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What does a mig welder do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
What does a mig welder do

The MIG welder is responsible for creating metal projects using inert gas welding techniques and electric arc processes. MIG welders carefully fuse metal components, avoiding contamination on the weld, as well as managing the metal bond defects. They analyze specifications, interpret blueprints, and operate various machine tools and equipment for accurate measuring and cutting. The MIG welder should strictly follow the safety procedures at all times during operations to avoid hazards in the workplace, including the proper storage and cleaning of welding tools and materials.

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Mig welder responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real mig welder resumes:

  • Manage and run production parts through the brake.
  • Read and interpret blue prints weld steel and aluminum using GMAW process
  • Develop extensive experience in a wide variety of welding styles and positions including MIG, and TIG.
  • Use necessary equipment such as torches, grinders, chop saws, and plasma cutters for assembly and repairs.
  • Assemble flatbed trailers; perform MIG, aluminum, and steel welding; participate in various production duties as assigned
  • Calibrate welding machines to GMAW (calibration).
  • Operate TIG welders and tools to finish products.
  • Water jet CNC repairing and calibrating machine to customer spec.
  • General experience with CNC operations along with a great amount of maintenance experience.
  • Work in inclement weather conditions while wearing appropriate PPE and following OSHA safety guidelines.
  • Remove rough spots from workpieces, using portable grinders, hand files, or scrapers.
  • Weld metal parts on a high speed production line utilizing MIG welding techniques and equipment according to specifications.
  • Assemble and tack weld steel frames and other component parts of machinery and equipment in preparation for final welding.
  • Operate vertical, horizontal milling machines, engine lathes, turret lathes, various saws, and tool grinders.
  • Ignite torches or start power supplies and strike arcs by touching electrodes to metals being weld, completing electrical circuits.

Mig welder skills and personality traits

We calculated that 11% of MIG Welders are proficient in Tape Measure, Arc Welding, and Jigs. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Manual dexterity, and Physical strength.

We break down the percentage of MIG Welders that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Tape Measure, 11%

    Perform fit up, weld, and assemble using fixtures, surface plates and hand tools, tape measure etc.

  • Arc Welding, 8%

    Jig for welding Forklift and pallet jack equipment used to move components to weld tables Shielded Metal Arc Welding.

  • Jigs, 8%

    Developed and built jigs used to expedite manufacturing process.

  • GMAW, 8%

    Assembled Copper and Aluminum parts by (GTAW, GMAW, and also brazing)

  • Torches, 7%

    Understand and use of Oxygen/acetylene torches, wire welders including MIG with flux-core wire using noble- gas shields.

  • Aluminum, 7%

    MiG-Welded both metal and aluminum frames/components for agricultural and turf sprayers.

Common skills that a mig welder uses to do their job include "tape measure," "arc welding," and "jigs." You can find details on the most important mig welder responsibilities below.

Detail oriented. One of the key soft skills for a mig welder to have is detail oriented. You can see how this relates to what mig welders do because "welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers perform precision work, often with straight edges." Additionally, a mig welder resume shows how mig welders use detail oriented: "detail-oriented with good communication and computer skills. "

Manual dexterity. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling mig welder duties is manual dexterity. The role rewards competence in this skill because "welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers must have a steady hand to hold a torch in place." According to a mig welder resume, here's how mig welders can utilize manual dexterity in their job responsibilities: "read and interpreted inspection manuals, blueprints, engineering drawings and specifications to determine inspection method and procedures and allowable tolerances. "

Physical strength. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of mig welders is physical strength. This skill is critical to many everyday mig welder duties, as "welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers must be able to lift heavy pieces of metal and move welding or cutting equipment." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "assembled and maintained physical structures, using hand tools and power tools handled all shipping and receiving. "

See the full list of mig welder skills

The three companies that hire the most mig welders are:

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Compare different mig welders

Mig welder vs. Fabricator

A fabricator specializes in manufacturing and assembling equipment or devices, ensuring every product's quality and efficiency. There are instances when a fabricator is required to make multiple gears, conduct verification processes on product schematics and specifications, perform quality control inspections, and test the product in different environments. Furthermore, a fabricator needs to coordinate with all workforce members to remain informed on any changes or updates in the production operations while adhering to the company's policies and safety standards.

