Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
In Washington, welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $58,990 at the median, or about $28.36 an hour. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $95K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $57,828 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 44.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Washington. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $59K get you in Washington?
About welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders, local pay runs about 23% 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 $1,830/month, which is 44.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) 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, Washington
Entry-level welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $95K or more, a $54K spread from bottom to top.
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 Washington 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 Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 44.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,452/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 75% 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 Washington?
Local pay is 23% above the national median — $59K here vs. $48K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Washington pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s +23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Washington?
The median is $58,990 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,860, and experienced welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $95,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,120/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 44.4% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (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 $57,828 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.