Salary guide, May 2025
Robotic Welding Technician pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the United States was $47,920 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $40,560 and $57,390.
Also searched as: Robotic Weld Cell Operator, Robotic Welding Programmer. These titles share this page because BLS reports them under one occupation.
Broader occupation · SOC 51-4122 Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
The Robotic Welding Technician title maps to the published occupation. BLS does not separate this process, credential, shift or plant-specific title from other work in the occupation.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $36,860 | $40,560 | $47,920 | $57,390 | $66,540 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $17.72 | $19.50 | $23.04 | $27.59 | $31.99 |
BLS estimated 31,600 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-4122 Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $45,090 | $39,960 to $49,890 | 120 | 0.21 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $39,980 | $39,980 to $39,980 | 230 | 0.78 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $45,540 | $38,920 to $51,650 | 90 | 0.31 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $46,450 | $39,740 to $49,270 | 60 | 0.4 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $57,900 | $45,920 to $64,860 | 440 | 0.23 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $57,900 | $45,920 to $64,860 | 440 | 0.23 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $51,740 | $44,830 to $55,940 | 410 | 0.5 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $46,710 | $46,690 to $58,840 | 320 | 0.35 |
Rank every metro for Robotic Welding Technician
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels. Nested NAICS rows overlap; they are not independent samples and must not be added together. Identical source rows repeated at different publication levels appear once.
- Chemical Manufacturing (NAICS 325000)$75,830
- Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing (NAICS 327000)$58,700
- Machinery Manufacturing (NAICS 333000)$50,490
- Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (NAICS 332000)$49,430
- Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing (NAICS 335000)$49,340
- Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (NAICS 337000)$48,210
- Primary Metal Manufacturing (NAICS 331000)$46,730
- Miscellaneous Manufacturing (NAICS 339000)$45,830
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing (NAICS 334000)$45,400
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing (NAICS 336000)$44,990
- Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (NAICS 326000)$36,740
Bars compare up to 15 non-overlapping 3-digit manufacturing subsectors with exact annual medians. More detailed scopes remain in the table, identified by code and publication level.
| NAICS / scope | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 · sector | Manufacturing | 26,980 | $40,850 | $47,920 | $57,360 |
| 332000 · 3-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 7,890 | $45,150 | $49,430 | $58,750 |
| 336000 · 3-digit | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 7,100 | $38,950 | $44,990 | $52,760 |
| 333000 · 3-digit | Machinery Manufacturing | 5,020 | $43,820 | $50,490 | $62,550 |
| 336300 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 4,270 | $38,700 | $43,130 | $48,620 |
| 3330A1 · 4-digit | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 3,980 | $44,280 | $50,850 | $63,740 |
| 3320A2 · 4-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 3,850 | $45,860 | $50,470 | $59,150 |
| 334000 · 3-digit | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 2,630 | $39,570 | $45,400 | $51,780 |
| 3320A1 · 4-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 2,610 | $44,730 | $48,930 | $58,600 |
| 334400 · 4-digit | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 1,930 | $39,420 | $45,280 | $50,760 |
| 335000 · 3-digit | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 1,470 | $43,880 | $49,340 | $52,050 |
| 336100 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 1,250 | $40,050 | $46,440 | $75,130 |
| 332700 · 4-digit | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 1,160 | $44,930 | $48,590 | $57,810 |
| 339000 · 3-digit | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 1,080 | $38,580 | $45,830 | $51,020 |
| 332710 · 5-digit | Machine Shops | 1,070 | $44,720 | $48,580 | $57,830 |
| 336200 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 810 | $41,520 | $45,390 | $51,790 |
| 335200 · 4-digit | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 770 | $48,620 | $50,740 | $52,050 |
| 331000 · 3-digit | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 690 | $45,100 | $46,730 | $56,370 |
| 333500 · 4-digit | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 600 | $37,830 | $45,620 | $50,510 |
| 339900 · 4-digit | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 550 | $38,580 | $45,830 | $49,730 |
| 339100 · 4-digit | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 530 | $41,740 | $47,180 | $51,630 |
| 334500 · 4-digit | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 450 | $38,460 | $44,060 | $49,260 |
| 336400 · 4-digit | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 380 | $52,170 | $60,990 | $73,030 |
| 335900 · 4-digit | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 310 | $40,470 | $44,710 | $48,970 |
| 333300 · 4-digit | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 300 | $45,580 | $52,670 | $57,640 |
| 337000 · 3-digit | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 280 | $39,690 | $48,210 | $58,080 |
| 3370A1 · 4-digit | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 280 | $39,690 | $48,210 | $58,080 |
| 332800 · 4-digit | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 270 | $39,840 | $45,340 | $56,670 |
| 331200 · 4-digit | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 240 | $39,320 | $45,570 | $56,210 |
| 333600 · 4-digit | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 130 | $47,860 | $60,030 | $62,540 |
| 331400 · 4-digit | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 120 | $52,540 | $60,780 | $71,020 |
| 334200 · 4-digit | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 120 | $57,210 | $63,120 | $66,070 |
| 334100 · 4-digit | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 110 | $44,450 | $45,080 | $48,750 |
