Machine welder vs welder helper

The differences between machine welders and welder helpers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a machine welder and a welder helper. Additionally, a machine welder has an average salary of $31,852, which is higher than the $29,684 average annual salary of a welder helper.

The top three skills for a machine welder include MIG, aluminum and GMAW. The most important skills for a welder helper are grind welds, MIG, and grinders.

Machine welder vs welder helper overview

	Machine Welder	Welder Helper
Yearly salary	$31,852	$29,684
Hourly rate	$15.31	$14.27
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	37,692	21,605
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 55%	High School Diploma, 60%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Machine welder vs welder helper salary

Machine welders and welder helpers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Machine Welder	Welder Helper
Average salary	$31,852	$29,684
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $39,000	Between $22,000 And $38,000
Highest paying City	-	Bakersfield, CA
Highest paying state	-	Wyoming
Best paying company	-	Kiewit
Best paying industry	-	Construction

Differences between machine welder and welder helper education

There are a few differences between a machine welder and a welder helper in terms of educational background:

	Machine Welder	Welder Helper
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 55%	High School Diploma, 60%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Machine welder vs welder helper demographics

Here are the differences between machine welders' and welder helpers' demographics:

	Machine Welder	Welder Helper
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3%	Male, 92.1% Female, 7.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%	Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 26.0% Asian, 2.5% White, 57.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between machine welder and welder helper duties and responsibilities

Machine welder example responsibilities.

Manage aluminum structural/pipe fabrication turnaround: cross-country CGIT/IPB megawatt electrical power conductors.
Perform various tasks requiring MIG welding and TIG welding.
Weld metal parts and components together, using brazing, gas and arc welding equipment.
Stick and mig weld when machine go down.
Help position and clamp workpieces together and assemble them in jigs and fixtures.23.
Calculate dimensions and tolerances using knowledge of mathematics and instruments such as micrometers and vernier calipers.

Welder helper example responsibilities.

Manage and run production parts through the brake.
Weld structural material including carbon steel and stainless steel using SMAW, and MIG processes.
Perform welder duties using SMAW, PAC, GMAW, oxy-fuel cutting, and GTAW processes.
Work on vessels welding using SMAW and FCAW
Can also Tig weld and use the process FCAW
Perform welder helper duties using electric, oxyacetylene, MIG and TIG welding processes.

Machine welder vs welder helper skills

Common machine welder skills

MIG, 14%
Aluminum, 10%
GMAW, 9%
Calipers, 8%
Carbon Steel, 8%
FCAW, 8%

Common welder helper skills

Grind Welds, 10%
MIG, 9%
Grinders, 9%
Safety Equipment, 7%
Arc Welding, 7%
GMAW, 6%