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The differences between structural welders and mig 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 mig welder. Additionally, a structural welder has an average salary of $42,868, which is higher than the $35,476 average annual salary of a mig welder.
The top three skills for a structural welder include SMAW, FCAW and MIG. The most important skills for a mig welder are tape measure, arc welding, and jigs.
| Structural Welder | MIG Welder | |
| Yearly salary | $42,868 | $35,476 |
| Hourly rate | $20.61 | $17.06 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 9,651 | 7,051 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 46% | High School Diploma, 47% |
| 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.
The MIG welder is responsible for creating metal projects using inert gas welding techniques and electric arc processes. MIG welders carefully fuse metal components, avoiding contamination on the weld, as well as managing the metal bond defects. They analyze specifications, interpret blueprints, and operate various machine tools and equipment for accurate measuring and cutting. The MIG welder should strictly follow the safety procedures at all times during operations to avoid hazards in the workplace, including the proper storage and cleaning of welding tools and materials.
Structural welders and mig welders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Structural Welder | MIG Welder | |
| Average salary | $42,868 | $35,476 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $58,000 | Between $28,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Philadelphia, PA | Salt Lake City, UT |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Turner Construction | Invacare |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a structural welder and a mig welder in terms of educational background:
| Structural Welder | MIG Welder | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 46% | High School Diploma, 47% |
| Most common major | Precision Metal Working | Precision Metal Working |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between structural welders' and mig welders' demographics:
| Structural Welder | MIG Welder | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.9% Female, 5.1% | Male, 91.9% Female, 8.1% |
| 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, 10.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 3.0% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |