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The differences between combination welders and welders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a combination welder and a welder. Additionally, a combination welder has an average salary of $45,432, which is higher than the $39,696 average annual salary of a welder.
The top three skills for a combination welder include arc welding, tack and minor maintenance. The most important skills for a welder are arc welding, aluminum, and hand tools.
| Combination Welder | Welder | |
| Yearly salary | $45,432 | $39,696 |
| Hourly rate | $21.84 | $19.08 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 7,117 | 9,463 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.25 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Combination welders are the ones who prepare the welding materials to weld together metal components and maintain their equipment, such as a welding torch, grinder, or thermal cutters. They should know the various processes like oxy-fuel welding, arc welding, etc., to weld various metal components. Before starting their torches, they position the metals to stay in place using clamps. These welders work to fabricate or repair cracks, holes or increase the size of metal products like machine parts, plant equipment, automobiles, etc.
Welders are skilled workers who primarily work on metals and other metalworks. One of the most commonly known activities that welders do is fusing materials that are made of metal. They usually work on buildings, large pipes, and cars. They also fix holes or any other imperfection on metal materials. They do these by applying heat using welding torches or any other special tools that they have. Welders are also responsible for studying blueprints related to the items they will work on, ensuring that all needed materials are available, practicing occupational safety and health protocols, and maintaining the welding tools they use.
Combination welders and welders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Combination Welder | Welder | |
| Average salary | $45,432 | $39,696 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $62,000 | Between $29,000 And $54,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bremerton, WA | Woburn, MA |
| Highest paying state | Wyoming | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Maxum Enterprises, LLC | California Resources |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a combination welder and a welder in terms of educational background:
| Combination Welder | Welder | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Most common major | Precision Metal Working | Precision Metal Working |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between combination welders' and welders' demographics:
| Combination Welder | Welder | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.7% Female, 3.3% | Male, 93.9% Female, 6.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 24.3% Asian, 2.6% White, 57.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 3.0% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |