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Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender

What You Need to Know About Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender

Job Description & Duties 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.

Life As a Welding, Soldering, & Brazing Machine Operator: What Do They Do?

  • Mark weld points and positions of components on workpieces, using rules, squares, templates, or scribes.
  • Observe meters, gauges, or machine operations to ensure that soldering or brazing processes meet specifications.
  • Clean, lubricate, maintain, and adjust equipment to maintain efficient operation, using air hoses, cleaning fluids, and hand tools.
  • Read blueprints, work orders, or production schedules to determine product or job instructions or specifications.
  • Compute and record settings for new work, applying knowledge of metal properties, principles of welding, and shop mathematics.
  • Turn and press knobs and buttons or enter operating instructions into computers to adjust and start welding machines.

Welding, Soldering, & Brazing Machine Operator Required 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.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

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.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

  • Robot Operator
  • Billet Assembler
  • Welding Pantograph Operator
  • Soldering Machine Tender
  • Electron Beam Welding Machine Operator

Job Demand for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 49,200 jobs in the United States for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender. There will be an estimated 4,400 positions for Welding, Soldering, & Brazing Machine Operator per year.

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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.

What is the Average Salary of a Welding, Soldering, & Brazing Machine Operator

The average yearly salary of a Welding, Soldering, & Brazing Machine Operator ranges between $26,200 and $54,400.

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Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders who work in Massachusetts, North Dakota, or South Dakota, make the highest salaries.

How much do Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make 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 & Technology do Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders may use on a daily basis:

  • 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

How to Become a Welding, Soldering, & Brazing Machine Operator

Learn what Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender education requirements there are.

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What work experience do I need to become a Welding, Soldering, & Brazing Machine Operator?

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References:

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

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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