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Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Maine

Want to work as a Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Maine? Below are the key facts. 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.

What do Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Make in Maine?

The welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders working in Maine, wages run about $45,160 per year (or roughly $21.71/hour).Annual wages span from $43,940 at the 10th percentile to $56,970 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$43,940	$21.13
25th percentile	$45,140	$21.70
Median (50th)	$45,160	$21.71
75th percentile	$53,250	$25.60
90th percentile	$56,970	$27.39

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Maine relative to the national average — is 0.58, suggesting fewer welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders earn a median of $50,993 per year ($24.52/hour), below the Maine median.

Employment Outlook

There are roughly 229,159 welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders in the U.S.. In Maine alone, around 90 people work in this role. That trails the typical state, which employs around 400 welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders.

Top States for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Employment

View the states that employ the most welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders work.

State	Number Employed
Michigan	4,360
Ohio	2,840
Indiana	2,640
Kentucky	2,400
Texas	2,400
California	2,310
Tennessee	1,980
Iowa	1,650
Alabama	1,540
Wisconsin	1,210
Pennsylvania	1,030
Florida	930
Georgia	930
Mississippi	930
North Carolina	810
Nebraska	770
Massachusetts	710
New York	660
Virginia	510
New Jersey	480

Highest-Paying States for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

The highest-paying states for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders.

State	Annual Median Salary
Washington	$78,460
Alaska	$76,860
Louisiana	$66,660
Maryland	$62,560
Minnesota	$57,830
Kentucky	$57,590
New Jersey	$57,140
Connecticut	$56,750
Colorado	$53,580
Nebraska	$53,290

Skills

Top welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Key abilities for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

• Read blueprints, work orders, or production schedules to determine product or job instructions or specifications.
• Inspect, measure, or test completed metal workpieces to ensure conformance to specifications, using measuring and testing devices.
• Record operational information on specified production reports.
• Correct problems by adjusting controls or by stopping machines and opening holding devices.
• Set up, operate, or tend welding machines that join or bond components to fabricate metal products or assemblies.
• Select torch tips, alloys, flux, coil, tubing, or wire, according to metal types or thicknesses, data charts, or records.
• Lay out, fit, or connect parts to be bonded, calculating production measurements, as necessary.
• Prepare metal surfaces or workpieces, using hand-operated equipment, such as grinders, cutters, or drills.
• Mark weld points and positions of components on workpieces, using rules, squares, templates, or scribes.
• Set dials and timing controls to regulate electrical current, gas flow pressure, heating or cooling cycles, or shut-off.
• Turn and press knobs and buttons or enter operating instructions into computers to adjust and start welding machines.
• Assemble, align, and clamp workpieces into holding fixtures to bond, heat-treat, or solder fabricated metal components.

Work Activities

• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Getting Information
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Thinking Creatively
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Linux

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Programs that train for this career include:

• Precision Metal Working

Related Careers

Careers similar to welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders include:

• Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
• Industrial Machinery Mechanics
• Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
• Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers
• Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
• Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

Also Known As

Aluminum Welder, Arc Welding Machine Operator, Arc and Gas Welder, Billet Assembler, Braze Operator, Brazing Machine Operator, Brazing Machine Setter, Brazing Machine Setter Operator, Brazing Machine Setup Operator, Brazing Machine Tender, Builder, Certified Welder, Controlled Atmospheric Furnace Brazer, Electron Beam Machine Welder Setter, Electron Beam Welder Setter.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-4122.00