Career Paths From Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Pump Operators, Except Wellhead PumpersCareer Change95.9% skill match
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders and Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 29% higher.
Current median salary
$47,920
Target median salary
$61,770
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move94.2% skill match
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders and Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 3% lower.
Current median salary
$47,920
Target median salary
$46,330
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticLateral Move95.1% skill match
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders and Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 4% lower.
Current median salary
$47,920
Target median salary
$46,170
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersLateral Move94.3% skill match
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders and Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 21% higher.
Current median salary
$47,920
Target median salary
$58,040
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersLateral Move98.1% skill match
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders and Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (98% match). Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 3% lower.
Current median salary
$47,920
Target median salary
$46,350
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Gas Plant OperatorsLateral Move95% skill match
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders and Gas Plant Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Gas Plant Operators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 83% higher.
Current median salary
$47,920
Target median salary
$87,820
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and TendersLateral Move94.3% skill match
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders and Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 14% higher.
Current median salary
$47,920
Target median salary
$54,430
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and TendersLateral Move96% skill match
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders and Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 14% lower.
Current median salary
$47,920
Target median salary
$41,330
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Power Plant OperatorsLateral Move94% skill match
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders and Power Plant Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Power Plant Operators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 113% higher.
Current median salary
$47,920
Target median salary
$102,040
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Pourers and Casters, MetalLateral Move95.3% skill match
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders and Pourers and Casters, Metal share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Pourers and Casters, Metal sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 8% higher.
Current median salary
$47,920
Target median salary
$51,810
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Dredge OperatorsCareer Change94.3% skill match
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders and Dredge Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Dredge Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 4% higher.
Current median salary
$47,920
Target median salary
$49,640
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsLateral Move93.8% skill match
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders and Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 25% higher.
Current median salary
$47,920
Target median salary
$60,020
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Floor Sanders and FinishersCareer Change94.1% skill match
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders and Floor Sanders and Finishers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Floor Sanders and Finishers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 5% higher.
Current median salary
$47,920
Target median salary
$50,440
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallCareer Change94.2% skill match
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders and Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 3% higher.
Current median salary
$47,920
Target median salary
$49,120
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, VegetationCareer Change94.1% skill match
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders and Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 3% lower.
Current median salary
$47,920
Target median salary
$46,340
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.