We looked at the average mig welder salary and compared it with the wages of a fabricator. Generally speaking, fabricators are paid $554 lower than mig welders per year.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between mig welders and fabricators are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like tape measure, arc welding, and jigs.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, mig welder responsibilities require skills like "good communication," "safety equipment," "steel-toed boots," and "plasma arc." Meanwhile a typical fabricator has skills in areas such as "basic math," "calipers," "mig," and "fabrication shop." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Fabricators tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $42,665. In contrast, mig welders make the biggest average salary, $40,936, in the automotive industry.The education levels that fabricators earn slightly differ from mig welders. In particular, fabricators are 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a mig welder. Additionally, they're 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Mig welder vs. Metal fabricator

A metal fabricator manipulates metal for construction and manufacturing companies. They are required to cut, shape, position and align different metals. They must also understand assembly instructions, ensure required parts are available, and ensure parts meet quality control standards. They attend product development meetings, test products for functionality, troubleshoot and stress test products to determine possible shortcomings, make detailed reports outlining product malfunctions, verify product dimensions, and maintain the product schedule.

A career as a metal fabricator brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a mig welder. In fact, metal fabricators salary is $2,571 higher than the salary of mig welders per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both mig welders and metal fabricators have skills such as "tape measure," "arc welding," and "jigs. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that mig welder responsibilities requires skills like "gmaw," "good communication," "steel-toed boots," and "mild steel." But a metal fabricator might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "mig," "press brake," "grinders," and "cranes."

Metal fabricators may earn a higher salary than mig welders, but metal fabricators earn the most pay in the automotive industry with an average salary of $45,267. On the other hand, mig welders receive higher pay in the automotive industry, where they earn an average salary of $40,936.In general, metal fabricators achieve similar levels of education than mig welders. They're 0.8% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Mig welder vs. Ship fitter

Ship fitters are civilian or enlisted people who work on materials like high yield strength steel and high-tensile steel. These people fabricate, assemble, and build structural parts of ships. They are the ones who coordinate a fixed tank working on ships and submarines, as well as the sonar dome work. They serve as part of a team composing shipbuilders. It is their duty to lead and assist in welding copper, PVC, flange piping, and steel. They should also refurbish the older rigs with advanced technologies.

On average, ship fitters earn higher salaries than mig welders, with a $9,771 difference per year.Using the responsibilities included on mig welders and ship fitters resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "tape measure," "arc welding," and "jigs.rdquo;

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from mig welder resumes include skills like "good communication," "steel-toed boots," "mild steel," and "plasma arc," whereas a ship fitter is more likely to list skills in "tack-weld," "cranes," "basic math," and "shop machinery. "

Ship fitters earn the highest salary when working in the technology industry, where they receive an average salary of $54,661. Comparatively, mig welders have the highest earning potential in the automotive industry, with an average salary of $40,936.Most ship fitters achieve a similar degree level compared to mig welders. For example, they're 0.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Mig welder vs. Welder-machine operator

Welder-machine operators tend to earn a higher pay than mig welders by an average of $1,695 per year.While their salaries may vary, mig welders and welder-machine operators both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "tape measure," "arc welding," and "jigs. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between mig welders and welder-machine operators, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a mig welder might have more use for skills like "math," "good communication," "hand tools," and "steel-toed boots." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of welder-machine operators require skills like "tack," "machine operation," "spot welders," and "press brake. "

The technology industry tends to pay the highest salaries for welder-machine operators, with average annual pay of $54,740. Comparatively, the highest mig welder annual salary comes from the automotive industry.In general, welder-machine operators hold similar degree levels compared to mig welders. Welder-machine operators are 0.2% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of mig welder

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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