Metal welder vs welder first class

The differences between metal welders and welders first class can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a metal welder and a welder first class. Additionally, a welder first class has an average salary of $45,016, which is higher than the $36,706 average annual salary of a metal welder.

The top three skills for a metal welder include MIG, hand tools and arc welding. The most important skills for a welder first class are flux core, arc welding, and SMAW.

Metal welder vs welder first class overview

	Metal Welder	Welder First Class
Yearly salary	$36,706	$45,016
Hourly rate	$17.65	$21.64
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	9,585	38,450
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 42%	High School Diploma, 43%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Metal welder vs welder first class salary

Metal welders and welders first class have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Metal Welder	Welder First Class
Average salary	$36,706	$45,016
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $45,000	Between $33,000 And $60,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between metal welder and welder first class education

There are a few differences between a metal welder and a welder first class in terms of educational background:

	Metal Welder	Welder First Class
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 42%	High School Diploma, 43%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Metal welder vs welder first class demographics

Here are the differences between metal welders' and welders first class' demographics:

	Metal Welder	Welder First Class
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 96.3% Female, 3.7%	Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 2.6% White, 64.0% 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 metal welder and welder first class duties and responsibilities

Metal welder example responsibilities.

Manage and run production parts through the brake.
Fabricate various jigs for various stools and chairs, school desks and cages.
Set up jigs to weld pallets for individual orders, also mark measured and stamp material for jobs.
Perform MIG and stick welds and erecting structural steel utilize for building skeletons including specific/ detail measurements for accuracy.
Blue print reading for all WPS orders.

Welder first class example responsibilities.

Manage and run production parts through the brake.
Programme and operate automatic GTAW, and GMAW machines.
Fuse metals together using GMAW and FCAW processes within code guidelines.
Apply repairs to various types of vessels, utilizing FCAW, and SMAW processes.
Operate brazing and soldering equipment.
Train in tig and stick pipe welding.

Metal welder vs welder first class skills

Common metal welder skills

MIG, 22%
Hand Tools, 12%
Arc Welding, 10%
Stainless Steel, 10%
Tack, 9%
GMAW, 8%

Common welder first class skills

Flux Core, 9%
Arc Welding, 8%
SMAW, 6%
FCAW, 5%
GMAW, 5%
Stainless Steel, 5%