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Skilled Trades

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.

Median salary (BLS)

$47,920

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$37k – $67k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

Plan a path to Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Entry / Junior

    $36,860

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Established

    $47,920

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Senior

    $57,230

Key skills

A typical 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.
  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.