Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
In Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $51,460 at the median, or about $24.74 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.06), which stretches that salary to about $59,109 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,051/month — about 31.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $51K get you in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Waterloo-Cedar Falls’s Regional Price Parity (87.06). 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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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Entry-level welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $13K 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
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Waterloo-Cedar Falls numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median is $51,460 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,640, and experienced welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $60,650. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,407/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,051/month, which eats 30.8% 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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
Waterloo-Cedar Falls has a Regional Price Parity of 87.06 (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 $59,109 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.