The Datum Report

Occupation 5213 · Skilled trades occupations

Welding trades

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.

How people enter it

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.

What the work involves

Also called

Fabricator-welder · Fitter-welder · Spot welder · Welder · Welding technician

What it pays

MeasureHoursBasisPeriodValueSource
5213 : Welding trades None None 2026-03 39,500.00 ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
5213 : Welding trades None None 2026-03 42,100.00 ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
5213 : Welding trades None None 2026-03 45,600.00 ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
5213 : Welding trades None None 2026-03 4,200.00 ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
5213 : Welding trades None None 2026-03 3,500.00 ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
5213 : Welding trades None None 2026-03 49,800.00 ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
5213 : Welding trades None None 2026-03 2,600.00 ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)

Every regional figure

ONS does not publish occupational pay below region. Cells the survey could not support are shown as withheld, with its reason — adding a region split to a specific occupation leaves roughly a tenth of cells publishable.

RegionMeasureHoursValuePeriod
East 5213 : Welding trades None 7,600.00 2026-03
East Midlands 5213 : Welding trades None 5,200.00 2026-03
London 5213 : Welding trades None 2,600.00 2026-03
North East 5213 : Welding trades None 3,400.00 2026-03
North West 5213 : Welding trades None 4,900.00 2026-03
Northern Ireland 5213 : Welding trades None 4,200.00 2026-03
Scotland 5213 : Welding trades None 3,500.00 2026-03
South East 5213 : Welding trades None 3,500.00 2026-03
South West 5213 : Welding trades None 1,800.00 2026-03
Wales 5213 : Welding trades None 2,600.00 2026-03
West Midlands 5213 : Welding trades None 5,400.00 2026-03
Yorkshire and The Humber 5213 : Welding trades None 5,200.00 2026-03

Common questions

Does pay for welding trades vary by region?

ONS publishes regional pay for this occupation where the survey sample supports it — 12 of 12 cells on this page. The rest are withheld by ONS, and are shown as withheld with the reason, rather than left out.

Where do these pay figures come from?

The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, published by the Office for National Statistics. Figures are shown exactly as ONS publishes them — we do not adjust, model or fill them in, and every number on this page carries the series and period it came from.

Classified alongside this

Metal plate workers, smiths, moulders and related occupations · Pipe fitters · Sheet metal workers