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The differences between pipe fitters and welders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a pipe fitter has an average salary of $51,055, which is higher than the $39,696 average annual salary of a welder.
The top three skills for a pipe fitter include carbon steel, hand tools and safety procedures. The most important skills for a welder are arc welding, aluminum, and hand tools.
A pipefitter specializes in pipe systems. They are mostly responsible for cutting, assembling, installing, and maintaining the pipes' condition within homes or establishments. There are also instances when a pipe fitter has to visit sites, investigate problems, and conduct tests and repairs when necessary. Most pipefitters work in a group setting and are required to communicate and coordinate with co-workers, all while adhering to a company's standards and safety policies.
Welders are skilled workers who primarily work on metals and other metalworks. One of the most commonly known activities that welders do is fusing materials that are made of metal. They usually work on buildings, large pipes, and cars. They also fix holes or any other imperfection on metal materials. They do these by applying heat using welding torches or any other special tools that they have. Welders are also responsible for studying blueprints related to the items they will work on, ensuring that all needed materials are available, practicing occupational safety and health protocols, and maintaining the welding tools they use.
Pipe fitters and welders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pipe Fitter | Welder | |
| Average salary | $51,055 | $39,696 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $63,000 | Between $29,000 And $54,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Woburn, MA |
| Highest paying state | Minnesota | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Spangler Candy | California Resources |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a pipe fitter and a welder in terms of educational background:
| Pipe Fitter | Welder | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 51% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Most common major | Business | Precision Metal Working |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between pipe fitters' and welders' demographics:
| Pipe Fitter | Welder | |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.2% Female, 3.8% | Male, 93.9% Female, 6.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 1.9% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | 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 | 2% | 3% |