Assembling machine operator vs welder-machine operator

The differences between assembling machine operators and welder-machine operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an assembling machine operator, becoming a welder-machine operator takes usually requires 3-6 months. Additionally, a welder-machine operator has an average salary of $37,171, which is higher than the $31,275 average annual salary of an assembling machine operator.

The top three skills for an assembling machine operator include assembly line, safety procedures and CNC. The most important skills for a welder-machine operator are arc welding, safety equipment, and stainless steel.

Assembling machine operator vs welder-machine operator overview

	Assembling Machine Operator	Welder-Machine Operator
Yearly salary	$31,275	$37,171
Hourly rate	$15.04	$17.87
Growth rate	-6%	-5%
Number of jobs	87,253	68,316
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 54%	High School Diploma, 53%
Average age	43	40
Years of experience	12	6

Assembling machine operator vs welder-machine operator salary

Assembling machine operators and welder-machine operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Assembling Machine Operator	Welder-Machine Operator
Average salary	$31,275	$37,171
Salary range	Between $24,000 And $39,000	Between $27,000 And $49,000
Highest paying City	Grand Rapids, MI	Fontana, CA
Highest paying state	Rhode Island	Nevada
Best paying company	Press-Seal Gasket Corporation	BWX Technologies
Best paying industry	Automotive	Technology

Differences between assembling machine operator and welder-machine operator education

There are a few differences between an assembling machine operator and a welder-machine operator in terms of educational background:

	Assembling Machine Operator	Welder-Machine Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 54%	High School Diploma, 53%
Most common major	Business	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	Dunwoody College of Technology

Assembling machine operator vs welder-machine operator demographics

Here are the differences between assembling machine operators' and welder-machine operators' demographics:

	Assembling Machine Operator	Welder-Machine Operator
Average age	43	40
Gender ratio	Male, 57.4% Female, 42.6%	Male, 84.6% Female, 15.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 2.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 2.0% White, 74.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
LGBT Percentage	6%	3%

Differences between assembling machine operator and welder-machine operator duties and responsibilities

Assembling machine operator example responsibilities.

Used to wearing PPE and other safety gear.
Check parts according to SPC standards and charts.
Load pre-cut graphite stamp dyes into EDM head.
Work in extreme temperature with personal PPE for safety.
Supervise line team and train new employees on the GMP.
Meet all quality and GMP standards by documenting all stages of production.

Welder-machine operator example responsibilities.

Weld required parts using GMAW, GTAW, and SMAW.
Require to weld a wide veriety of assemblies, fabricate parts and maintain equipment and fixtures employing GMAW and GTAW techniques.
Operate the welding robots and do rework with the MIG welder.
Weld both steel and aluminum pressure tanks for both train and truck air brake systems.
Dismantle metal assemblies and cut scrap metal, using thermal-cutting equipment such as flame-cutting torches or plasma-arc equipment.
Position, align, fit, and weld together parts, using jigs, welding torch, and hand tools.

Assembling machine operator vs welder-machine operator skills

Common assembling machine operator skills

Assembly Line, 21%
Safety Procedures, 16%
CNC, 9%
Machine Operation, 6%
Quality Control Checks, 4%
Quality Standards, 4%

Common welder-machine operator skills

Arc Welding, 7%
Safety Equipment, 7%
Stainless Steel, 6%
CNC, 6%
Tig Welding, 5%
Tape Measure, 5%

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Production and Manufacturing Industry
Assembling Machine Operator
Assembling Machine Operator vs Welder-Machine Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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