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.
- O*NET-SOC code
51-4122.00 - Preparation Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Wages
Median annual wage, U.S.$47,920
Employment, U.S.31,600
Median hourly wage$23.04
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $36,860 | $40,560 | $47,920 | $57,390 | $66,540 |
By state (44)
| State | Employment | Median annual | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1,250 | $40,050 | 2.91 |
| Alaska | 50 | $62,700 | 0.71 |
| Arizona | 280 | $70,150 | 0.42 |
| Arkansas | 210 | $46,880 | 0.81 |
| California | 2,290 | $48,940 | 0.62 |
| Colorado | 100 | $49,860 | 0.17 |
| Connecticut | 590 | $47,900 | 1.72 |
| Florida | 740 | $41,420 | 0.36 |
| Georgia | 840 | $45,850 | 0.85 |
| Idaho | 100 | $50,850 | 0.55 |
| Illinois | 180 | $58,840 | 0.15 |
| Indiana | 2,840 | $43,960 | 4.36 |
| Iowa | 1,310 | $51,740 | 4.12 |
| Kansas | 160 | $46,710 | 0.55 |
| Kentucky | 1,000 | $50,740 | 2.46 |
| Louisiana | 320 | $48,740 | 0.81 |
| Maine | 60 | $48,410 | 0.49 |
| Maryland | 430 | $47,110 | 0.77 |
| Massachusetts | 480 | $50,480 | 0.65 |
| Michigan | 3,150 | $42,530 | 3.52 |
| Minnesota | 670 | $57,560 | 1.11 |
| Mississippi | 480 | $37,390 | 2.03 |
| Missouri | 560 | $56,210 | 0.94 |
| Montana | $35,670 | ||
| Nebraska | 650 | $57,280 | 3.13 |
| Nevada | 170 | $47,870 | 0.54 |
| New Hampshire | 290 | $47,500 | 2.08 |
| New Jersey | 510 | $53,680 | 0.58 |
| New York | 740 | $52,080 | 0.37 |
| North Carolina | 820 | $47,580 | 0.82 |
| Ohio | 2,190 | $48,190 | 1.94 |
| Oklahoma | 460 | $40,400 | 1.33 |
| Oregon | 250 | $58,650 | 0.63 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,120 | $47,530 | 0.91 |
| Rhode Island | 160 | $50,040 | 1.58 |
| South Carolina | 340 | $46,260 | 0.73 |
| South Dakota | 150 | $52,520 | 1.61 |
| Tennessee | 1,950 | $47,180 | 2.93 |
| Texas | 1,750 | $51,310 | 0.61 |
| Utah | 120 | $40,600 | 0.33 |
| Virginia | 410 | $49,160 | 0.49 |
| Washington | 50 | $58,990 | 0.07 |
| West Virginia | 120 | $46,460 | 0.84 |
| Wisconsin | 1,150 | $57,640 | 1.92 |
Similar occupations
Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.
Circles are the 20 most similar occupations, coloured by Job Zone. Lines join pairs where one is among the other's 10 most similar; darker lines are pairs O*NET also lists as related. Drag a circle to move it out of the way; select one to open it.
One skill away
Among the 50 occupations most similar to Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.
| Occupation | Skill to build | Level gap | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Operations Monitoring | 0.76 | 0.963 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | Operations Monitoring | 0.76 | 0.962 |
| Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | Operations Monitoring | 0.76 | 0.957 |
| Team Assemblers | Instructing | 0.76 | 0.949 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Operations Monitoring | 0.76 | 0.949 |
| Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Operation and Control | 0.88 | 0.949 |
| Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers | Quality Control Analysis | 1.25 | 0.946 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | Equipment Maintenance | 0.87 | 0.943 |
| Sheet Metal Workers | Mathematics | 1.24 | 0.940 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | Repairing | 0.87 | 0.940 |
Software to learn next
Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, excluding software Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.
| Software | Similar jobs using it | Lift |
|---|---|---|
| Operational databases | 3 of 20 | 11.5x |
Skills
From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.
