Second class welder vs welder first class

The differences between second class welders and welders first class 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 first class. Additionally, a second class welder has an average salary of $45,861, which is higher than the $45,016 average annual salary of a welder first class.

The top three skills for a second class welder include tig welding, MIG and TIG. The most important skills for a welder first class are flux core, arc welding, and SMAW.

Second class welder vs welder first class overview

	Second Class Welder	Welder First Class
Yearly salary	$45,861	$45,016
Hourly rate	$22.05	$21.64
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	35,166	38,450
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 31%	High School Diploma, 43%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Second class welder vs welder first class salary

Second class welders and welders first class have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Second Class Welder	Welder First Class
Average salary	$45,861	$45,016
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $62,000	Between $33,000 And $60,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between second class welder and welder first class education

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

	Second Class Welder	Welder First Class
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 31%	High School Diploma, 43%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Second class welder vs welder first class demographics

Here are the differences between second class welders' and welders first class' demographics:

	Second Class Welder	Welder First Class
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 80.9% Female, 19.1%	Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3%
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, 10.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between second class welder and welder first class 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 first class example responsibilities.

Manage and run production parts through the brake.
Programme and operate automatic GTAW, and GMAW machines.
Fuse metals together using GMAW and FCAW processes within code guidelines.
Apply repairs to various types of vessels, utilizing FCAW, and SMAW processes.
Operate brazing and soldering equipment.
Train in tig and stick pipe welding.

Second class welder vs welder first class skills

Common second class welder skills

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

Common welder first class skills

Flux Core, 9%
Arc Welding, 8%
SMAW, 6%
FCAW, 5%
GMAW, 5%
Stainless Steel, 5%

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Second Class Welder
Second Class Welder vs Welder First Class

Updated January 8, 2025

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