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The differences between journeyman welders and ship fitters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a journeyman welder and a ship fitter. Additionally, a ship fitter has an average salary of $45,247, which is higher than the $44,147 average annual salary of a journeyman welder.
The top three skills for a journeyman welder include MIG, brazing and jigs. The most important skills for a ship fitter are hand tools, tack-weld, and tack welding.
| Journeyman Welder | Ship Fitter | |
| Yearly salary | $44,147 | $45,247 |
| Hourly rate | $21.22 | $21.75 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 11,077 | 9,742 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
The job of a journeyman welder is to bond the different types of metal to create larger, industrial pipes. Typical duties include operating welding equipment, ensuring a safe working environment, and reading blueprints. You are also responsible for welding metal parts and designing and building fixtures. To become a successful journeyman welder, you must complete an apprenticeship or a training program. In addition, you must also have previous work experience, technical skills, and in-depth knowledge of all relevant terminology and industry computer software.
Ship fitters are civilian or enlisted people who work on materials like high yield strength steel and high-tensile steel. These people fabricate, assemble, and build structural parts of ships. They are the ones who coordinate a fixed tank working on ships and submarines, as well as the sonar dome work. They serve as part of a team composing shipbuilders. It is their duty to lead and assist in welding copper, PVC, flange piping, and steel. They should also refurbish the older rigs with advanced technologies.
Journeyman welders and ship fitters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Journeyman Welder | Ship Fitter | |
| Average salary | $44,147 | $45,247 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $61,000 | Between $31,000 And $64,000 |
| Highest paying City | Spokane, WA | Mount Laurel, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Clearwater Paper | BWX Technologies |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Technology |
There are a few differences between a journeyman welder and a ship fitter in terms of educational background:
| Journeyman Welder | Ship Fitter | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most common major | Precision Metal Working | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between journeyman welders' and ship fitters' demographics:
| Journeyman Welder | Ship Fitter | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 87.7% Female, 12.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 3.1% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.8% | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |