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The differences between structural welders and welder-machine operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a structural welder, becoming a welder-machine operator takes usually requires 3-6 months. Additionally, a structural welder has an average salary of $42,868, which is higher than the $37,171 average annual salary of a welder-machine operator.
The top three skills for a structural welder include SMAW, FCAW and MIG. The most important skills for a welder-machine operator are arc welding, safety equipment, and stainless steel.
| Structural Welder | Welder-Machine Operator | |
| Yearly salary | $42,868 | $37,171 |
| Hourly rate | $20.61 | $17.87 |
| Growth rate | 2% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 9,651 | 68,316 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 46% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
Structural welders and welder-machine operators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Structural Welder | Welder-Machine Operator | |
| Average salary | $42,868 | $37,171 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $58,000 | Between $27,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | Philadelphia, PA | Fontana, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Turner Construction | BWX Technologies |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Technology |
There are a few differences between a structural welder and a welder-machine operator in terms of educational background:
| Structural Welder | Welder-Machine Operator | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 46% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Most common major | Precision Metal Working | Precision Metal Working |
| Most common college | - | Dunwoody College of Technology |
Here are the differences between structural welders' and welder-machine operators' demographics:
| Structural Welder | Welder-Machine Operator | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.9% Female, 5.1% | Male, 84.6% Female, 15.4% |
| 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, 11.0% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 3% | 3% |