Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
In Kentucky, welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $50,740 at the median, or about $24.39 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $67K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $56,234 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,110/month, about 33.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $51K get you in Kentucky?
About welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Kentucky
Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $51K locally vs. $48K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,110/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $67K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by metro in Kentucky
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $51K | +0% | 460 |
Compare to other states
Track welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 32.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,365/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tender a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $51K locally vs. $48K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Kentucky pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $56K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Kentucky?
The median is $50,740 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,410, and experienced welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $66,850. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,398/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 32.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders salary go in Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders salary is worth about $56,234 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.