Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
In Tuscaloosa, AL, welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $82,250 at the median, or about $39.54 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.72), which stretches that salary to about $93,764 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,169/month, or 22.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $82K get you in Tuscaloosa?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Tuscaloosa’s Regional Price Parity (87.72). 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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What this looks like in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa sits well above the national pay line for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders, local pay runs about 72% higher than the U.S. median of $48K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,169/month, 22.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.72 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Tuscaloosa offers a genuinely strong financial position for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenderss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders in metros near Tuscaloosa, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | $44K | $47K |
| Montgomery | $40K | $45K |
| Birmingham | $43K | $47K |
| Decatur | $49K | $56K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tuscaloosa, AL
Entry-level welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $82K or more, a $48K 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
View Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $70K | +46% | 280 |
| Alaska | $63K | +31% | 50 |
| Washington | $59K | +23% | 50 |
| Illinois | $59K | +23% | 180 |
| Oregon | $59K | +22% | 250 |
| Wisconsin | $58K | +20% | 1,150 |
| Minnesota | $58K | +20% | 670 |
| Nebraska | $57K | +20% | 650 |
| Missouri | $56K | +17% | 560 |
| New Jersey | $54K | +12% | 510 |
| South Dakota | $53K | +10% | 150 |
| New York | $52K | +9% | 740 |
| Iowa | $52K | +8% | 1,310 |
| Texas | $51K | +7% | 1,750 |
| Idaho | $51K | +6% | 100 |
| Kentucky | $51K | +6% | 1,000 |
| Massachusetts | $50K | +5% | 480 |
| Rhode Island | $50K | +4% | 160 |
| Colorado | $50K | +4% | 100 |
| Virginia | $49K | +3% | 410 |
| California | $49K | +2% | 2,290 |
| Louisiana | $49K | +2% | 320 |
| Maine | $48K | +1% | 60 |
| Ohio | $48K | +1% | 2,190 |
| Connecticut | $48K | -0% | 590 |
| Nevada | $48K | -0% | 170 |
| North Carolina | $48K | -1% | 820 |
| Pennsylvania | $48K | -1% | 1,120 |
| New Hampshire | $48K | -1% | 290 |
| Tennessee | $47K | -2% | 1,950 |
| Maryland | $47K | -2% | 430 |
| Arkansas | $47K | -2% | 210 |
| Kansas | $47K | -3% | 160 |
| West Virginia | $46K | -3% | 120 |
| South Carolina | $46K | -3% | 340 |
| Georgia | $46K | -4% | 840 |
| Indiana | $44K | -8% | 2,840 |
| Michigan | $43K | -11% | 3,150 |
| Florida | $41K | -14% | 740 |
| Utah | $41K | -15% | 120 |
| Oklahoma | $40K | -16% | 460 |
| Alabama | $40K | -16% | 1,250 |
| Mississippi | $37K | -22% | 480 |
| Montana | $36K | -26% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 44 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
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa?
Yes — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 22.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,169/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders in Tuscaloosa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,080/month. At HUD’s $1,169/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Tuscaloosa?
Local pay is 72% above the national median — $82K here vs. $48K nationally.
How does Tuscaloosa compare to the national average for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Tuscaloosa pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s +72%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.72), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Tuscaloosa, AL?
The median is $82,250 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,670, and experienced welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $82,250. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Tuscaloosa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,192/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,169/month, which eats 22.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders salary go in Tuscaloosa?
Tuscaloosa has a Regional Price Parity of 87.72 (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 $93,764 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.