Machinist vs Welder
Measured from each occupation's own live postings: largely the same skill set under two titles. Posted pay is close to a wash.
The short answer
On pay, this one is close to even. Postings that state a salary put machinists at $42k–$63k and welders at $44k–$59k, so the midpoints sit within $1k of each other. The difference between the two jobs is in the work and the skills, not the paycheck.
On skills, they are close to the same job under two titles. Postings ask for largely the same things, and the difference is mostly emphasis. The readiness numbers further down say how far a typical profile on each side already reaches into the other, and which direction is the easier move.
Machinist
Welder
welder jobs · welder salary · welder career guide · careers for welders
The overlap, measured
Switching, both directions
The direction matters: machinist → welder reads 79% ready, the reverse only 57%. Skill overlap is not symmetric.
Machinist → Welder
Code certifications (AWS) required for structural work
Transition estimate: 6–12 mo.
What welder postings ask for that machinist profiles usually lack: Maintenance.
Welder → Machinist
Transition estimate: 12–24 mo.
What machinist postings ask for that welder profiles usually lack: Brewing, Mastercam / CAM, SAP.
Open machinist roles
POLYMECHANIKER (m/w/d) 80-100% at DT Swiss AGBiel/Bienne, Bern, Switzerland1d agoApply
Polymechaniker Fachrichtung CNC-Fräsen 100% (m/w/d) at All in One Personal AGSt. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland2d agoApply
POLYMECHANIKER/IN MIT SPEZIALISIERUNG MONTAGE · 100 % at Strausak Mikroverzahnungen AGGrenchen, Solothurn, Switzerland2d agoApply
Polymechaniker im Anlagenbau 100% (m/w/d) at Tuboly-Astronic AGDottikon, Aargau, Switzerland2d agoApply
Open welder roles
- Pipe Welder at FivesSeymour, IN1d agoApply
- Pipe Fabricator at AcceleraAshland, VA2d agoApply
Pipe Welder at Chart IndustriesNew Iberia, LA2d agoApply
Pipe Welder - Tampa, FL at U.S. VentureTampa, FL2d agoApply
See the whole board for both
1,984 open roles across the two.
Related comparisons
- Manufacturing Technician vs Welder30% peak overlap
- Electronics Technician vs Welder30% peak overlap
- Automotive Technician vs Welder24% peak overlap
- Electrician vs Welderpay compared
Which one do your skills favor?
Run the instrument with your own skills and both numbers recompute for you. Free.
Quick answers
Which pays more, machinist or welder?
On pay, this one is close to even. Postings that state a salary put machinists at $42k–$63k and welders at $44k–$59k, so the midpoints sit within $1k of each other. The difference between the two jobs is in the work and the skills, not the paycheck. By seniority and country: machinist salary and welder salary.
Are machinist and welder the same job?
On skills, they are close to the same job under two titles. Postings ask for largely the same things, and the difference is mostly emphasis. The skills both sets of postings want most are Welding / Fabrication, Drafting, Blueprint Reading, Lean / Six Sigma.
Can a machinist become a welder?
Yes, and the numbers say how far along you already are: a typical machinist profile covers 79% of what welder postings ask for. One thing to settle first: code certifications (aws) required for structural work. Skill overlap does not shorten a credential. Our estimate for the move is 6–12 mo. The route page lists the exact skills that make up the rest.
Can a welder become a machinist?
Going the other way, a typical welder profile covers 57% of what machinist postings ask for. Our estimate for the move is 12–24 mo. The two directions are not symmetric: machinist to welder is the easier move, 79% against 57%. The route page has the gap itemized.
How many machinist and welder jobs are open right now?
Right now our board has 1,039 machinist openings and 945 welder openings, each linking to the original posting. The board refreshes every night, so the counts move with the market. Hiring the most machinists at the moment: fachkraft.ch GmbH (176), Direct employer (108), Stellentreff AG (50). For welders: Direct employer (78), Das Team Ag (29), Jobup (17).
Pay is the posted middle half; readiness is how much of the other role’s skill demand a typical profile covers. Refreshed nightly.