Master welder vs lead welder

The differences between master welders and lead welders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a master welder and a lead welder. Additionally, a lead welder has an average salary of $45,718, which is higher than the $43,857 average annual salary of a master welder.

The top three skills for a master welder include GMAW, fit-up and stainless steel. The most important skills for a lead welder are aluminum, stainless steel, and safety equipment.

Master welder vs lead welder overview

	Master Welder	Lead Welder
Yearly salary	$43,857	$45,718
Hourly rate	$21.09	$21.98
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	15,419	8,274
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 28%	High School Diploma, 39%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Master welder vs lead welder salary

Master welders and lead welders have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Master Welder	Lead Welder
Average salary	$43,857	$45,718
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $61,000	Between $33,000 And $62,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between master welder and lead welder education

There are a few differences between a master welder and a lead welder in terms of educational background:

	Master Welder	Lead Welder
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 28%	High School Diploma, 39%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Master welder vs lead welder demographics

Here are the differences between master welders' and lead welders' demographics:

	Master Welder	Lead Welder
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 96.0% Female, 4.0%	Male, 95.9% Female, 4.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 2.6% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 2.9% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between master welder and lead welder duties and responsibilities

Master welder example responsibilities.

Operate equipment such as loaders, trucks and cranes.
Can read blueprint measuring tape and fitting tools, drive forklift, operate overhead cranes, cut plasma and acetylene torch.
Perform tubular welding operations on livestock equipment products using appropriate jigs.
Perform MIG and stick welds and erecting structural steel utilize for building skeletons including specific/ detail measurements for accuracy.
Assign work projects, QC welds.
Weld on housings for union tank everything are QC and xray used 0.45 0.52 flux

Lead welder example responsibilities.

Create weekly work schedules, process payroll information, manage inventory counts and job cost for each project.
Certify in restaurant grade stainless steel and aluminum TIG welding, carbon stick welding and stainless and carbon MIG welding.
Weld with solid wire (GMAW), flux core (FCAW) and stick (SMAW).
Used MIG and TIG welding to fit electrical and mechanical components.
Execute daily operations of MIG, and TIG welding, and rework welding.
Develop and record documentation for PQR's and WPS's.

Master welder vs lead welder skills

Common master welder skills

GMAW, 16%
Fit-Up, 14%
Stainless Steel, 13%
Arc Welding, 11%
Cranes, 10%
SMAW, 10%

Common lead welder skills

Aluminum, 7%
Stainless Steel, 7%
Safety Equipment, 6%
Blueprint Specifications, 5%
GMAW, 5%
Tig Welding, 5%