# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/welding-soldering-and-brazing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders
- SOC code: 51-4122.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $47,920 (10th percentile $36,860, 90th percentile $66,540)
- Projected growth: Decline, -8.9%
- Openings a year: 2,500
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 17 |
| Artistic (A) | 5 |
| Social (S) | 2 |
| Enterprising (E) | 8 |
| Conventional (C) | 48 |

## What you'd do

- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 79/100)
- Getting Information (importance 77/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 76/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 75/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 73/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 69/100)
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 67/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 66/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 65/100)
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (importance 65/100)

## Skills

Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Judgment and Decision Making, Active Learning

## Knowledge

Production and Processing, Administration and Management, Design, Public Safety and Security, English Language, Mechanical, Customer and Personal Service, Engineering and Technology, Mathematics, Education and Training

## Also called

Aluminum Welder, Arc and Gas Welder, Arc Welding Machine Operator, Billet Assembler, Braze Operator, Brazing Machine Operator, Brazing Machine Setter, Brazing Machine Setter Operator, Brazing Machine Setup Operator, Brazing Machine Tender

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Precision Metal Working](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4805) (CIP 4805, 746 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Ferris State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ferris-state-university-949) | Precision Metal Working | not reported | $86,941 | $12,000 |
| [Del Mar College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/del-mar-college-782) | Precision Metal Working | $41,304 | $79,303 | not reported |
| [Hennepin Technical College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/hennepin-technical-college-1182) | Precision Metal Working | $68,632 | $76,020 | $11,033 |
| [Des Moines Area Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/des-moines-area-community-college-797) | Precision Metal Working | $65,355 | $75,145 | not reported |
| [Ivy Tech Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ivy-tech-community-college-1314) | Precision Metal Working | $69,427 | $75,002 | $5,900 |
| [Dunwoody College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dunwoody-college-of-technology-838) | Precision Metal Working | $60,388 | $70,886 | $12,000 |
| [Pennsylvania College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pennsylvania-college-of-technology-2096) | Precision Metal Working | $63,054 | $70,298 | $19,500 |
| [Austin Community College District](https://www.collegesref.com/college/austin-community-college-district-152) | Precision Metal Working | $46,036 | $69,185 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/welders-cutters-solderers-and-brazers): $53,750 median pay
- [Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/milling-and-planing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $52,800 median pay
- [Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/structural-metal-fabricators-and-fitters): $51,330 median pay
- [Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/lathe-and-turning-machine-tool-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $50,620 median pay
- [Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/aircraft-structure-surfaces-rigging-and-systems-assemblers): $65,380 median pay
- [Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electrical-and-electronic-equipment-assemblers): $45,850 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.