Welder helper vs welder first class

The differences between welder helpers and welders first class 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 welder first class. Additionally, a welder first class has an average salary of $45,016, 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 welder first class are flux core, arc welding, and SMAW.

Welder helper vs welder first class overview

	Welder Helper	Welder First Class
Yearly salary	$29,684	$45,016
Hourly rate	$14.27	$21.64
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	21,605	38,450
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 60%	High School Diploma, 43%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Welder helper vs welder first class salary

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

	Welder Helper	Welder First Class
Average salary	$29,684	$45,016
Salary range	Between $22,000 And $38,000	Between $33,000 And $60,000
Highest paying City	Bakersfield, CA	-
Highest paying state	Wyoming	-
Best paying company	Kiewit	-
Best paying industry	Construction	-

Differences between welder helper and welder first class education

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

	Welder Helper	Welder First Class
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 60%	High School Diploma, 43%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Welder helper vs welder first class demographics

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

	Welder Helper	Welder First Class
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 92.1% Female, 7.9%	Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3%
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, 10.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between welder helper and welder first class 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.

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 helper vs welder first class skills

Common welder helper skills

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

Common welder first class skills

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