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The differences between structural welders 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 structural welder and a combo welder. Additionally, a combo welder has an average salary of $46,985, which is higher than the $42,868 average annual salary of a structural welder.
The top three skills for a structural welder include SMAW, FCAW and MIG. The most important skills for a combo welder are GMAW, FCAW, and arc welding.
| Structural Welder | Combo Welder | |
| Yearly salary | $42,868 | $46,985 |
| Hourly rate | $20.61 | $22.59 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 9,651 | 8,266 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 46% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
The job of structural welders is to design, layout, and fabricate the metal framework for industrial and commercial buildings. They work for a wide variety of industries, including manufacturing, shipbuilding, and construction. Their duties and responsibilities include testing welding and safety equipment, cutting, assembling, repairing building components such as girders and beams, and checking for gap and angle allowances. They either use manual or automated equipment to perform some of these tasks, such as power saws for cutting metals. Structural welders are also responsible for assessing the condition of the equipment.
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.
Structural welders and combo welders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Structural Welder | Combo Welder | |
| Average salary | $42,868 | $46,985 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $58,000 | Between $34,000 And $64,000 |
| Highest paying City | Philadelphia, PA | Olympia, WA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Turner Construction | SpaceX |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Construction |
There are a few differences between a structural welder and a combo welder in terms of educational background:
| Structural Welder | Combo Welder | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 46% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Precision Metal Working | Precision Metal Working |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between structural welders' and combo welders' demographics:
| Structural Welder | Combo Welder | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.9% Female, 5.1% | Male, 96.2% Female, 3.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 22.1% Asian, 2.6% White, 59.6% 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% |