SOC 51-4122 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — St. Louis
St. Louis, MO-IL · 2 metro areas compared
The median wage for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in St.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in St. Louis, MO is $60,600 per year, well above the national median of $47,920. The gap of 26.5% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Pay ranges from under $48,530 at the tenth percentile to more than $91,190 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $57,440 to $71,090.
The area has 180 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.1 of every thousand jobs. Springfield leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $58,320. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 329th of 652 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,530 | +1.3% |
| 25th | $57,440 | +19.9% |
| Median (50th) | $60,600 | +26.5% |
| 75th | $71,090 | +48.4% |
| 90th | $91,190 | +90.3% |
| Mean | $64,940 | +35.5% |
Other metro areas in Missouri
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield | $58,320 | 50 | |
| 2 | Kansas City | $56,320 | 90 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in St. Louis run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $60,600 goes as far as $66,740 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 39.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$60,600as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$66,740US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $60,600 a year, 26.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,530 to $91,190 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 180 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Springfield, at $58,320.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in St. Louis, MO?
The median annual wage is $60,600, or $29.13 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 St. Louis, MO is 26.5% 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 St. Louis, MO earns more than $91,190 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,530 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 Springfield, at $58,320 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 180 jobs in this occupation in St. Louis, MO. 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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