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The differences between ship fitters and combo welders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a ship fitter and a combo welder. Additionally, a combo welder has an average salary of $46,985, which is higher than the $45,247 average annual salary of a ship fitter.
The top three skills for a ship fitter include hand tools, tack-weld and tack welding. The most important skills for a combo welder are GMAW, FCAW, and arc welding.
| Ship Fitter | Combo Welder | |
| Yearly salary | $45,247 | $46,985 |
| Hourly rate | $21.75 | $22.59 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 9,742 | 8,266 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Ship fitters are civilian or enlisted people who work on materials like high yield strength steel and high-tensile steel. These people fabricate, assemble, and build structural parts of ships. They are the ones who coordinate a fixed tank working on ships and submarines, as well as the sonar dome work. They serve as part of a team composing shipbuilders. It is their duty to lead and assist in welding copper, PVC, flange piping, and steel. They should also refurbish the older rigs with advanced technologies.
A Combo Welder specializes in operating welding equipment to build and maintain structures or systems made of metal. It is also their responsibility to understand and adhere to schematics and guidelines, prepare materials, ensure measurements, and maintain an active communication line with co-workers for a smooth and safe workflow. The extent of their responsibilities depends on their company of employment or project needs. Some projects may also require them to climb up high places, so it is essential to adhere to safety standards and regulations.
Ship fitters and combo welders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Ship Fitter | Combo Welder | |
| Average salary | $45,247 | $46,985 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $64,000 | Between $34,000 And $64,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mount Laurel, NJ | Olympia, WA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | BWX Technologies | SpaceX |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Construction |
There are a few differences between a ship fitter and a combo welder in terms of educational background:
| Ship Fitter | Combo Welder | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Precision Metal Working |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between ship fitters' and combo welders' demographics:
| Ship Fitter | Combo Welder | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.7% Female, 12.3% | Male, 96.2% Female, 3.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 25.2% Asian, 2.5% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |