What Does it Take to Be a Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender?
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.
List of Welding, Soldering, & Brazing Machine Operator Job Duties
- Anneal finished workpieces to relieve internal stress.
- Prepare metal surfaces or workpieces, using hand-operated equipment, such as grinders, cutters, or drills.
- Set dials and timing controls to regulate electrical current, gas flow pressure, heating or cooling cycles, or shut-off.
- Record operational information on specified production reports.
- Clean, lubricate, maintain, and adjust equipment to maintain efficient operation, using air hoses, cleaning fluids, and hand tools.
- Select torch tips, alloys, flux, coil, tubing, or wire, according to metal types or thicknesses, data charts, or records.
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What Every Welding, Soldering, & Brazing Machine Operator Should Know
When polled, Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Other Welding, Soldering, & Brazing Machine Operator Job Titles
- Electroslag Welding Machine Operator
- Manufacturing Operator
- Finishing Technician
- Brazing Machine Tender
- Billet Assembler
Is There Going to be Demand for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
In the United States, there were 49,200 jobs for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 4,400 job openings in this field each year.

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 typical yearly salary for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is somewhere between $26,200 and $54,400.

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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
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
What education or degrees do I need to become a Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender?

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

Where do Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Work?

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders work in the following industries:

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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