| Skill | Type | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | Transferable skill | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Operation and Control | Transferable skill | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | Essential skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Monitoring | Essential skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | Essential skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Active Listening | Essential skill | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Complex Problem Solving | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Speaking | Essential skill | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Coordination | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.62 |
| Time Management | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.50 |
| Active Learning | Essential skill | 2.62 | 2.00 |
| Equipment Maintenance | Transferable skill | 2.38 | 2.38 |
| Social Perceptiveness | Transferable skill | 2.38 | 2.38 |
| Quality Control Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.25 | 2.50 |
| Repairing | Transferable skill | 2.25 | 2.25 |
| Troubleshooting | Transferable skill | 2.25 | 2.25 |
| Writing | Essential skill | 2.25 | 2.25 |
| Equipment Selection | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Instructing | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Systems Evaluation | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 1.88 |
| Mathematics | Essential skill | 2.12 | 1.88 |
| Systems Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 1.50 |
| Learning Strategies | Essential skill | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Negotiation | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Persuasion | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Service Orientation | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.75 |
| Management of Material Resources | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.00 |
| Operations Analysis | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.12 |
| Science | Essential skill | 1.75 | 0.88 |
| Management of Financial Resources | Transferable skill | 1.62 | 0.75 |
| Technology Design | Transferable skill | 1.62 | 0.62 |
| Installation | Transferable skill | 1.12 | not rated |
| Programming | Transferable skill | 1.12 | not rated |
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Production and Processing | 3.80 | 3.41 |
| Administration and Management | 3.52 | 4.52 |
| Design | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Public Safety and Security | 2.91 | 3.04 |
| English Language | 2.84 | 2.76 |
| Mechanical | 2.82 | 3.39 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 2.69 | 3.35 |
| Engineering and Technology | 2.69 | 2.96 |
| Mathematics | 2.60 | 2.25 |
| Education and Training | 2.49 | 2.49 |
| Administrative | 2.41 | 2.36 |
| Personnel and Human Resources | 2.36 | 2.36 |
| Computers and Electronics | 2.18 | 2.27 |
| Building and Construction | 2.08 | 1.89 |
| Physics | 2.04 | 1.87 |
| Sales and Marketing | 1.93 | 1.88 |
| Chemistry | 1.67 | not rated |
| Transportation | 1.63 | 1.30 |
| Law and Government | 1.62 | 0.74 |
| Economics and Accounting | 1.61 | 1.26 |
| Communications and Media | 1.46 | 1.09 |
| Foreign Language | 1.43 | not rated |
| Telecommunications | 1.31 | not rated |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 1.26 | not rated |
| Food Production | 1.21 | not rated |
| History and Archeology | 1.20 | not rated |
| Geography | 1.16 | not rated |
| Biology | 1.13 | not rated |
| Therapy and Counseling | 1.12 | not rated |
| Psychology | 1.08 | not rated |
| Philosophy and Theology | 1.07 | not rated |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 1.04 | not rated |
| Fine Arts | 1.02 | not rated |
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Near Vision | 3.75 | 3.25 |
| Control Precision | 3.62 | 3.25 |
| Visualization | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Manual Dexterity | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Information Ordering | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Multilimb Coordination | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Selective Attention | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Oral Expression | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Category Flexibility | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Extent Flexibility | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Far Vision | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Perceptual Speed | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Rate Control | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Reaction Time | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Trunk Strength | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Speech Recognition | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Speech Clarity | 3.00 | 2.62 |
| Oral Comprehension | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Static Strength | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Auditory Attention | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Flexibility of Closure | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Written Comprehension | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Depth Perception | 2.75 | 2.62 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | 2.62 | 2.25 |
| Written Expression | 2.50 | 2.12 |
| Dynamic Strength | 2.50 | 2.00 |
| Response Orientation | 2.25 | 2.25 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 2.25 | 2.12 |
| Time Sharing | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Fluency of Ideas | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Glare Sensitivity | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Speed of Closure | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Stamina | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Originality | 2.12 | 1.88 |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | 2.12 | 1.38 |
| Explosive Strength | 2.12 | 1.25 |
| Gross Body Coordination | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Wrist-Finger Speed | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Memorization | 2.00 | 1.50 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 2.00 | 1.38 |
| Number Facility | 2.00 | 1.38 |
| Peripheral Vision | 2.00 | 1.12 |
| Night Vision | 1.88 | 1.00 |
| Spatial Orientation | 1.88 | 1.00 |
| Sound Localization | 1.75 | 0.75 |
| Speed of Limb Movement | 1.62 | 0.62 |
| Dynamic Flexibility | 1.38 | 0.50 |
Software used
Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.
- Linux hot
- Microsoft Excel hot
- Microsoft Office software hot
- Microsoft Outlook hot
- Microsoft PowerPoint hot
- Microsoft Windows hot
- Microsoft Word hot
- SAP software hot
- Email software
- Tool center point TCP setting software
Where it concentrates
Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.
| Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Median annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fond du Lac, WI | 120 | 13.86 | $57,640 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | 240 | 9.23 | $47,840 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 170 | 7.01 | $40,240 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 730 | 5.96 | $41,760 |
| Jackson, TN | 100 | 5.92 | $36,350 |
| Montgomery, AL | 190 | 5.62 | $40,050 |
| Knoxville, TN | 350 | 4.04 | $47,920 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 160 | 3.89 | $47,500 |
| Huntsville, AL | 190 | 3.47 | $44,030 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 460 | 3.33 | $50,740 |