| 339910 · 5-digit | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | 100 | $38,580 | $46,320 | $49,730 |
| 332720 · 5-digit | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 90 | $46,340 | $48,980 | $52,180 |
| 336600 · 4-digit | Ship and Boat Building | 90 | $45,430 | $62,690 | $78,870 |
| 327000 · 3-digit | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 80 | $46,800 | $58,700 | $58,700 |
| 335100 · 4-digit | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 60 | $43,480 | $49,420 | $51,230 |
| 325000 · 3-digit | Chemical Manufacturing | 50 | $62,400 | $75,830 | $78,100 |
| 3250A1 · 4-digit | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | Not published by BLS | $62,400 | $63,190 | $78,070 |
| 326000 · 3-digit | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $35,410 | $36,740 | $43,910 |
| 326100 · 4-digit | Plastics Product Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $35,410 | $36,740 | $43,810 |
| 331100 · 4-digit | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $46,450 | $46,690 | $46,710 |
| 331300 · 4-digit | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | Not published by BLS | $49,870 | $58,890 | $68,190 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Robotic Welding Technician, write the straight-time rate separately from shift coverage and extra hours. OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. It includes base rate, guaranteed pay, commissions and production bonuses. It excludes overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits.
An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure. Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $39,480 | $47,060 | $55,870 |
| May 2025 | $40,560 | $47,920 | $57,390 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
What should you know about supervisory and worker occupations?
BLS publishes these as separate occupations. Pay for one is not a pay step for the other.
- Supervisor occupation: Production Supervisor pay (SOC 51-1011)
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about safety, shift and red flags?
Robot cells need guarding, light curtains and lockout. We ask how the candidate enters a cell and tests safety circuits. Bypassing them is a firm no. We also confirm shift, commute, relocation and current pay early.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a Robotic Welding Technician?
The median annual wage for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the United States was $47,920 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $40,560 and $57,390. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $36,860. 90% earned less than $66,540.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a Robotic Welding Technician at a plant?
The Robotic Welding Technician title maps to the published occupation. BLS does not separate this process, credential, shift or plant-specific title from other work in the occupation. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 31,600 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
Production Welder (MIG) pay TIG Welder pay Code Welder (ASME / Pressure Vessel) pay Press Brake Operator pay Die Setter (Stamping) pay Robotic Welding Technician pay ranked across all metros Open jobs Robotic Welding Technician recruiting Check an offer for this role
What does this data mean for your opening?
Robotic Welding Technicians manage the setup and operation of complex welding cells. This role is mapped to the SOC 51-4122. For Robotic Welding Technician in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $47,920; the May 2024 median is $47,060. Their arithmetic difference is $860.
They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. The middle band width is $16,830. For Robotic Welding Technician in the United States, OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. Commissions and production bonuses are included; overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits are excluded.
Looking at regional data, the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn area reports a median of $44,060, while Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim sits at $45,990. The Detroit area shows a significant location quotient of 3.07, indicating a high concentration of automated welding roles compared to other metros. Los Angeles has a lower location quotient of 0.65. The pay differences between these regions stem from the local industrial demand for automation rather than a difference in technical skills.
Industry-specific national data provides context for sectoral differences. The Chemical Manufacturing industry shows a national median of $75,830. The Communications Equipment Manufacturing sector reports $63,120. These are national industry rows and should be treated as such, not as local estimates. The BLS collects this data across all types of welding machine setups and operations. They do not account for the high-end programming skills often required for robotic cells. These figures represent the entire, broad occupation category.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
The industry medians are based on specific national sectors. For Robotic Welding Technician in the United States, percentiles describe the wage distribution of the mapped occupation. The published middle interval is $40,560 to $57,390 annually. They do not assign pay to plant size, seniority, credentials or job complexity.
Why are the industry medians higher than the overall occupation median?
The industry medians are based on specific national sectors. For Robotic Welding Technician in the United States, percentiles describe the wage distribution of the mapped occupation. The published middle interval is $40,560 to $57,390 annually. They do not assign pay to plant size, seniority, credentials or job complexity. Assess duties and candidate requirements separately; these rows do not measure a premium for them.
What is the limitation of this BLS data?
The primary limitation is that it groups all welding machine setters and tenders together. It does not distinguish between manual operation and complex robotic programming.
How should I interpret the location quotient?
The location quotient reflects the density of this job type in a metro area. A higher quotient shows a higher concentration of these workers.
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