Structural welder vs welder first class

The differences between structural welders and welders first class 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 welder first class. Additionally, a welder first class has an average salary of $45,016, 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 welder first class are flux core, arc welding, and SMAW.

Structural welder vs welder first class overview

	Structural Welder	Welder First Class
Yearly salary	$42,868	$45,016
Hourly rate	$20.61	$21.64
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	9,651	38,450
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 46%	High School Diploma, 43%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Structural welder vs welder first class salary

Structural welders and welders first class have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Structural Welder	Welder First Class
Average salary	$42,868	$45,016
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $58,000	Between $33,000 And $60,000
Highest paying City	Philadelphia, PA	-
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	-
Best paying company	Turner Construction	-
Best paying industry	Construction	-

Differences between structural welder and welder first class education

There are a few differences between a structural welder and a welder first class in terms of educational background:

	Structural Welder	Welder First Class
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 46%	High School Diploma, 43%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Structural welder vs welder first class demographics

Here are the differences between structural welders' and welders first class' demographics:

	Structural Welder	Welder First Class
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 94.9% Female, 5.1%	Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3%
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, 10.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between structural welder and welder first class duties and responsibilities

Structural welder example responsibilities.

Manage and run production parts through the brake.
Fabricate and assemble small parts and components with the GMAW, SMAW, FCAW and aluminum weld process.
Bound structural as well as nonstructural parts by means of welding according to drawings using MIG and TIG welding of steel.
Weld, and fabricate pressure vessels using GMAW process.
Fix various stock trailers and other equipment that come in for repairs using FCAW, and GMAW.
Weld separately or in combination using aluminum, stainless steel, cast iron, and other alloys.

Welder first class example responsibilities.

Manage and run production parts through the brake.
Programme and operate automatic GTAW, and GMAW machines.
Fuse metals together using GMAW and FCAW processes within code guidelines.
Apply repairs to various types of vessels, utilizing FCAW, and SMAW processes.
Operate brazing and soldering equipment.
Train in tig and stick pipe welding.

Structural welder vs welder first class skills

Common structural welder skills

SMAW, 9%
FCAW, 8%
MIG, 8%
Arc Welding, 8%
GMAW, 6%
Hand Tools, 5%

Common welder first class skills

Flux Core, 9%
Arc Welding, 8%
SMAW, 6%
FCAW, 5%
GMAW, 5%
Stainless Steel, 5%