Spot welder vs welder operator

The differences between spot 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 spot welder and a welder operator. Additionally, a spot welder has an average salary of $32,277, which is higher than the $31,669 average annual salary of a welder operator.

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

Spot welder vs welder operator overview

	Spot Welder	Welder Operator
Yearly salary	$32,277	$31,669
Hourly rate	$15.52	$15.23
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	8,126	51,229
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 53%	High School Diploma, 50%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Spot welder vs welder operator salary

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

	Spot Welder	Welder Operator
Average salary	$32,277	$31,669
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $39,000	Between $25,000 And $38,000
Highest paying City	Fridley, MN	Chicopee, MA
Highest paying state	Wyoming	Wyoming
Best paying company	General Electric	Capco
Best paying industry	Automotive	Automotive

Differences between spot welder and welder operator education

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

	Spot Welder	Welder Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 53%	High School Diploma, 50%
Most common major	Business	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Spot welder vs welder operator demographics

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

	Spot Welder	Welder Operator
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 69.2% Female, 30.8%	Male, 85.6% Female, 14.4%
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, 10.6% 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 spot welder and welder operator 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 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.

Spot welder vs welder operator skills

Common spot welder skills

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

Common welder operator skills

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