How to become a welding trades
Official title: Welding trades
Also called: Welding engineer, Welding technician, Welding plant attendant, Gas burner, Gas cutter, Arc welder, Co2 welder, Mig welder, Lead burner, Pipe welder, Spot welder, Scrap burner
Welding trades workers join metal parts by welding, brazing and soldering, and cut and remove defects from metal using a variety of equipment and techniques.
Main tasks
- Selects appropriate welding equipment such as electric arc, gas torch, etc.
- Connects wires to power supply, or hoses to oxygen, acetylene, argon, carbon dioxide, electric arc, or other source and adjusts controls to regulate gas pressure and rate of flow
- Cuts metal pieces using gas torch or electric arc
- Guides electrode or torch along line of weld, burns away damaged areas, and melts brazing alloy or solder into joints
- Cleans and smooths weld
- Checks finished workpiece for defects and conformity with specification
How to become one
Entrants typically possess GCSEs/S grades. Training is typically by apprenticeship incorporating practical experience and technical training. NVQs/SVQs at levels 1, 2 and 3 and apprenticeships are available. Welders must normally pass a competency test in the particular type of welding to be carried out.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Pipe welder (level 3). England. Typically 48 months. Skills England standard ST0851.
- Apprenticeship (England): Plate welder (level 3). England. Typically 36 months. Skills England standard ST0852.
- Apprenticeship (England): Welder (level 2). England. Typically 18 months. Skills England standard ST0349.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £35,344 a year The middle half earn £29,783 to £44,176.
- About 52,400 people work in this job now, and about 49,500 are projected by 2035. (-5.6%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a welding trades?
Entrants typically possess GCSEs/S grades. Training is typically by apprenticeship incorporating practical experience and technical training. NVQs/SVQs at levels 1, 2 and 3 and apprenticeships are available. Welders must normally pass a competency test in the particular type of welding to be carried out.
How much does a welding trades earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £35,344 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £29,783 to £44,176.
Is a welding trades a growing career in the UK?
Employment is projected to fall 6% by 2035, from about 52,400 to about 49,500 people (Department for Education).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03