Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Knoxville, TN
In Knoxville, TN, welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $45,600 at the median — $21.92 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.57), which stretches that salary to about $49,260 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,471/month — about 44.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $46K get you in Knoxville?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Knoxville’s Regional Price Parity (92.57). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Knoxville, TN
Entry-level welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $9K spread from bottom to top.
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $78K | +67% | 70 |
| Alaska | $77K | +63% | 60 |
| Louisiana | $67K | +42% | 200 |
| Maryland | $63K | +33% | 240 |
| Minnesota | $58K | +23% | 360 |
| Kentucky | $58K | +22% | 2,400 |
| New Jersey | $57K | +21% | 480 |
| Connecticut | $57K | +21% | 400 |
| Nebraska | $53K | +13% | 770 |
| Iowa | $52K | +11% | 1,650 |
| Oregon | $51K | +9% | 160 |
| Texas | $51K | +9% | 2,400 |
| South Dakota | $51K | +8% | 230 |
| Massachusetts | $50K | +6% | 710 |
| Illinois | $49K | +4% | 200 |
| Wisconsin | $48K | +2% | 1,210 |
| Arizona | $48K | +2% | 300 |
| Ohio | $48K | +2% | 2,840 |
| Missouri | $48K | +2% | 390 |
| Idaho | $48K | +1% | 60 |
| Utah | $47K | +1% | 90 |
| Virginia | $47K | +1% | 510 |
| California | $47K | +0% | 2,310 |
| New York | $47K | -0% | 660 |
| North Carolina | $47K | -1% | 810 |
| Pennsylvania | $47K | -1% | 1,030 |
| West Virginia | $46K | -1% | 160 |
| Nevada | $46K | -2% | 260 |
| New Hampshire | $46K | -2% | 310 |
| Kansas | $46K | -3% | 220 |
| Rhode Island | $46K | -3% | 260 |
| South Carolina | $46K | -3% | 250 |
| Tennessee | $46K | -3% | 1,980 |
| Maine | $45K | -4% | 90 |
| Arkansas | $44K | -7% | 150 |
| Georgia | $44K | -8% | 930 |
| Vermont | $42K | -10% | 40 |
| Oklahoma | $42K | -11% | 440 |
| Mississippi | $41K | -12% | 930 |
| Michigan | $40K | -14% | 4,360 |
| Florida | $40K | -15% | 930 |
| Indiana | $39K | -17% | 2,640 |
| Alabama | $37K | -21% | 1,540 |
Showing 1–10 of 43 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders salary changes
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Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
How much do welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Knoxville, TN?
The median is $45,600 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,170, and experienced welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $46,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Knoxville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,223/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,471/month, which eats 45.6% 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 Knoxville?
Knoxville has a Regional Price Parity of 92.57 (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 $49,260 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.