Welder first class vs welder

The differences between welders first class and 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 welder first class and a welder. Additionally, a welder first class has an average salary of $45,016, which is higher than the $39,696 average annual salary of a welder.

The top three skills for a welder first class include flux core, arc welding and SMAW. The most important skills for a welder are arc welding, aluminum, and hand tools.

Welder first class vs welder overview

	Welder First Class	Welder
Yearly salary	$45,016	$39,696
Hourly rate	$21.64	$19.08
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	38,450	9,463
Job satisfaction	-	4.25
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 43%	High School Diploma, 46%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Welder first class vs welder salary

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

	Welder First Class	Welder
Average salary	$45,016	$39,696
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $60,000	Between $29,000 And $54,000
Highest paying City	-	Woburn, MA
Highest paying state	-	Massachusetts
Best paying company	-	California Resources
Best paying industry	-	Automotive

Differences between welder first class and welder education

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

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

Welder first class vs welder demographics

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

	Welder First Class	Welder
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3%	Male, 93.9% Female, 6.1%
Race ratio	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%	Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 3.0% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between welder first class and welder duties and responsibilities

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.

Welder example responsibilities.

Manage and run production parts through the brake.
Weld with oxyacetylene, MIG, and brazing all kind of materials like bronze, platinum, aluminum, and flux.
Experience TIG, plasma cutting, brazing, torch cutting, shears press, bending and manipulating heated metal.
Fabricate and weld car carrier trailers using MIG welding method, used overhead cranes to lift weld pieces up.
Fabricate and weld the steel reinforcement and forms according to print on a vibratory bed using MIG and GMAW welding.
Experience welding pipe ranging from 2"up to 72"pressure vessels using the GMAW and FCAW welding process.

Welder first class vs welder skills

Common welder first class skills

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

Common welder skills

Arc Welding, 8%
Aluminum, 7%
Hand Tools, 7%
Tig Welding, 6%
Stainless Steel, 5%
GMAW, 5%