Machine welder vs welder operator

The differences between machine welders and welder operators 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 operator. Additionally, a machine welder has an average salary of $31,852, which is higher than the $31,669 average annual salary of a welder operator.

The top three skills for a machine welder include MIG, aluminum and GMAW. The most important skills for a welder operator are MIG, arc welding, and hand tools.

Machine welder vs welder operator overview

	Machine Welder	Welder Operator
Yearly salary	$31,852	$31,669
Hourly rate	$15.31	$15.23
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	37,692	51,229
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 55%	High School Diploma, 50%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Machine welder vs welder operator salary

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

	Machine Welder	Welder Operator
Average salary	$31,852	$31,669
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $39,000	Between $25,000 And $38,000
Highest paying City	-	Chicopee, MA
Highest paying state	-	Wyoming
Best paying company	-	Capco
Best paying industry	-	Automotive

Differences between machine welder and welder operator education

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

	Machine Welder	Welder Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 55%	High School Diploma, 50%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Machine welder vs welder operator demographics

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

	Machine Welder	Welder Operator
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3%	Male, 85.6% Female, 14.4%
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, 10.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 2.8% White, 63.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between machine welder and welder operator 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 operator example responsibilities.

Manage aluminum structural/pipe fabrication turnaround: cross-country CGIT/IPB megawatt electrical power conductors.
Weld carbon steel pipes using GTAW and SMAW.
Weld with (GMAW) on aluminum.
Maintain certifications in SMAW, GMAW, and GTAW.
Perform TIG and MIG welding processes on fabrications according to the blueprints specifications.
Weld heavy industrial clamps together using the MIG and TIG process on AR400 grade steel.

Machine welder vs welder operator skills

Common machine welder skills

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

Common welder operator skills

MIG, 12%
Arc Welding, 9%
Hand Tools, 8%
Safety Equipment, 7%
Tig Welding, 6%
GMAW, 5%