Pipe welder vs welder operator

The differences between pipe 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 pipe welder and a welder operator. Additionally, a pipe welder has an average salary of $46,364, which is higher than the $31,669 average annual salary of a welder operator.

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

Pipe welder vs welder operator overview

	Pipe Welder	Welder Operator
Yearly salary	$46,364	$31,669
Hourly rate	$22.29	$15.23
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	7,738	51,229
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 42%	High School Diploma, 50%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Pipe welder vs welder operator salary

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

	Pipe Welder	Welder Operator
Average salary	$46,364	$31,669
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $63,000	Between $25,000 And $38,000
Highest paying City	North Kingstown, RI	Chicopee, MA
Highest paying state	Alaska	Wyoming
Best paying company	Forum Energy Technologies	Capco
Best paying industry	Construction	Automotive

Differences between pipe welder and welder operator education

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

	Pipe 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	-	-

Pipe welder vs welder operator demographics

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

	Pipe Welder	Welder Operator
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 96.0% Female, 4.0%	Male, 85.6% Female, 14.4%
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, 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 pipe welder and welder operator duties and responsibilities

Pipe welder example responsibilities.

Silver solder, TIG, SMAW, GMAW, FCAW weld mild steel stainless steel aluminum and copper nickel respectively.
Weld carbon and stainless steel pipe in position and roll out machines utilizing GTAW, GMAW, FCAW and SMAW processes.
Skil in all types of welding, including MIG, TIG, stick, aluminum and stainless steel.
Work with TIG and MIG welding systems, as well as forklifts and overhead cranes up to 30 tons.
Work safely under OSHA safety and PPE standards.
Used aluminum GMAW for structural supports and some larger fabrications.

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.

Pipe welder vs welder operator skills

Common pipe welder skills

Carbon Steel, 16%
MIG, 10%
Hand Tools, 8%
TIG, 6%
SMAW, 6%
GTAW, 6%

Common welder operator skills

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