How to become a Welder

Official Chinese title (2022 occupational classification): 焊工

Also called: Arc Welder, Gas Welder, Brazer, Welding Equipment Operator, (Pressure) Equipment Welder

Joins metal workpieces using welding machines or welding equipment.

Main tasks

• Setting welding parameters
• Positioning and fixing components
• Installing and commissioning welding equipment and tooling
• Checking component fit up, preparing components and drying consumables
• Arc welding, gas welding or hardfacing with welding guns, torches or electrode holders
• Operating mechanised and automated welding equipment
• Cleaning welds and checking their appearance
• Maintaining equipment

Ways in

• Vocational majors: Higher vocational college (高职专科) major: Aerospace Materials Precision Forming Technology (460610). Vocational major 460610 Aerospace Materials Precision Forming Technology (航空材料精密成型技术), 3 years. The Ministry of Education's 2022 major profiles list this occupation among those the major prepares students for (职业面向). Example certificates: Additive Manufacturing Model Design; Additive Manufacturing Equipment Operation and Maintenance; Mechanical Engineering Drawing.; Higher vocational college (高职专科) major: Intelligent Ship Welding Technology (460504). Vocational major 460504 Intelligent Ship Welding Technology (船舶智能焊接技术), 3 years. The Ministry of Education's 2022 major profiles list this occupation among those the major prepares students for (职业面向). Example certificates: Special Operations Personnel; Special Equipment Inspection; Testing Personnel Qualification; Special Welding Technology.; Higher vocational college (高职专科) major: Materials Forming and Control Technology (460107). Vocational major 460107 Materials Forming and Control Technology (材料成型及控制技术), 3 years. The Ministry of Education's 2022 major profiles list this occupation among those the major prepares students for (职业面向). Example certificates: Mechanical Product 3D Model Design; Additive Manufacturing Model Design; Additive Manufacturing Equipment Operation and Maintenance.; Higher vocational college (高职专科) major: Modern Casting Technology (460108). Vocational major 460108 Modern Casting Technology (现代铸造技术), 3 years. The Ministry of Education's 2022 major profiles list this occupation among those the major prepares students for (职业面向). Example certificates: Mechanical Product 3D Model Design; Additive Manufacturing Model Design; Additive Manufacturing Equipment Operation and Maintenance.; Higher vocational college (高职专科) major: Modern Forging and Pressing Technology (460109). Vocational major 460109 Modern Forging and Pressing Technology (现代锻压技术), 3 years. The Ministry of Education's 2022 major profiles list this occupation among those the major prepares students for (职业面向). Example certificates: Mechanical Engineering Drawing.; Secondary vocational school (中职) major: Metal Hot Working (660104). Vocational major 660104 Metal Hot Working (金属热加工), 3 years. The Ministry of Education's 2022 major profiles list this occupation among those the major prepares students for (职业面向). Example certificates: Additive Manufacturing Equipment Operation and Maintenance.; Secondary vocational school (中职) major: Metal Surface Treatment Technology Applications (660106). Vocational major 660106 Metal Surface Treatment Technology Applications (金属表面处理技术应用), 3 years. The Ministry of Education's 2022 major profiles list this occupation among those the major prepares students for (职业面向).; Secondary vocational school (中职) major: Welding Technology Applications (660105). Vocational major 660105 Welding Technology Applications (焊接技术应用), 3 years. The Ministry of Education's 2022 major profiles list this occupation among those the major prepares students for (职业面向). Example certificates: Welder; Special Welding Technology; Rail Transit Equipment Welding; Rail Transit Equipment Nondestructive Testing.
• National qualification: Licence to practise: Special Operations Personnel. You need this qualification to work in the job. Listed in the national vocational qualifications catalogue (国家职业资格目录, 2021) as Special Operations Personnel (特种作业人员), run by Emergency Management Authorities; Mine Safety Supervision Authorities. Peernovo links it to this occupation.
• National qualification: Licence to practise: Welder (civil nuclear safety equipment welder, welding operator). You need this qualification to work in the job. Listed in the national vocational qualifications catalogue (国家职业资格目录, 2021) as Welder (civil nuclear safety equipment welder, welding operator) (焊工（民用核安全设备焊工、焊接操作工）), run by Ministry of Ecology and Environment; State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence. Peernovo links it to this occupation.

Pay · AI and this job

• Median pay in China: CN¥71,800 a year (2025).
• Middle half: CN¥54,000 to CN¥94,200. One in ten earn less than CN¥42,800 and one in ten more than CN¥119,400.
• This is the figure for the mid group Basic Machining Workers, not for this job alone.
• National figure: wage prices of enterprise employees from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) enterprise pay survey. The public sector and the self-employed are not covered.
• Guangzhou only: median CN¥81,120 a year (2025), middle half CN¥62,400 to CN¥108,979.
• Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Who does this work

• The census group Basic Machining Workers holds 1.23% of everyone employed in China; 16.1% of its workers are women (2020 Census).
• 35.6% are under 35, 56.1% are 35 to 54 and 8.3% are 55 or older. The middle age band is 40 to 44.
• Census figures for the whole mid group (2020 long-form sample), not for this job alone.

Related jobs

• Foundry Worker
• Forger
• Heat Treater
• Metal Cutting Operator
• Powder Metallurgy Products Maker

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Welder?

Ways in include: Higher vocational college (高职专科) major: Aerospace Materials Precision Forming Technology (460610); Higher vocational college (高职专科) major: Intelligent Ship Welding Technology (460504).

How much does a Welder earn in China?

Across China, the median pay of enterprise employees is CN¥71,800 a year (Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS), 2025). The public sector and the self-employed are not covered. It is the figure for the mid group Basic Machining Workers. In Guangzhou alone it is CN¥81,120 a year (2025).

Will AI change the work of a Welder?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

• Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS): 2025 enterprise pay survey information: wage prices of enterprise employees by occupation mid group, and digital occupations (P10 to P90 annual CNY) (2025 (published 2026-07-08)), retrieved 5 October 2026
• Guangzhou Human Resources and Social Security Bureau: Guangzhou 2025 labour market wage prices (P10 to P90 annual CNY by occupation) (2025 (enterprise pay survey)), retrieved 4 October 2026
• National Bureau of Statistics of China: China Population Census Yearbook 2020, long-form tables 4-6 and 4-7 (employed by occupation mid group, sex, age) (2020 Census long form (10% sample)), retrieved 4 October 2026
• International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Sources: Occupational Classification of the People's Republic of China (2022 edition, public consultation draft), Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, State Administration for Market Regulation and National Bureau of Statistics; Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, 2025 enterprise pay survey information; Guangzhou Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, 2025 labour market wage prices; National Bureau of Statistics of China (www.stats.gov.cn), 2020 Population Census yearbook; Ministry of Education, vocational education major profiles (2022 revision) and undergraduate major catalogue (2025); Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, national vocational qualifications catalogue (2021); O*NET interest scores (CC BY 4.0); ILO global generative AI exposure index (CC BY 4.0). Figures processed by Peernovo. English text, translations and the matching of occupations to ISCO-08, majors, degree fields and qualifications by Peernovo.

Descriptions and tasks are Peernovo's own words, written from the facts in the Occupational Classification of the People's Republic of China (2022 edition). Job titles and work types are the classification's own.

Updated 5 October 2026