Aluminum welder vs welder helper

The differences between aluminum welders and welder helpers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an aluminum welder and a welder helper. Additionally, an aluminum welder has an average salary of $38,155, which is higher than the $29,684 average annual salary of a welder helper.

The top three skills for an aluminum welder include GMAW, tig welding and arc welding. The most important skills for a welder helper are grind welds, MIG, and grinders.

Aluminum welder vs welder helper overview

	Aluminum Welder	Welder Helper
Yearly salary	$38,155	$29,684
Hourly rate	$18.34	$14.27
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	7,063	21,605
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 35%	High School Diploma, 60%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Aluminum welder vs welder helper salary

Aluminum welders and welder helpers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Aluminum Welder	Welder Helper
Average salary	$38,155	$29,684
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $48,000	Between $22,000 And $38,000
Highest paying City	Vancouver, WA	Bakersfield, CA
Highest paying state	Wyoming	Wyoming
Best paying company	Premier Marine	Kiewit
Best paying industry	Automotive	Construction

Differences between aluminum welder and welder helper education

There are a few differences between an aluminum welder and a welder helper in terms of educational background:

	Aluminum Welder	Welder Helper
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 35%	High School Diploma, 60%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Aluminum welder vs welder helper demographics

Here are the differences between aluminum welders' and welder helpers' demographics:

	Aluminum Welder	Welder Helper
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 94.3% Female, 5.7%	Male, 92.1% Female, 7.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%	Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 26.0% Asian, 2.5% White, 57.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between aluminum welder and welder helper duties and responsibilities

Aluminum welder example responsibilities.

Manage and run production parts through the brake.
Weld aluminum toolboxes on an assembly line using GTAW and GMAW processes.
Inspect castings for any visual defects, used grinders & air tools to remove remaining gates to contour of part.
Perform GMAW on aluminum surfaces.
Build and modify jigs for mass production parts.
Assemble then weld various aluminum and steel parts; assemble military environmental control and power generation trailers.

Welder helper example responsibilities.

Manage and run production parts through the brake.
Weld structural material including carbon steel and stainless steel using SMAW, and MIG processes.
Perform welder duties using SMAW, PAC, GMAW, oxy-fuel cutting, and GTAW processes.
Work on vessels welding using SMAW and FCAW
Can also Tig weld and use the process FCAW
Perform welder helper duties using electric, oxyacetylene, MIG and TIG welding processes.

Aluminum welder vs welder helper skills

Common aluminum welder skills

GMAW, 16%
Tig Welding, 15%
Arc Welding, 9%
Tape Measure, 4%
Grinders, 4%
Jigs, 4%

Common welder helper skills

Grind Welds, 10%
MIG, 9%
Grinders, 9%
Safety Equipment, 7%
Arc Welding, 7%
GMAW, 6%