Welder helper vs welder operator

The differences between welder helpers and welder operators 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 operator. Additionally, a welder operator has an average salary of $31,669, 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 operator are MIG, arc welding, and hand tools.

Welder helper vs welder operator overview

	Welder Helper	Welder Operator
Yearly salary	$29,684	$31,669
Hourly rate	$14.27	$15.23
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	21,605	51,229
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 60%	High School Diploma, 50%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

Welder helper vs welder operator salary

Welder helpers and welder operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Welder Helper	Welder Operator
Average salary	$29,684	$31,669
Salary range	Between $22,000 And $38,000	Between $25,000 And $38,000
Highest paying City	Bakersfield, CA	Chicopee, MA
Highest paying state	Wyoming	Wyoming
Best paying company	Kiewit	Capco
Best paying industry	Construction	Automotive

Differences between welder helper and welder operator education

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

	Welder Helper	Welder Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 60%	High School Diploma, 50%
Most common major	Precision Metal Working	Precision Metal Working
Most common college	-	-

Welder helper vs welder operator demographics

Here are the differences between welder helpers' and welder operators' demographics:

	Welder Helper	Welder Operator
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 92.1% Female, 7.9%	Male, 85.6% Female, 14.4%
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, 10.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 2.8% White, 63.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between welder helper and welder operator 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 operator example responsibilities.

Manage aluminum structural/pipe fabrication turnaround: cross-country CGIT/IPB megawatt electrical power conductors.
Weld carbon steel pipes using GTAW and SMAW.
Weld with (GMAW) on aluminum.
Maintain certifications in SMAW, GMAW, and GTAW.
Perform TIG and MIG welding processes on fabrications according to the blueprints specifications.
Weld heavy industrial clamps together using the MIG and TIG process on AR400 grade steel.

Welder helper vs welder operator skills

Common welder helper skills

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

Common welder operator skills

MIG, 12%
Arc Welding, 9%
Hand Tools, 8%
Safety Equipment, 7%
Tig Welding, 6%
GMAW, 5%