Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
In San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $52,470 at the median — $25.23 an hour. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.42), so that salary is closer to $47,519 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,483/month — about 101.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $52K get you in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara’s Regional Price Parity (110.42). 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.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Entry-level welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $85K 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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Frequently asked questions
How much do welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median is $52,470 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,950, and experienced welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $125,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,563/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,483/month, which eats 97.8% 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a Regional Price Parity of 110.42 (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 $47,519 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.