Spot welder vs welder apprentice

The differences between spot welders and welder apprentices can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a spot welder and a welder apprentice. Additionally, a welder apprentice has an average salary of $34,266, which is higher than the $32,277 average annual salary of a spot welder.

The top three skills for a spot welder include spot welding, spot welders and quality standards. The most important skills for a welder apprentice are MIG, hand tools, and arc welding.

Spot welder vs welder apprentice overview

	Spot Welder	Welder Apprentice
Yearly salary	$32,277	$34,266
Hourly rate	$15.52	$16.47
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	8,126	14,044
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 53%	High School Diploma, 53%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Spot welder vs welder apprentice salary

Spot welders and welder apprentices have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Spot Welder	Welder Apprentice
Average salary	$32,277	$34,266
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $39,000	Between $26,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City	Fridley, MN	-
Highest paying state	Wyoming	-
Best paying company	General Electric	-
Best paying industry	Automotive	-

Differences between spot welder and welder apprentice education

There are a few differences between a spot welder and a welder apprentice in terms of educational background:

	Spot Welder	Welder Apprentice
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 53%	High School Diploma, 53%
Most common major	Business	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Spot welder vs welder apprentice demographics

Here are the differences between spot welders' and welder apprentices' demographics:

	Spot Welder	Welder Apprentice
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 69.2% Female, 30.8%	Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 2.8% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%	Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 2.7% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between spot welder and welder apprentice duties and responsibilities

Spot welder example responsibilities.

Operate a laser CNC fabricator, press brake and occasionally TIG and MIG welding equipment.
Set up and operate CNC, mechanical, and hydraulic press brake.
Operate CNC punch and CNC shearer.
Spot welder, MIG welder, line assembly, metal repair and final line inspector.
Weld metal wires together in jigs to make magazine racks, cages and various products.
Used hoists, microscopes, calipers, ban see, and hand hold and bench grinders.

Welder apprentice example responsibilities.

Manage and run production parts through the brake.
Transition from GMAW to GTAW for use on tubular steel and aluminum welding projects.
Experience in utilizing skills in shortarc, Fluxcore, stick and minimal experience in Tig welding.
Operate metal brake, various welding machines, grinders, cutting torches, drills, and portable plasma cutter.
Acquire skill in handling different types of welders and cutting torches and the ability to process from blue prints.
Hook up and set welding SMAW machines.

Spot welder vs welder apprentice skills

Common spot welder skills

Spot Welding, 35%
Spot Welders, 6%
Quality Standards, 5%
Assembly Line, 5%
MIG, 5%
Safety Equipment, 4%

Common welder apprentice skills

MIG, 12%
Hand Tools, 9%
Arc Welding, 7%
Brazing, 4%
Tack, 4%
Safety Equipment, 4%