Welder
Cut, join and shape metal for everything from buildings and pipelines to wind turbines - a skilled, practical trade.
- Salary£25,000 – £45,000
- Hours40 to 46 hours a week, which may include evening and weekend shifts
- Working for yourselfSelf-employment is possible
What the job is like
Welders join, cut and shape metals and alloys for manufacturing, construction and engineering. Working from drawings, you'll prepare the material, choose the right welding process (MIG, TIG, arc and more), make the weld and then inspect it with precision measuring tools.
It suits people with steady hands, good concentration and pride in neat, strong work. You can train at college, through a Level 2 or Level 3 welding apprenticeship, or with a private provider, and many sites will also want a safety passport such as CCNSG.
What you'll do
- Read engineering drawings and instructions
- Prepare materials and choose the right welding procedure
- Set up, calibrate and operate welding equipment
- Inspect and test the quality of joins using precision measuring instruments
- Cut up and dismantle metalwork, for example during demolition
- Use fume extraction and protective equipment to keep yourself and others safe
Where you'll work
- Workshop or studio
- Construction sites
- Working at height
- In a team
- On your own
Skills and hobbies that help
Weighted by how much they matter in this job, from the official job profile's skills and tasks. Tap one to see other careers that use it.
Key skills
Used a lot
Handy to have
Hobbies that give you a head start
How to become a welder
Apprenticeship
Welder (Level 2, typically around 18 months), Pipe welder (Level 3, typically around 48 months) or Plate welder (Level 3, typically around 36 months). The National Careers Service says welding apprenticeships take 2 to 4 years.
College
Welding skills, welding techniques, or fabrication and welding engineering courses, or the T Level in Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control.
Direct application
Possible with welding experience and certificates, for example from pipe fitting, engineering construction, marine engineering or steel fabrication.
Other ways in
Specialist welding courses from private training providers, or welding and inspection courses through The Welding Institute (TWI), usually if you already work in engineering.
Qualifications, licences and cards
- An industry safety card such as the CCNSG Safety Passport is needed for many jobs (two-day course; card valid for three years)
- Welding certifications for the processes and positions you work in
- Optional membership of The Welding Institute (TWI)
Where it can lead
- Supervisor or fabrication workshop manager
- Welding inspection, non-destructive testing or quality control
- Underwater welding after commercial diver training
- Further education teacher or training assessor
- Welding engineer after studying materials science
Good to know
- Conditions can be hot, cramped and at height, with protective clothing and equipment.
- Welding wind turbine components is one way this can be a green job.
Courses and training
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Short course
Apprenticeship units – Skills for Careers (Department for Education)
Short courses of 30 to 140 hours for employed people aged 19 and over in England, arranged by your employer. Units include EV charging point and solar PV installation, electrical and mechanical fitting, and mechanised welding.
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Apprenticeship search
Find an apprenticeship – GOV.UK
The official GOV.UK service for searching and applying for apprenticeship vacancies in England.
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Course search
Find a course – National Careers Service
The National Careers Service search for college and training provider courses in England, including Skills Bootcamps.
Official information
Sources
We checked these pages in September 2026. Rules, pay and courses change, so always confirm with the official source.
- National Careers Service: Welder job profile nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/welder
- Skills England apprenticeship standard: Welder skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0349-v1-4
- Skills England apprenticeship standard: Pipe welder skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0851-v1-2
- Skills England apprenticeship standard: Plate welder skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0852-v1-1
- ECITB: CCNSG Safety Passport ecitb.org.uk/professional-development/ccnsg/