What does a steel welder do?
Steel welder responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real steel welder resumes:
- Manage and run production parts through the brake.
- Gas cutting, brazing, layout work, blueprint reading.
- Operate brake press, drill press, and punch press in order to efficiently bend steel & aluminum.
- Perform MIG and stick welds and erecting structural steel utilize for building skeletons including specific/ detail measurements for accuracy.
- Blue print reading for all WPS orders.
Steel welder skills and personality traits
We calculated that 15% of Steel Welders are proficient in MIG, Arc Welding, and Aluminum. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Manual dexterity, and Physical strength.
We break down the percentage of Steel Welders that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- MIG, 15%
Utilized Flux Core, MIG, Spray MIG and Short Arc welding processes.
- Arc Welding, 10%
Aided in the Construction of a Prototype Naval Craft via the use of Flux-cored Arc Welding.
- Aluminum, 9%
Formed Metal and Composite Panel Cladding Systems Layout and planning Combination Glass and Stone Curtain-wall Systems Aluminum and Full Glass Entrance Systems
- GMAW, 6%
Worked on the Genesis line using blueprints to fabricate aluminum trailer floors with cranes, saws, and Aluminum GMAW
- FCAW, 6%
Completed structural fabrications using FCAW method.
- Hand Tools, 6%
Operate equipment including an overhead crane, small and large hand tools and drive and operate a 13 ton boom truck.
Most steel welders use their skills in "mig," "arc welding," and "aluminum" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential steel welder responsibilities here:
Detail oriented. The most essential soft skill for a steel welder to carry out their responsibilities is detail oriented. This skill is important for the role because "welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers perform precision work, often with straight edges." Additionally, a steel welder resume shows how their duties depend on detail oriented: "welded and fabricated mild steel parts following detailed blue prints. "
Manual dexterity. Another essential skill to perform steel welder duties is manual dexterity. Steel welders responsibilities require that "welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers must have a steady hand to hold a torch in place." Steel welders also use manual dexterity in their role according to a real resume snippet: "beveled, fit, and welded stainless hydraulic lines; manual and automatic welding with gtaw. "
Physical strength. This is an important skill for steel welders to perform their duties. For an example of how steel welder responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers must be able to lift heavy pieces of metal and move welding or cutting equipment." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a steel welder: "worked with the safety coordinator to insure all welding was done according to osha standards and weld strength test were passed. ".
The three companies that hire the most steel welders are:
- Express Employment Indy South4 steel welders jobs
- Columbia Steel Casting Co., Inc.
3 steel welders jobs
- Aerotek1 steel welders jobs
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Compare different steel welders
Steel welder vs. Welder-machine operator
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.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, steel welder responsibilities require skills like "mig," "hand tools," "aws," and "grinders." Meanwhile a typical welder-machine operator has skills in areas such as "tack," "overhead cranes," "machine operation," and "plasma arc." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Welder-machine operators earn the highest salaries when working in the technology industry, with an average yearly salary of $54,740. On the other hand, steel welders are paid more in the automotive industry with an average salary of $41,290.welder-machine operators tend to reach similar levels of education than steel welders. In fact, welder-machine operators are 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Steel welder vs. Ship fitter
Each career also uses different skills, according to real steel welder resumes. While steel welder responsibilities can utilize skills like "aws," "grinders," "stainless steel pipe," and "air arc," ship fitters use skills like "tack-weld," "math," "tack welding," and "cranes."
On average, ship fitters earn a higher salary than steel welders. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, ship fitters earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $54,661. Whereas steel welders have higher pay in the automotive industry, with an average salary of $41,290.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Ship fitters tend to reach similar levels of education than steel welders. In fact, they're 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Steel welder vs. Welder first class
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from steel welder resumes include skills like "mig," "aluminum," "hand tools," and "grinders," whereas a welder first class is more likely to list skills in "flame cutting," "gtaw," "ppe," and "tack. "
When it comes to education, welders first class tend to earn similar degree levels compared to steel welders. In fact, they're 1.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Steel welder vs. Welder-assembler
Types of steel welder
Updated January 8, 2025
