Bridge welder vs welder first class

The differences between bridge welders and welders first class can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a bridge welder and a welder first class. Additionally, a welder first class has an average salary of $45,016, which is higher than the $42,281 average annual salary of a bridge welder.

The top three skills for a bridge welder include AWS, arc welding and DOT. The most important skills for a welder first class are flux core, arc welding, and SMAW.

Bridge welder vs welder first class overview

	Bridge Welder	Welder First Class
Yearly salary	$42,281	$45,016
Hourly rate	$20.33	$21.64
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	7,835	38,450
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 55%	High School Diploma, 43%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Bridge welder vs welder first class salary

Bridge welders and welders first class have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Bridge Welder	Welder First Class
Average salary	$42,281	$45,016
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $56,000	Between $33,000 And $60,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between bridge welder and welder first class education

There are a few differences between a bridge welder and a welder first class in terms of educational background:

	Bridge Welder	Welder First Class
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 55%	High School Diploma, 43%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Bridge welder vs welder first class demographics

Here are the differences between bridge welders' and welders first class' demographics:

	Bridge Welder	Welder First Class
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 98.3% Female, 1.7%	Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 2.8% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%	Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between bridge welder and welder first class duties and responsibilities

Bridge welder example responsibilities.

Manage and run production parts through the brake.
use of cutting torches when need.
Operate various forms of welding machines to include FCAW, GTAW, SMAW as well as oxy-acetylene torches.
Weld mainly stick, but includes MIG and TIG.
Operate CNC drilling machines as needed.
Perform MIG and stick welds and erecting structural steel utilize for building skeletons including specific/ detail measurements for accuracy.

Welder first class example responsibilities.

Manage and run production parts through the brake.
Programme and operate automatic GTAW, and GMAW machines.
Fuse metals together using GMAW and FCAW processes within code guidelines.
Apply repairs to various types of vessels, utilizing FCAW, and SMAW processes.
Operate brazing and soldering equipment.
Train in tig and stick pipe welding.

Bridge welder vs welder first class skills

Common bridge welder skills

AWS, 64%
Arc Welding, 13%
DOT, 10%
Torches, 8%
SMAW, 5%

Common welder first class skills

Flux Core, 9%
Arc Welding, 8%
SMAW, 6%
FCAW, 5%
GMAW, 5%
Stainless Steel, 5%