Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between fabricators and mig welders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a mig welder has an average salary of $35,476, which is higher than the $34,922 average annual salary of a fabricator.
The top three skills for a fabricator include hand tools, basic math and calipers. The most important skills for a mig welder are tape measure, arc welding, and jigs.
| Fabricator | MIG Welder | |
| Yearly salary | $34,922 | $35,476 |
| Hourly rate | $16.79 | $17.06 |
| Growth rate | -1% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 7,772 | 7,051 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 47% |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
A fabricator specializes in manufacturing and assembling equipment or devices, ensuring every product's quality and efficiency. There are instances when a fabricator is required to make multiple gears, conduct verification processes on product schematics and specifications, perform quality control inspections, and test the product in different environments. Furthermore, a fabricator needs to coordinate with all workforce members to remain informed on any changes or updates in the production operations while adhering to the company's policies and safety standards.
The MIG welder is responsible for creating metal projects using inert gas welding techniques and electric arc processes. MIG welders carefully fuse metal components, avoiding contamination on the weld, as well as managing the metal bond defects. They analyze specifications, interpret blueprints, and operate various machine tools and equipment for accurate measuring and cutting. The MIG welder should strictly follow the safety procedures at all times during operations to avoid hazards in the workplace, including the proper storage and cleaning of welding tools and materials.
Fabricators and mig welders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Fabricator | MIG Welder | |
| Average salary | $34,922 | $35,476 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $44,000 | Between $28,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Las Vegas, NV | Salt Lake City, UT |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Danaher | Invacare |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a fabricator and a mig welder in terms of educational background:
| Fabricator | MIG Welder | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 47% |
| Most common major | Precision Metal Working | Precision Metal Working |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between fabricators' and mig welders' demographics:
| Fabricator | MIG Welder | |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.8% Female, 10.2% | Male, 91.9% Female, 8.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 8.1% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 3.0% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 3% |