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Metal welding and fusion cutting workers

How to become a Welder

Also called: Metal welding equipment operator, Metal cutting equipment operator, Welding robot operator

Joins metal materials together using heat (welding).

Main tasks

Workers in this job say high school is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualification is required to start. Many people join after finishing a technical high school or similar. Some learn the skills at a public vocational training school before joining. There is also mid-career recruitment from other jobs. Most new school leavers find jobs through their school or Hello Work (public employment service). Mid-career hiring is done through Hello Work, newspapers and job advertisements. To do arc welding or gas welding, you must complete the training required by law (arc welding worker and gas welding worker). There is also the gas welding work chief qualification, which you can take after at least 3 years of experience. There are also welder and welding instructor qualifications certified by industry bodies. To be responsible for design or quality control for factory certification or government construction contracts, you need to be a certified welding engineer. The work generally involves making heavy items, with bending and standing, so physical strength is needed. The patience to keep working calmly is also important. Skilful arm movements and good eyesight are needed, especially for rod handling.

Ways in

Pay · Job openings · AI and this job

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Welder?

No particular education or qualification is required to start. Many people join after finishing a technical high school or similar. Some learn the skills at a public vocational training school before joining. There is also mid-career recruitment from other jobs. Most new school leavers find jobs through their school or Hello Work (public employment service). Mid-career hiring is done through Hello Work, newspapers and job advertisements. To do arc welding or gas welding, you must complete the training required by law (arc welding worker and gas welding worker). There is also the gas welding work chief qualification, which you can take after at least 3 years of experience. There are also welder and welding instructor qualifications certified by industry bodies. To be responsible for design or quality control for factory certification or government construction contracts, you need to be a certified welding engineer. The work generally involves making heavy items, with bending and standing, so physical strength is needed. The patience to keep working calmly is also important. Skilful arm movements and good eyesight are needed, especially for rod handling.

How much does a Welder earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥4,547,200 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare).

Do you need a degree to become a Welder?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 5% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of a Welder?

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

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026