Welding trades: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time welding trades in the UK earned a median £35,344 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): £3,695 below the all-jobs median of £39,039.
What the figures show
That puts it 192nd of 382, in the middle third of occupations.
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £29,783 and £44,176.
Median full-time pay: women £13.20 an hour, men £16.89 an hour.
Paid hours are long: a full-time median of 40 a week including overtime, against 37.5 across all jobs.
ASHE counts roughly 40,000 employee jobs, 92% full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 28.7% (from £27,467), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 49,800 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £24,967 | £502.40 | £12.52 | £23,803 | £469.20 | £12.50 |
| 20th percentile | £28,540 | £558.70 | £14.16 | £27,035 | £542.10 | £14.03 |
| 25th percentile | £29,783 | £582.40 | £14.59 | £28,569 | £562.00 | £14.54 |
| 30th percentile | £30,950 | £600.70 | £15.00 | £29,939 | £587.50 | £15.00 |
| 40th percentile | £33,041 | £645.10 | £15.91 | £32,650 | £637.30 | £15.86 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £35,344 | £688.50 | £16.88 | £34,742 | £681.90 | £16.88 |
| 60th percentile | £38,979 | £731.80 | £17.61 | £37,766 | £726.50 | £17.56 |
| 70th percentile | £42,897 | £831.20 | £18.81 | £42,144 | £824.90 | £18.81 |
| 75th percentile | £44,176 | £875.20 | £19.10 | £43,747 | £868.90 | £19.10 |
| 80th percentile | £47,088* | £915.20 | £20.00 | £46,087 | £915.10 | £20.01 |
| Mean | £37,993 | £744.50 | £17.51 | £36,908 | £725.90 | £17.63 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £27,467 | £563.60 | £12.97 | £26,874 | £560.20 | 42 |
| 2022 revised | £29,856 | £561.10 | £13.59 | £29,667 | £560.00 | 40 |
| 2023 revised | £32,125 | £639.30 | £15.18 | £31,680 | £623.20 | 42 |
| 2024 revised | £35,142 | £672.40 | £16.08 | £34,326 | £658.40 | 39 |
| 2025 provisional | £35,344 | £688.50 | £16.88 | £34,742 | £681.90 | 40 |
Welding trades by region
UK: 49,800 (± 8,700), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What welding trades do
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. (ONS SOC 2020, 5213)
Also covers: fabricator-welder, fitter-welder, spot welder, welder, welding technician, acetylene burner, acetylene cutter, arc welder, blacksmith welder, brazing machinist, chain jointer, chain welder, chassis builder, co2 welder, coded welder, electric welder, fabrication welder and fabricator welder (49 titles in the ONS coding index).
- 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
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.
Related
Metal forming, welding and related trades (median £35,122) · Metal plate workers, smiths, moulders and related occupations · Pipe fitters · salary percentile · Average weekly hours worked in the UK · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026