Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
In Oregon, welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $58,650 at the median, or about $28.2 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.44), that's roughly $57,253 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,555/month, about 40.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Oregon. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in Oregon?
About welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders
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What this looks like in Oregon
Oregon sits well above the national pay line for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $48K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,555/month, which is 41.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.44) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Oregon
Entry-level welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by metro in Oregon
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $60K | +3% | 130 |
| Eugene-Springfield | $47K | -21% | 40 |
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 Oregon 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 Oregon?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 41.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,555/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Oregon?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,671/month. At HUD’s $1,555/month FMR, rent would take 58% 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 Oregon?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $59K here vs. $48K nationally.
How does Oregon compare to the national average for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Oregon pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Oregon?
The median is $58,650 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,510, and experienced welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $81,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Oregon?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,713/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,555/month, which eats 41.9% 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 Oregon?
Oregon has a Regional Price Parity of 102.44 (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 $57,253 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.