Qualifications improve your chances; they do not gate the job. Level 2 is the most recognised.
Pay range: National Careers Service.
Live listings typically advertise £16.50 to £18.50 an hour. See the full Welder salary guide.
Your route in
You can start without qualifications - direct entry/volunteering; a qualification improves your chances
Qualifications employers recognise (Level 2)
Any of these strengthens your application.
- Level 2 Welding Skills Award (MIG, TIG or MMA) L239 courses
- Level 2 Certificate in Welding Skills L26 courses
- Level 2 Award in Welding Skills (Manual Metal Arc Welding) L26 courses
- Level 2 Award in TIG Welding L26 courses
- Level 2 Award in Welding Skills (MIG Welding) L26 courses
- Level 2 Certificate in Fabrication and Welding Techniques and Skills L25 courses
Where this can take you
With experience you could: become a supervisor or metal fabrication workshop manager, work in welding inspection, non-destructive testing or quality control, train as a commercial diver and specialise in underwater welding, for example in oil, gas and marine engineering, become a further education teacher or training assessor and study materials science to become a welding engineer and work in welding design and standards development.
Courses for this career
Level 2
- Level 2 Welding Skills Award (MIG, TIG or MMA) L239 courses
- Level 2 Certificate in Welding Skills L26 courses
- Level 2 Award in Welding Skills (Manual Metal Arc Welding) L26 courses
- Level 2 Award in TIG Welding L26 courses
- Level 2 Award in Welding Skills (MIG Welding) L26 courses
Level 3
- Level 3 Award in Advanced Welding Skills L38 courses
- Level 3 Diploma in Engineering (Fabrication and Welding) L38 courses
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Fabrication and Welding Engineering L33 courses
- Level 3 Extended NVQ Diploma in Fabrication and Welding Engineering L31 course
- Level 3 Diploma in Fabrication and Welding Practice L31 course