SOC 51-4122 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — Allentown
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ · 9 metro areas compared
In Allentown, PA the median wage for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is $53,680 a year, which is 12.0% higher than the national figure of $47,920.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
How pay has moved
The next ten years
Projected to decline
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- -9.0%
- Openings per year
- 3,200
- Typical entry-level education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
6.4% of people in this occupation work for themselves.
Projections are published nationally only. This is the outlook for the occupation across the United States, not a measurement for Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Salary overview
In Allentown, PA the median wage for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is $53,680 a year, which is 12.0% higher than the national figure of $47,920. Half of workers earn between $47,970 and $53,680. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $37,200 and the ninetieth at $55,770.
The area has 130 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.3 of every thousand jobs. Chambersburg leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $55,110. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 307th of 516 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,200 | −22.4% |
| 25th | $47,970 | +0.1% |
| Median (50th) | $53,680 | +12.0% |
| 75th | $53,680 | +12.0% |
| 90th | $55,770 | +16.4% |
| Mean | $50,380 | +5.1% |
Other metro areas in Pennsylvania
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chambersburg | $55,110 | 30 | |
| 2 | Scranton | $50,860 | 40 | |
| 3 | Philadelphia | $49,840 | 320 | |
| 4 | Reading | $47,960 | 40 | |
| 5 | Pittsburgh | $47,180 | 190 | |
| 6 | Harrisburg | $47,090 | 40 | |
| 7 | Lancaster | $46,330 | 80 | |
| 8 | York | $46,090 | 90 | |
| 9 | Erie | $41,530 | 60 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Allentown sit close to the national average, so $53,680 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$53,680as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,680US average = 100 · BEA 2024Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest
Key takeaways
- Median pay is $53,680 a year, 12.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,200 to $55,770 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 130 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chambersburg, at $55,110.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Allentown, PA?
The median annual wage is $53,680, or $25.81 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $47,920, so pay in Allentown, PA is 12.0% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Allentown, PA earns more than $55,770 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,200 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Chambersburg, at $55,110 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 130 jobs in this occupation in Allentown, PA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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