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The differences between welder fitters 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 welder fitter and a mig welder. Additionally, a welder fitter has an average salary of $39,676, which is higher than the $35,476 average annual salary of a mig welder.
The top three skills for a welder fitter include MIG, hand tools and arc welding. The most important skills for a mig welder are tape measure, arc welding, and jigs.
| Welder Fitter | MIG Welder | |
| Yearly salary | $39,676 | $35,476 |
| Hourly rate | $19.07 | $17.06 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 8,022 | 7,051 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 43% | High School Diploma, 47% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Welder Fitter specializes in manipulating steel, aluminum, and other materials into various industries' structural forms. The majority of a welder's responsibilities are mostly manual work, which can have risks as they use torches or lasers for their daily tasks, and there are also instances when they have to climb high structures. Furthermore, a Welder Fitter must have keen attention to detail and communication skills as they must coordinate with fellow workers most of the time.
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.
Welder fitters and mig welders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Welder Fitter | MIG Welder | |
| Average salary | $39,676 | $35,476 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $55,000 | Between $28,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Vancouver, WA | Salt Lake City, UT |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Jefferson Lab | Invacare |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a welder fitter and a mig welder in terms of educational background:
| Welder Fitter | MIG Welder | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 43% | High School Diploma, 47% |
| Most common major | Precision Metal Working | Precision Metal Working |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between welder fitters' and mig welders' demographics:
| Welder Fitter | MIG Welder | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.1% Female, 4.9% | Male, 91.9% Female, 8.1% |
| 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, 10.8% 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% |