How to become a 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.
Steps to get there
Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
What welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders do
- Read blueprints, work orders, or production schedules to determine product or job instructions or specifications.
- 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.
- 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.
- Observe meters, gauges, or machine operations to ensure that soldering or brazing processes meet specifications.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Mathematics
Is welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders a good career?
On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 6% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.
Where it pays most
- Arizona $70,150
- Alaska $62,700
- Washington $58,990
- Illinois $58,840
- Oregon $58,650
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by state and city
Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.