Metal fabricator apprentice vs welder

The differences between metal fabricator apprentices and welders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a metal fabricator apprentice, becoming a welder takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a welder has an average salary of $39,696, which is higher than the $33,638 average annual salary of a metal fabricator apprentice.

The top three skills for a metal fabricator apprentice include grinders, drill press and MIG. The most important skills for a welder are arc welding, aluminum, and hand tools.

Metal fabricator apprentice vs welder overview

	Metal Fabricator Apprentice	Welder
Yearly salary	$33,638	$39,696
Hourly rate	$16.17	$19.08
Growth rate	-6%	2%
Number of jobs	9,574	9,463
Job satisfaction	-	4.25
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 42%	High School Diploma, 46%
Average age	45	40
Years of experience	2	4

Metal fabricator apprentice vs welder salary

Metal fabricator apprentices and welders have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Metal Fabricator Apprentice	Welder
Average salary	$33,638	$39,696
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $41,000	Between $29,000 And $54,000
Highest paying City	-	Woburn, MA
Highest paying state	-	Massachusetts
Best paying company	-	California Resources
Best paying industry	-	Automotive

Differences between metal fabricator apprentice and welder education

There are a few differences between a metal fabricator apprentice and a welder in terms of educational background:

	Metal Fabricator Apprentice	Welder
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 42%	High School Diploma, 46%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Metal fabricator apprentice vs welder demographics

Here are the differences between metal fabricator apprentices' and welders' demographics:

	Metal Fabricator Apprentice	Welder
Average age	45	40
Gender ratio	Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3%	Male, 93.9% Female, 6.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 2.2% White, 73.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%	Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 3.0% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7%
LGBT Percentage	5%	3%

Differences between metal fabricator apprentice and welder duties and responsibilities

Metal fabricator apprentice example responsibilities.

Monitor and fabricate edges with help of wet air grinders and associate materials.
Smooth seams, joints, or bur surfaces, using files or grinders.
Integrate technology into curriculum, supplementing class lectures and developing student's researching skills and internet and PowerPoint proficiency.
Programme and maintain various machine base systems using AutoCad and other equipment base software.

Welder example responsibilities.

Manage and run production parts through the brake.
Weld with oxyacetylene, MIG, and brazing all kind of materials like bronze, platinum, aluminum, and flux.
Experience TIG, plasma cutting, brazing, torch cutting, shears press, bending and manipulating heated metal.
Fabricate and weld car carrier trailers using MIG welding method, used overhead cranes to lift weld pieces up.
Fabricate and weld the steel reinforcement and forms according to print on a vibratory bed using MIG and GMAW welding.
Experience welding pipe ranging from 2"up to 72"pressure vessels using the GMAW and FCAW welding process.

Metal fabricator apprentice vs welder skills

Common metal fabricator apprentice skills

Grinders, 29%
Drill Press, 24%
MIG, 11%
Hand Tools, 8%
Stainless Steel, 6%
Individual Pieces, 4%

Common welder skills

Arc Welding, 8%
Aluminum, 7%
Hand Tools, 7%
Tig Welding, 6%
Stainless Steel, 5%
GMAW, 5%