SOC 51-4122 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — Indiana
Indiana · 6 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Indiana is $43,960 a year, trailing the national median of $47,920 by 8.3%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Indiana is $43,960 a year, trailing the national median of $47,920 by 8.3%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $38,700 and $48,030. The lowest tenth earn under $36,910, while the highest tenth earn more than $62,400.
The area has 2,840 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.9 of every thousand jobs. Indiana ranks number 37th out of 44 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Elkhart records the highest median at $47,840. Of the 753 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 593rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,910 | −23.0% |
| 25th | $38,700 | −19.2% |
| Median (50th) | $43,960 | −8.3% |
| 75th | $48,030 | +0.2% |
| 90th | $62,400 | +30.2% |
| Mean | $47,520 | −0.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elkhart | $47,840 | 240 | |
| 2 | South Bend | $46,460 | 60 | |
| 3 | Lafayette | $46,370 | 40 | |
| 4 | Fort Wayne | $44,670 | 70 | |
| 5 | Evansville | $44,240 | 50 | |
| 6 | Indianapolis | $38,970 | 550 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Indiana run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $43,960 goes as far as $47,117 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 1.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$43,960as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$47,117US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $43,960 a year, 8.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,910 to $62,400 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,840 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 37th of 44 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Elkhart, at $47,840.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Indiana?
The median annual wage is $43,960, or $21.14 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 Indiana is 8.3% lower. 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 Indiana earns more than $62,400 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,910 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 Elkhart, at $47,840 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,840 jobs in this occupation in Indiana. 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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