Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
In Massachusetts, welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $50,480 at the median, or about $24.27 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $67K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $50,435 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,347/month, about 70.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $50K get you in Massachusetts?
About welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders
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What this looks like in Massachusetts
Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders pay in Massachusetts tracks closely to the national median, $50K locally vs. $48K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,347/month, which is 70.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $67K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by metro in Massachusetts
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield | $51K | +1% | 70 |
| Worcester | $51K | +1% | 60 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $50K | -0% | 360 |
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 Massachusetts numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 70.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/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 Massachusetts?
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 $2,315/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 101% 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 Massachusetts?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $50K locally vs. $48K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Massachusetts pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Massachusetts?
The median is $50,480 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,580, and experienced welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $66,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,340/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 70.3% 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 Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders salary is worth about $50,435 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.