Metal welder vs welder operator

The differences between metal welders and welder operators 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 operator. Additionally, a metal welder has an average salary of $36,706, which is higher than the $31,669 average annual salary of a welder operator.

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

Metal welder vs welder operator overview

	Metal Welder	Welder Operator
Yearly salary	$36,706	$31,669
Hourly rate	$17.65	$15.23
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	9,585	51,229
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 42%	High School Diploma, 50%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Metal welder vs welder operator salary

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

	Metal Welder	Welder Operator
Average salary	$36,706	$31,669
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $45,000	Between $25,000 And $38,000
Highest paying City	-	Chicopee, MA
Highest paying state	-	Wyoming
Best paying company	-	Capco
Best paying industry	-	Automotive

Differences between metal welder and welder operator education

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

	Metal Welder	Welder Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 42%	High School Diploma, 50%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Metal welder vs welder operator demographics

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

	Metal Welder	Welder Operator
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 96.3% Female, 3.7%	Male, 85.6% Female, 14.4%
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, 10.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 2.8% White, 63.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between metal welder and welder operator 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 operator example responsibilities.

Manage aluminum structural/pipe fabrication turnaround: cross-country CGIT/IPB megawatt electrical power conductors.
Weld carbon steel pipes using GTAW and SMAW.
Weld with (GMAW) on aluminum.
Maintain certifications in SMAW, GMAW, and GTAW.
Perform TIG and MIG welding processes on fabrications according to the blueprints specifications.
Weld heavy industrial clamps together using the MIG and TIG process on AR400 grade steel.

Metal welder vs welder operator skills

Common metal welder skills

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

Common welder operator skills

MIG, 12%
Arc Welding, 9%
Hand Tools, 8%
Safety Equipment, 7%
Tig Welding, 6%
GMAW, 5%