Welder
Engineering trade joining metal components by manual and machine welding. Strong demand across construction, mining, transport and manufacturing.
What a welder actually does
Welders work in workshops, on construction sites and on remote resources jobs. Workshop days run 7am to 4pm and revolve around the fab table: marking out, tacking, then welding components together to drawing. Process choice depends on the work - MIG for structural steel, MMAW (stick) for site work and heavy plate, FCAW for high-deposit-rate work, TIG for stainless and aluminium where appearance and integrity matter. Pressure-vessel and pipeline work pays a premium and requires qualified welds tested by radiography or ultrasonic. Site welders work outdoors in all weather, in tight spaces, at heights, and under time pressure for big-pour and shutdown windows. The work is hot, smoky and bright - welder's eye (arc burn) is real, fume extraction is essential, leathers and helmets are constant. Mining and oil-and-gas FIFO welders are among the highest-paid tradespeople in Australia. The body and lungs take damage over the years; many older welders move into inspection or supervisory roles.
Skills you'll use
- MIG, MMAW, FCAW and TIG welding to position
- Reading WPS (weld procedure specifications) and AS/NZS 1554
- Material identification (carbon, stainless, aluminium, alloy)
- Joint preparation and bevel grinding
- Cutting with oxy-fuel, plasma and air-arc gouging
- Reading fabrication drawings and weld symbols
- Visual inspection and minor defect repair
How to become one
- 1Finish Year 10 with maths and English
- 2Get a White Card (CPCWHS1001) for site work
- 3Sign a 4-year apprenticeship in fabrication or specialise after a Cert II in Welding
- 4Complete the MEM30322 Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade through TAFE
- 5Pass weld qualification tests under AS/NZS 1554, AS 1796 or pressure-vessel codes
- 6Add Welding Supervisor (AS 2214) certification and an inspection ticket (AS 3992) for senior roles
Where you can work
- General engineering and fabrication workshops
- Mining and resources sites on shutdown and maintenance
- Oil, gas and LNG construction projects
- Power stations and renewable-energy plants
- Heavy-vehicle and trailer manufacturers
- Defence shipbuilding and naval projects
- Self-employed mobile welding contractor
Career progression
Typical stages and pay bands. Figures are sourced from Job Outlook, the Fair Work Building Industry Award, or industry bodies; brackets are 25th-75th percentile.
- Apprentice4 yearsTypical roles: First-year apprentice welder, Fourth-year apprentice welderSalary band: $28,000 - $55,000 per year (source, sourced 2026-05-21)
- Tradesperson0-4 yearsTypical roles: Workshop welder, Site welder, Stainless and TIG specialistSalary band: $70,000 - $100,000 per year (source, sourced 2026-05-21)
- Coded or FIFO welder5-10 yearsTypical roles: Pressure-vessel welder, Pipeline welder, FIFO shutdown welderSalary band: $110,000 - $170,000 per year (source, sourced 2026-05-21)
- Supervisor or inspector8+ yearsTypical roles: Welding supervisor, Welding inspector, Workshop owner
Is this for you?
You might love this if
- You can hold steady hand and concentration on long welds
- You're comfortable with heat, sparks and fumes for 8-10 hours
- You don't mind shutdown rosters and FIFO work for top pay
- You can read drawings and visualise weld sequences
- You're patient with the multi-pass discipline of coded work
This might not suit you if
- You can't commit to 4 years of low apprentice pay
- You have lung, eye or skin conditions made worse by welding fumes and UV
- You can't tolerate confined spaces and overhead positions
- You don't want a remote-site or FIFO lifestyle
Entry requirements
- Year 10 or equivalent
- A signed apprenticeship training contract with a host employer.
State licensing
Not nationally licensed. Some states impose contractor licensing once work exceeds a value threshold.
| State | Licensing authority |
|---|---|
| NSW | Not licensed in this state |
| VIC | Not licensed in this state |
| QLD | Not licensed in this state |
| SA | Not licensed in this state |
| WA | Not licensed in this state |
| TAS | Not licensed in this state |
| NT | Not licensed in this state |
| ACT | Not licensed in this state |