Master welder vs welder helper

The differences between master 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 master welder and a welder helper. Additionally, a master welder has an average salary of $43,857, which is higher than the $29,684 average annual salary of a welder helper.

The top three skills for a master welder include GMAW, fit-up and stainless steel. The most important skills for a welder helper are grind welds, MIG, and grinders.

Master welder vs welder helper overview

	Master Welder	Welder Helper
Yearly salary	$43,857	$29,684
Hourly rate	$21.09	$14.27
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	15,419	21,605
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 28%	High School Diploma, 60%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Master welder vs welder helper salary

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

	Master Welder	Welder Helper
Average salary	$43,857	$29,684
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $61,000	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 master welder and welder helper education

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

	Master Welder	Welder Helper
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 28%	High School Diploma, 60%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Master welder vs welder helper demographics

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

	Master Welder	Welder Helper
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 96.0% Female, 4.0%	Male, 92.1% Female, 7.9%
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, 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 master welder and welder helper 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 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.

Master welder vs welder helper skills

Common master welder skills

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

Common welder helper skills

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