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The differences between pipe welders and fabricators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a pipe welder has an average salary of $46,364, which is higher than the $34,922 average annual salary of a fabricator.
The top three skills for a pipe welder include carbon steel, MIG and hand tools. The most important skills for a fabricator are hand tools, basic math, and calipers.
| Pipe Welder | Fabricator | |
| Yearly salary | $46,364 | $34,922 |
| Hourly rate | $22.29 | $16.79 |
| Growth rate | 2% | -1% |
| Number of jobs | 7,738 | 7,772 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
According to schematics and analyzing specifications, a pipe welder is responsible for maintaining and repairing pipe systems and components. Pipe welders inspect the quality of the materials, assemble tools for welding preparations, ensure the safety of the welding method and structural units, and strictly adhere to safety operations procedures. They also examine finished welds to identify any defects and perform adjustments as needed. A pipe welder must have a broad knowledge of the mechanical industry to operate machinery and construct a safe piping system.
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.
Pipe welders and fabricators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pipe Welder | Fabricator | |
| Average salary | $46,364 | $34,922 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $63,000 | Between $27,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | North Kingstown, RI | Las Vegas, NV |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Forum Energy Technologies | Danaher |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Finance |
There are a few differences between a pipe welder and a fabricator in terms of educational background:
| Pipe Welder | Fabricator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Most common major | Precision Metal Working | Precision Metal Working |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between pipe welders' and fabricators' demographics:
| Pipe Welder | Fabricator | |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.0% Female, 4.0% | Male, 89.8% Female, 10.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 2.7% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 8.1% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 5% |