Also called: Welding Machine Operators
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders build operations monitoring, operation and control and complex problem solving skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters (90%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | 90% | $51,330 | +7% | None |
| 2 | Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | 83% | $46,350 | −3% | None |
| 3 | Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | 83% | $53,710 | +12% | None |
| 4 | Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 82% | $46,570 | −3% | None |
| 5 | Tire Builders | 81% | $57,390 | +20% | None |
| 6 | Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers | 81% | $61,770 | +29% | None |
| 7 | Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | 80% | $46,170 | −4% | None |
| 8 | Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | 80% | $77,320 | +61% | None |
| 9 | Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | 79% | $96,710 | +102% | None |
| 10 | Rock Splitters, Quarry | 79% | $48,740 | +2% | None |
Compared with Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, median $47,920. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
90% skill match · $51,330 · +7% pay
83% skill match · $46,350 · −3% pay
Quality Control Analysis · Repairing · Troubleshooting
83% skill match · $53,710 · +12% pay
Installation · Quality Control Analysis · Repairing
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters (90% skill match, median $51,330), Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers (83% skill match, median $46,350) and Engine and Other Machine Assemblers (83% skill match, median $53,710), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 16 pay more than welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders at the median. The biggest increases: Power Plant Operators (+113%, $102,040), Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (+102%, $96,710) and Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators (+61%, $77,320).
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.