Master welder vs welder fitter

The differences between master welders and welder 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 master welder and a welder fitter. Additionally, a master welder has an average salary of $43,857, which is higher than the $39,676 average annual salary of a welder fitter.

The top three skills for a master welder include GMAW, fit-up and stainless steel. The most important skills for a welder fitter are MIG, hand tools, and arc welding.

Master welder vs welder fitter overview

	Master Welder	Welder Fitter
Yearly salary	$43,857	$39,676
Hourly rate	$21.09	$19.07
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	15,419	8,022
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 28%	High School Diploma, 43%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Master welder vs welder fitter salary

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

	Master Welder	Welder Fitter
Average salary	$43,857	$39,676
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $61,000	Between $28,000 And $55,000
Highest paying City	-	Vancouver, WA
Highest paying state	-	Massachusetts
Best paying company	-	Jefferson Lab
Best paying industry	-	Energy

Differences between master welder and welder fitter education

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

	Master Welder	Welder Fitter
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 28%	High School Diploma, 43%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Master welder vs welder fitter demographics

Here are the differences between master welders' and welder fitters' demographics:

	Master Welder	Welder Fitter
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 96.0% Female, 4.0%	Male, 95.1% Female, 4.9%
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, 10.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between master welder and welder fitter 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

Welder fitter example responsibilities.

Manage and run production parts through the brake.
Align parts in relation to each other, using jacks, turnbuckles, clips, wedges, and mauls.
Align and fit according to specifications using jacks, turnbuckles, wedges, drift pins, pry bars and hammers.
Weld and fit per drawing: GTAW aluminum, stainless, steel, and copper-nickel pipe.
Fabricate parts and equipment using GTAW process on thin metals such as aluminum & other precious metals.
Manufacture mobile home frames using fixtures, heat beam for a perfect chamber while applying welding procedures of SMAW and GMAW.

Master welder vs welder fitter skills

Common master welder skills

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

Common welder fitter skills

MIG, 13%
Hand Tools, 7%
Arc Welding, 5%
GMAW, 5%
Aluminum, 5%
Stainless Steel, 5%