Welder
Welders cut, join and shape metals, alloys and other materials in the manufacturing, construction and engineering industries.
Also known as: Pipe welder, MIG welder, TIG welder, arc welder, boilermaker
- Starter salary£25,000 a year
- Experienced£45,000 a year
- Typical hours40 to 46 a week
- Green jobPotential
What you'll do
As a welder you could:
- follow drawings and instructions
- prepare materials to be joined and select the right welding procedure
- calibrate tools and operate welding equipment
- inspect and test the quality of joins using precision measuring instruments
- dismantle and cut up metalwork, for example during demolitions
Working environment
You could work in a workshop, on a construction site or on a demolition site.
Your working environment may be hot, cramped and at height.
You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of engineering science and technology
- the ability to work on your own
- the ability to work well with your hands
- design skills and knowledge
- knowledge of maths
- the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
- the ability to analyse quality or performance
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to become a welder
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
- specialist courses run by a private training provider
College
You could do a welding qualification at college before applying for a job as a trainee welder. Courses include:
- welding skills
- welding techniques and skills
- fabrication and welding engineering
- T Level in Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
Apprenticeship
You could apply to do a welding apprenticeship, such as:
- General Welder Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
- Pipe Welder Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
- Plate Welder Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
These take between 2 and 4 years to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
Direct application
You can apply directly for welding jobs.
You'll need welding experience and certifications, for example from working in:
- pipe fitting
- engineering construction
- marine engineering
- steel fabrication
Other routes
You could take a course in welding or inspection through The Welding Institute (TWI). You usually need to be working in engineering to do this.
Career path and progression
With experience you could:
- become a supervisor or metal fabrication workshop manager
- work in welding inspection, non-destructive testing or quality control
- train as a commercial diver and specialise in underwater welding, for example in oil, gas and marine engineering
- become a further education teacher or training assessor
- study materials science to become a welding engineer and work in welding design and standards development
Professional and industry bodies
You could join The Welding Institute (TWI) for professional development and training opportunities.
Registration
- you'll need an industry safety certificate like the Client Contractor National Safety Group (CCNSG) Safety Passport Scheme for many jobs
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleEngineering construction technician
- Job rolePipe fitter
- Job roleMarine engineering technician
- Job roleNon-destructive testing technician
- Job roleBlacksmith
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