Wheeling, WV-OH 40 0.77 3.66 $ 39.32 $ 81,790
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 60 0.05 0.22 $ 32.67 $ 67,940
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT 80 0.14 0.65 $ 29.86 $ 62,100
Charleston-North Charleston, SC 40 0.10 0.48 $ 28.19 $ 58,630
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 570 0.51 2.45 $ 27.61 $ 57,440
Wichita, KS 50 0.18 0.85 $ 27.34 $ 56,870
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 450 0.19 0.90 $ 27.26 $ 56,690
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 70 0.04 0.20 $ 26.81 $ 55,760
New Haven, CT 60 0.20 0.97 $ 25.98 $ 54,050
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY 60 0.12 0.57 $ 25.87 $ 53,810

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 470 2.06 9.86 $ 22.78 $ 47,380
Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area 430 2.81 13.45 $ 20.00 $ 41,590
Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 390 1.49 7.11 $ 18.40 $ 38,270
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area 370 1.77 8.46 $ 23.30 $ 48,470
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 310 1.55 7.40 $ 22.13 $ 46,020

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area 430 2.81 13.45 $ 20.00 $ 41,590
Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 470 2.06 9.86 $ 22.78 $ 47,380
North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area 200 1.79 8.57 $ 18.16 $ 37,770
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area 370 1.77 8.46 $ 23.30 $ 48,470
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 310 1.55 7.40 $ 22.13 $ 46,020

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 60 0.60 2.85 $ 31.42 $ 65,360
East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area 180 1.40 6.67 $ 24.85 $ 51,700
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area 370 1.77 8.46 $ 23.30 $ 48,470
Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 40 0.40 1.93 $ 23.24 $ 48,350
Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 470 2.06 9.86 $ 22.78 $ 47,380


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023