What is a Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender?
Welding, Soldering, & Brazing Machine Operator Job 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.
A Day in the Life of a Welding, Soldering, & Brazing Machine Operator
- Clean, lubricate, maintain, and adjust equipment to maintain efficient operation, using air hoses, cleaning fluids, and hand tools.
- Record operational information on specified production reports.
- Inspect, measure, or test completed metal workpieces to ensure conformance to specifications, using measuring and testing devices.
- Observe meters, gauges, or machine operations to ensure that soldering or brazing processes meet specifications.
- Assemble, align, and clamp workpieces into holding fixtures to bond, heat-treat, or solder fabricated metal components.
- Start, monitor, and adjust robotic welding production lines.
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Welding, Soldering, & Brazing Machine Operator Needed Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders say are important on the job.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Types of Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender
- Fabricator
- Brazing Machine Tender
- Laser Beam Machine Operator
- Brazing Machine Operator
- Machine Operator
Welding, Soldering, & Brazing Machine Operator Employment Estimates
There were about 49,200 jobs for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender. The BLS estimates 4,400 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Welding, Soldering, & Brazing Machine Operator are Utah, Alabama, and North Dakota. Watch out if you plan on working in New Mexico, Colorado, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Welding, Soldering, & Brazing Machine Operator
The salary for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders ranges between about $26,200 and $54,400 a year.

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders who work in Massachusetts, North Dakota, or South Dakota, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $35,540 |
Arizona | $39,980 |
Arkansas | $40,830 |
California | $40,780 |
Colorado | $39,350 |
Connecticut | $41,260 |
Florida | $38,860 |
Georgia | $37,170 |
Idaho | $33,180 |
Illinois | $36,730 |
Indiana | $34,690 |
Iowa | $40,480 |
Kansas | $37,000 |
Kentucky | $37,520 |
Louisiana | $44,150 |
Maine | $39,670 |
Maryland | $39,210 |
Massachusetts | $46,730 |
Michigan | $39,390 |
Minnesota | $43,480 |
Mississippi | $35,330 |
Missouri | $34,900 |
Montana | $32,650 |
Nebraska | $42,130 |
Nevada | $40,440 |
New Hampshire | $39,830 |
New Jersey | $34,900 |
New York | $41,000 |
North Carolina | $41,360 |
North Dakota | $43,260 |
Ohio | $40,570 |
Oklahoma | $39,250 |
Oregon | $42,250 |
Pennsylvania | $40,940 |
Rhode Island | $41,530 |
South Carolina | $43,780 |
South Dakota | $43,060 |
Tennessee | $40,260 |
Texas | $38,390 |
Utah | $35,300 |
Vermont | $41,090 |
Virginia | $38,940 |
Washington | $49,560 |
West Virginia | $37,030 |
Wisconsin | $39,100 |
What Tools do Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Data entry software
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Spreadsheet software
- Linux
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- SAP software
- Microsoft operating system
Becoming a Welding, Soldering, & Brazing Machine Operator
Learn what Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender education requirements there are.

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?

Below are examples of industries where Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders work:

References:
Image Credit: US Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Linzmeier via Public domain
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