Second class welder vs welder-assembler

The differences between second class welders and welder-assemblers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a second class welder and a welder-assembler. Additionally, a second class welder has an average salary of $45,861, which is higher than the $33,580 average annual salary of a welder-assembler.

The top three skills for a second class welder include tig welding, MIG and TIG. The most important skills for a welder-assembler are MIG, blueprint specifications, and aluminum.

Second class welder vs welder-assembler overview

	Second Class Welder	Welder-Assembler
Yearly salary	$45,861	$33,580
Hourly rate	$22.05	$16.14
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	35,166	26,070
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 31%	High School Diploma, 48%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Second class welder vs welder-assembler salary

Second class welders and welder-assemblers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Second Class Welder	Welder-Assembler
Average salary	$45,861	$33,580
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $62,000	Between $26,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between second class welder and welder-assembler education

There are a few differences between a second class welder and a welder-assembler in terms of educational background:

	Second Class Welder	Welder-Assembler
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 31%	High School Diploma, 48%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Second class welder vs welder-assembler demographics

Here are the differences between second class welders' and welder-assemblers' demographics:

	Second Class Welder	Welder-Assembler
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 80.9% Female, 19.1%	Male, 86.9% Female, 13.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%	Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 2.7% White, 64.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between second class welder and welder-assembler duties and responsibilities

Second class welder example responsibilities.

Read blueprints and build sections of the JHSV and LCS from those blueprints.
Learned to weld using torches, gouging aluminum welding & steel welding.
Receive training in safety protection, such as use of respirators, confine spaces, condo and scissor lifts.
Maintain individual and subordinates combat readiness.
Repair and maintain equipment critical to combat operations and damage control.
Perform MIG and stick welds and erecting structural steel utilize for building skeletons including specific/ detail measurements for accuracy.

Welder-assembler example responsibilities.

Manage and run production parts through the brake.
Perform welding duties with GMAW, to weld shoot beads on mild steel.
Start on CNC machine operator, to head welding/assembly.
Operate welding machines, soldering machines and brazing machines.
Weld aircraft parts, inspect parts, assemble parts for furnace brazing.
Cut various pieces out of stock using band saws, torches, and plasma cutters.

Second class welder vs welder-assembler skills

Common second class welder skills

Tig Welding, 58%
MIG, 19%
TIG, 19%
Combat, 4%

Common welder-assembler skills

MIG, 17%
Blueprint Specifications, 7%
Aluminum, 7%
Stainless Steel, 6%
Safety Equipment, 5%
Tig Welding, 4%