What is a Welding Technician?

How a Welding Technician makes a difference

Welding is a way to make high strength joints between two or more parts. It is used extensively in almost every industry, including automotive, marine, transport and construction, and results in components for cars, ships and rail vehicles, as well as simple metallic containers and steelwork for bridges and buildings.

Making sure a joint is safe and strong is the primary role of a welder. Joints need to meet exact quality standards so that the finished products they are part of function correctly and can be relied upon. Fixing worn out joints is just as essential. You could be the technician who makes sure products, transport and processes are safe and contribute to a high quality of life.

The type of work a Welding Technician will do

Preparing and checking welding equipment
Ensuring your materials and work area are ready for welding
Operating tooling machines
Carrying out cutting, shaping and welding processes
Using a range of welding processes and joint types
Understanding the major components of welding equipment
Identifying welding defects
Preventing defects by using the right materials for each application

Useful skills

Technologically minded

Skills & attributes

Useful skills

Attention to detail

Skills & attributes

Useful skills

Precise

Skills & attributes

Useful skills

Instructing others

Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the Welding Technician role

An inquiring mind and a desire to understand construction and engineering processes.

Some physical strength and an interest in working with your hands.

The confidence to try new tools and machinery and to learn how to use them correctly.

What you can bring to the Welding Technician role

A responsible attitude to your work and to meeting the standards required.

A natural ability to follow instructions carefully and complete tasks accurately.

A knack for instructing other people how to do things.

What you can bring to the Welding Technician role

This role could also be right for you if you have any of the following interests:

- building, making and fixing things

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Average salary per year *

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Average salary per month *

Data from ONS

Future career opportunities for a Welding Technician

There are several different pathways you can follow as a welder, including becoming a specialist in a particular industry, working on more complex construction projects, including those underwater, and teaching other people how to weld.

You could also become a welding inspector, helping to make sure quality and safety standards are maintained and improved upon.

How to become a Welding Technician

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:

Options available after GCSEs:

A T-level in Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control.
An apprenticeship as a Pipe Welder or a Plate Welder.

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

Welders use high electrical energy to form an arc. This arc is used to melt metals and to fuse them together to form a structurally sound weld. Controlling the arc requires a lot of skill that is in high demand. There are opportunities to work all over the world and in different environments, including offshore windfarms and oil rigs.