Metal fabricator helper vs welder

The differences between metal fabricator helpers 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 helper, becoming a welder takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a welder has an average salary of $39,696, which is higher than the $33,073 average annual salary of a metal fabricator helper.

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

Metal fabricator helper vs welder overview

	Metal Fabricator Helper	Welder
Yearly salary	$33,073	$39,696
Hourly rate	$15.90	$19.08
Growth rate	-6%	2%
Number of jobs	16,977	9,463
Job satisfaction	-	4.25
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 51%	High School Diploma, 46%
Average age	45	40
Years of experience	2	4

Metal fabricator helper vs welder salary

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

	Metal Fabricator Helper	Welder
Average salary	$33,073	$39,696
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $42,000	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 helper and welder education

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

	Metal Fabricator Helper	Welder
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 51%	High School Diploma, 46%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Metal fabricator helper vs welder demographics

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

	Metal Fabricator Helper	Welder
Average age	45	40
Gender ratio	Male, 94.2% Female, 5.8%	Male, 93.9% Female, 6.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 2.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 1.3% White, 71.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%	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 helper and welder duties and responsibilities

Metal fabricator helper example responsibilities.

Work include use of various hand tools, grinders, and operation of fork lift trucks.
Travele to different job sites as a helper in installations of HVAC units.
Fabricate tools, jigs, and fixtures to meet manufacturing and engineering needs.
Cut material for to appropriate sizes use mig welder steel as well as an aluminum welder spool gun.
Assemble fiberglass aircraft louvers in accordance with standard operating procedures while adhering to applicable safety regulations.
Attach rope or grappling equipment to workplace to prepare them to be move by crane.

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 helper vs welder skills

Common metal fabricator helper skills

Grinders, 25%
Tack, 14%
MIG, 13%
Hand Tools, 11%
Torches, 9%
Cranes, 8%

Common welder skills

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