Metal welder vs welder helper

The differences between metal 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 metal welder and a welder helper. Additionally, a metal welder has an average salary of $36,706, which is higher than the $29,684 average annual salary of a welder helper.

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

Metal welder vs welder helper overview

	Metal Welder	Welder Helper
Yearly salary	$36,706	$29,684
Hourly rate	$17.65	$14.27
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	9,585	21,605
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 42%	High School Diploma, 60%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Metal welder vs welder helper salary

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

	Metal Welder	Welder Helper
Average salary	$36,706	$29,684
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $45,000	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 metal welder and welder helper education

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

	Metal Welder	Welder Helper
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 42%	High School Diploma, 60%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Metal welder vs welder helper demographics

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

	Metal Welder	Welder Helper
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 96.3% Female, 3.7%	Male, 92.1% Female, 7.9%
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, 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 metal welder and welder helper 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 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.

Metal welder vs welder helper skills

Common metal welder skills

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

Common welder helper skills

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