Welder helper vs spot welder

The differences between welder helpers and spot 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 spot welder. Additionally, a spot welder has an average salary of $32,277, 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 spot welder are spot welding, spot welders, and quality standards.

Welder helper vs spot welder overview

	Welder Helper	Spot Welder
Yearly salary	$29,684	$32,277
Hourly rate	$14.27	$15.52
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	21,605	8,126
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 60%	High School Diploma, 53%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Welder helper vs spot welder salary

Welder helpers and spot welders have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Welder Helper	Spot Welder
Average salary	$29,684	$32,277
Salary range	Between $22,000 And $38,000	Between $26,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City	Bakersfield, CA	Fridley, MN
Highest paying state	Wyoming	Wyoming
Best paying company	Kiewit	General Electric
Best paying industry	Construction	Automotive

Differences between welder helper and spot welder education

There are a few differences between a welder helper and a spot welder in terms of educational background:

	Welder Helper	Spot Welder
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 60%	High School Diploma, 53%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Business
Most common college	-	-

Welder helper vs spot welder demographics

Here are the differences between welder helpers' and spot welders' demographics:

	Welder Helper	Spot Welder
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 92.1% Female, 7.9%	Male, 69.2% Female, 30.8%
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, 10.4% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 2.8% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between welder helper and spot welder duties and responsibilities

Welder helper example responsibilities.

Manage and run production parts through the brake.
Weld structural material including carbon steel and stainless steel using SMAW, and MIG processes.
Perform welder duties using SMAW, PAC, GMAW, oxy-fuel cutting, and GTAW processes.
Work on vessels welding using SMAW and FCAW
Can also Tig weld and use the process FCAW
Perform welder helper duties using electric, oxyacetylene, MIG and TIG welding processes.

Spot welder example responsibilities.

Operate a laser CNC fabricator, press brake and occasionally TIG and MIG welding equipment.
Set up and operate CNC, mechanical, and hydraulic press brake.
Operate CNC punch and CNC shearer.
Spot welder, MIG welder, line assembly, metal repair and final line inspector.
Weld metal wires together in jigs to make magazine racks, cages and various products.
Used hoists, microscopes, calipers, ban see, and hand hold and bench grinders.

Welder helper vs spot welder skills

Common welder helper skills

Grind Welds, 10%
MIG, 9%
Grinders, 9%
Safety Equipment, 7%
Arc Welding, 7%
GMAW, 6%

Common spot welder skills

Spot Welding, 35%
Spot Welders, 6%
Quality Standards, 5%
Assembly Line, 5%
MIG, 5%
Safety Equipment, 4%