Soldered RAM replacement is a multi-hour microsoldering job, not a quick swap.

It’s not typical. Most repair shops won’t touch soldered RAM at all. The few that do will quote 2–4 hours of labor, including disassembly.

The reason is straightforward: you’re not swapping a stick. You’re desoldering the existing BGA (ball grid array) chips and soldering new ones onto the logic board. That means hot air, flux, precise temperature control, and a real risk of lifting pads or killing the board. Disassembly on a MacBook Air is maybe 10–15 minutes; the actual rework is the long part.

If you find a technician who does this work, expect $150–$300 in labor, minimum. And no warranty on the board surviving the process. This is not something you do for a cheap upgrade.

Future you is better off buying the RAM you need from the start.