Prevailing Wage for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
The prevailing wage for a Braze Operator is set by the DOL at four experience levels, and the floor varies significantly depending on where the worksite is located. Whether your offer is for a Certified Welder, Laser Operator, or similar role under SOC 51-4122, the wage your employer declares on the LCA must meet or exceed the applicable level for that city.
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Level 1 applies to entry-level Braze Operators with limited experience who follow detailed instructions and perform routine tasks under close supervision. Workers in training programs or newly placed into machine operation without prior industry experience typically qualify here.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation. It covers qualified Braze Operators with sufficient experience to work independently on standard setups, interpret basic technical specifications, and handle routine troubleshooting without constant supervisor oversight.
Level 3 covers experienced Certified Welders or machine operators who handle complex setups, work across multiple welding or brazing processes, and may provide guidance to less experienced colleagues. Roles requiring specialized certifications or multi-process proficiency often fall here.
Level 4 applies to fully competent Braze Operators in senior or lead capacities, such as those who set production standards, troubleshoot advanced robotic welding systems, or oversee compliance with weld quality specifications across a production line.
Prevailing Wage for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Braze Operator and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for SOC misclassification on your LCA
Titles like Fabricator or Finishing Technician sometimes get filed under a different SOC, such as a general assembler code, which sets a lower wage floor than SOC 51-4122. Confirm your LCA cites SOC 51-4122 before signing your offer.
Verify the worksite city, not headquarters
Welding and brazing roles are almost always plant-floor positions. If your facility is in a lower-wage metro like Oklahoma City or Tampa, the LCA wage floor reflects that location, even if your employer is headquartered in Seattle.
Expect base wages, not total comp, on the LCA
Production bonuses, shift differentials, and tool allowances common in welding shops typically do not count toward the prevailing wage threshold. DOL requires the base hourly or annual wage to clear the floor on its own.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers who sponsor welding roles
Sponsorship for machine operator and skilled-trades roles is concentrated among a smaller set of manufacturers. Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored SOC 51-4122 positions before, so you can focus on companies with a real track record.
Jobs for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Braze OperatorPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-4122.00 alongside Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Braze Operator Prevailing Wage
Braze Operator Prevailing Wage
Braze Operator positions fall under SOC 51-4122.00 (Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Certified Welder Prevailing Wage
Certified Welder Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Certified Welder for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4122.00 (Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Fabricator Prevailing Wage
Fabricator Prevailing Wage
Fabricator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4122.00 (Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Finishing Technician (Finishing Tech) Prevailing Wage
Finishing Technician (Finishing Tech) Prevailing Wage
Finishing Technician (Finishing Tech) positions fall under SOC 51-4122.00 (Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Laser Operator Prevailing Wage
Laser Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Laser Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4122.00 (Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4122.00 (Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Mig Welder Prevailing Wage
Mig Welder Prevailing Wage
Mig Welder positions fall under SOC 51-4122.00 (Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Spot Welder Prevailing Wage
Spot Welder Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Spot Welder for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4122.00 (Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Weld Technician (Weld Tech) Prevailing Wage
Weld Technician (Weld Tech) Prevailing Wage
Weld Technician (Weld Tech) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4122.00 (Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Welding Operator Prevailing Wage
Welding Operator Prevailing Wage
Welding Operator positions fall under SOC 51-4122.00 (Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for a Braze Operator?
DOL derives prevailing wages for SOC 51-4122 from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. OFLC publishes the resulting four-level wage table annually. Employers must use the wage in effect at the time they file the Labor Condition Application, and the wage must cover the full period of intended employment.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
DOL assigns levels based on experience, supervision, and complexity. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 is independent work on standard tasks; Level 3 involves complex setups or specialist skills; Level 4 covers senior or lead roles. Your employer selects the level based on the actual duties in the job description, and USCIS or OFLC can challenge a level that understates the role.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same welding role differ so much between cities?
OFLC bases wages on regional OES survey data, so the floor reflects local labor-market conditions. A Certified Welder in Seattle draws on a survey of Pacific Northwest manufacturing wages, while the same role in Tampa reflects Florida's lower industrial wage band. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, so the city where you physically work determines which regional wage applies, not where the company is incorporated.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA at a wage below the applicable prevailing wage. If the offer falls short, OFLC will not certify the LCA, which means the H-1B or PERM process cannot proceed. For existing sponsored workers, paying below the certified wage can trigger DOL back-wage liability and potential debarment from future sponsorship filings.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Braze Operator in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up four-level wages by SOC code and metropolitan area. Enter SOC 51-4122 and the metro that matches your worksite. You can also check recent LCA disclosure data that OFLC publishes to see what wages employers in that city have certified for similar roles. Migrate Mate lists roles with employer sponsorship history, which can help you identify which companies are actively filing in your target location.
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