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The differences between welder helpers 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 helper and a mig welder. Additionally, a mig welder has an average salary of $35,476, which is higher than the $29,684 average annual salary of a welder helper.
The top three skills for a welder helper include grind welds, MIG and grinders. The most important skills for a mig welder are tape measure, arc welding, and jigs.
| Welder Helper | MIG Welder | |
| Yearly salary | $29,684 | $35,476 |
| Hourly rate | $14.27 | $17.06 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 21,605 | 7,051 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 60% | High School Diploma, 47% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A welder helper's role is to perform support tasks for lead welders at a construction site or similar setting. Their responsibilities primarily revolve around setting up and preparing rigs, operating devices and tools, maintaining the workspace's cleanliness, and following orders from lead welders. There may also be instances where a welder helper must pre-heat materials, lift heavy objects, participate in loading and unloading packages, and ensure that the welders are equipped with the necessary tools. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with managers and adhere to the site's safety regulations and policies.
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 helpers and mig welders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Welder Helper | MIG Welder | |
| Average salary | $29,684 | $35,476 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $38,000 | Between $28,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bakersfield, CA | Salt Lake City, UT |
| Highest paying state | Wyoming | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Kiewit | Invacare |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a welder helper and a mig welder in terms of educational background:
| Welder Helper | MIG Welder | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 60% | High School Diploma, 47% |
| Most common major | Precision Metal Working | Precision Metal Working |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between welder helpers' and mig welders' demographics:
| Welder Helper | MIG Welder | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.1% Female, 7.9% | Male, 91.9% Female, 8.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 26.0% Asian, 2.5% White, 57.1% 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% |