SOC 51-4122 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — Indianapolis
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN · 5 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Indianapolis, IN is $38,970 a year, trailing the national median of $47,920 by 18.7%.
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 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN.
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
Median pay for this occupation in Indianapolis, IN is $38,970 a year, trailing the national median of $47,920 by 18.7%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $36,910 and $47,530. The lowest tenth earn under $36,910, while the highest tenth earn more than $51,510.
The area has 550 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.5 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Elkhart records the highest median at $47,840. Of the 621 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 537th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,910 | −23.0% |
| 25th | $36,910 | −23.0% |
| Median (50th) | $38,970 | −18.7% |
| 75th | $47,530 | −0.8% |
| 90th | $51,510 | +7.5% |
| Mean | $42,370 | −11.6% |
Other 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 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Indianapolis run 4.3% below the national average, so the median of $38,970 goes as far as $40,721 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 15.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$38,970as reported by BLSLocal price level
95.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$40,721US average = 100 · BEA 2024Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest
Key takeaways
- Median pay is $38,970 a year, 18.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,910 to $51,510 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 550 jobs in 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 Indianapolis, IN?
The median annual wage is $38,970, or $18.74 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 Indianapolis, IN is 18.7% 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 Indianapolis, IN earns more than $51,510 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 550 jobs in this occupation in Indianapolis, IN. 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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