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Jobs Similar to Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Also called: Welding Machine Operators

The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers, Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic and Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders.

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: $47,920 median pay · usual preparation: High school.

Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers

The 20 most similar careers

  1. 1Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers

    83% similar · $46,350 (−3%) · High school

  2. 2Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    82% similar · $52,800 (+10%) · High school · Same group

  3. 3Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders

    81% similar · $54,430 (+14%) · High school · Same group

  4. 4Tire Builders

    81% similar · $57,390 (+20%) · High school

  5. 5Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers

    81% similar · $61,770 (+29%) · High school

  6. 6Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders

    81% similar · $38,180 (−20%) · High school

  7. 7Foundry Mold and Coremakers

    80% similar · $48,110 (0%) · High school · Same group

  8. 8Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic

    80% similar · $46,170 (−4%) · High school

  9. 9Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

    80% similar · $51,330 (+7%) · High school

  10. 10Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators

    80% similar · $77,320 (+61%) · High school

  11. 11Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    79% similar · $46,550 (−3%) · High school · Same group

  12. 12Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    79% similar · $49,080 (+2%) · High school · Same group

  13. 13Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

    79% similar · $96,710 (+102%) · High school

  14. 14Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    79% similar · $43,960 (−8%) · High school · Same group

  15. 15Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    79% similar · $46,330 (−3%) · High school · Same group

  16. 16Rock Splitters, Quarry

    79% similar · $48,740 (+2%) · High school

  17. 17Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    79% similar · $50,270 (+5%) · High school

  18. 18Engine and Other Machine Assemblers

    79% similar · $53,710 (+12%) · High school

  19. 19Riggers

    79% similar · $62,640 (+31%) · High school

  20. 20Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    79% similar · $38,670 (−19%) · High school

Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology

Similar jobs that pay more

Only careers that usually need no more preparation than welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders.

Thinking of a career change?

Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.

Jobs for former welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders →

Jobs that can lead here

Careers where welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).

Questions about jobs like welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders

What jobs are most similar to welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders?

By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers (83% similar), Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (82% similar), Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders (81% similar), Tire Builders (81% similar) and Pump Operators (81% similar).

Which jobs like welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders pay more?

Among the 20 most similar careers, Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers ($96,710, +102%; usually a high school diploma), Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators ($77,320, +61%; usually a high school diploma) and Riggers ($62,640, +31%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders ($47,920). Without more preparation than welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders usually need: Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers, Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators and Riggers.

How is the similarity percentage worked out?

We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.

Keep exploring

Sources. Skills, tasks and education: O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Data Sources & Licenses