Apprentice pipefitter vs journeyman pipe welder

The differences between apprentices pipefitter and journeyman pipe welders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a journeyman pipe welder has an average salary of $63,075, which is higher than the $42,906 average annual salary of an apprentice pipefitter.

The top three skills for an apprentice pipefitter include hand tools, direct supervision and work ethic. The most important skills for a journeyman pipe welder are pipe systems, brazing, and tig welding.

Apprentice pipefitter vs journeyman pipe welder overview

	Apprentice Pipefitter	Journeyman Pipe Welder
Yearly salary	$42,906	$63,075
Hourly rate	$20.63	$30.32
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	6,570	11,705
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 49%	High School Diploma, 33%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	-	-

Apprentice pipefitter vs journeyman pipe welder salary

Apprentices pipefitter and journeyman pipe welders have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Apprentice Pipefitter	Journeyman Pipe Welder
Average salary	$42,906	$63,075
Salary range	Between $32,000 And $56,000	Between $46,000 And $85,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between apprentice pipefitter and journeyman pipe welder education

There are a few differences between an apprentice pipefitter and a journeyman pipe welder in terms of educational background:

	Apprentice Pipefitter	Journeyman Pipe Welder
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 49%	High School Diploma, 33%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Apprentice pipefitter vs journeyman pipe welder demographics

Here are the differences between apprentices pipefitter' and journeyman pipe welders' demographics:

	Apprentice Pipefitter	Journeyman Pipe Welder
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 92.3% Female, 7.7%	Male, 97.8% Female, 2.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 1.9% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%	Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.7% Asian, 1.9% White, 62.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	2%	2%

Differences between apprentice pipefitter and journeyman pipe welder duties and responsibilities

Apprentice pipefitter example responsibilities.

Work on carbon steel, cast iron, PVC, and copper lines.
Operate equipment such as cutting torches, threading machines, grinder, beveling machines and round-up clamps
Bond PVC using glue and primer.
Fit and weld industrial grade HVAC pipe.
Install new heating components with soldering and brazing connections all throughout the building.
Install strainers, regulators, traps, pumps, insulation, valves, etc.

Journeyman pipe welder example responsibilities.

Silver brazing, working on piping systems from high pressure to fire suppression systems.
Fit up and weld pipe, blueprints, operate crane, forklift, torches and burn table
Complete extensive training in rigging, tool safety, PPE, scaffolding, fall protection and others.
Operate state-of-the-art production welding, brazing, and soldering equipment.
Perform MIG and stick welds and erecting structural steel utilize for building skeletons including specific/ detail measurements for accuracy.
Write JSA to identify the steps to do the job.

Apprentice pipefitter vs journeyman pipe welder skills

Common apprentice pipefitter skills

Hand Tools, 17%
Direct Supervision, 12%
Work Ethic, 10%
Hot Water, 10%
Water Systems, 8%
Processing Systems, 7%

Common journeyman pipe welder skills

Pipe Systems, 27%
Brazing, 20%
Tig Welding, 9%
Carbon Steel, 8%
MIG, 6%
TIG, 5%

Apprentice Pipefitter vs. similar jobs

Apprentice Pipefitter related careers

Apprentice Pipefitter related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Construction and Extraction Industry
Apprentice Pipefitter
Apprentice Pipefitter vs Journeyman Pipe Welder

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse construction and extraction jobs