Line welder vs welder-machine operator

The differences between line welders and welder-machine operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a line welder, 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 $31,712 average annual salary of a line welder.

The top three skills for a line welder include MIG, tack and safety equipment. The most important skills for a welder-machine operator are arc welding, safety equipment, and stainless steel.

Line welder vs welder-machine operator overview

	Line Welder	Welder-Machine Operator
Yearly salary	$31,712	$37,171
Hourly rate	$15.25	$17.87
Growth rate	2%	-5%
Number of jobs	52,702	68,316
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 56%	High School Diploma, 53%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	6

Line welder vs welder-machine operator salary

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

	Line Welder	Welder-Machine Operator
Average salary	$31,712	$37,171
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $39,000	Between $27,000 And $49,000
Highest paying City	Atlanta, GA	Fontana, CA
Highest paying state	Wyoming	Nevada
Best paying company	ManpowerGroup	BWX Technologies
Best paying industry	Automotive	Technology

Differences between line welder and welder-machine operator education

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

	Line Welder	Welder-Machine Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 56%	High School Diploma, 53%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	Dunwoody College of Technology

Line welder vs welder-machine operator demographics

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

	Line Welder	Welder-Machine Operator
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 86.5% Female, 13.5%	Male, 84.6% Female, 15.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 3.1% White, 64.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7%	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	3%	3%

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

Line welder example responsibilities.

Manage and run production parts through the brake.
Assemble Honda computer frames with robotic and MIG welders.
Experience in auto body repair RSW, GMAW, FCAW welding and assembly
Hire on full time by Toyota
Programme system for welding robotic arms.
Weld frames rails and brackets for Toyota lines.

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.

Line welder vs welder-machine operator skills

Common line welder skills

MIG, 37%
Tack, 10%
Safety Equipment, 9%
Tape Measure, 6%
Torches, 6%
Jigs, 5%

Common welder-machine operator skills

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