SOC 51-4122 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — Missouri
Missouri · 3 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Missouri comes to $56,210 a year, ahead of the national median of $47,920 by 17.3%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Missouri comes to $56,210 a year, ahead of the national median of $47,920 by 17.3%. Pay ranges from under $40,440 at the tenth percentile to more than $71,090 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $48,340 to $60,110.
The area has 560 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.94 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Missouri ranks number 9th out of 44 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, St. Louis records the highest median at $60,600. Of the 733 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 385th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,440 | −15.6% |
| 25th | $48,340 | +0.9% |
| Median (50th) | $56,210 | +17.3% |
| 75th | $60,110 | +25.4% |
| 90th | $71,090 | +48.4% |
| Mean | $55,980 | +16.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Missouri
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis | $60,600 | 180 | |
| 2 | Springfield | $58,320 | 50 | |
| 3 | Kansas City | $56,320 | 90 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Missouri run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $56,210 goes as far as $61,905 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 29.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$56,210as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$61,905US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $56,210 a year, 17.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $40,440 to $71,090 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 560 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 9th of 44 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is St. Louis, at $60,600.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Missouri?
The median annual wage is $56,210, or $27.02 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 Missouri is 17.3% 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 Missouri earns more than $71,090 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $40,440 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 St. Louis, at $60,600 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 560 jobs in this occupation in Missouri. 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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