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Welder

322313 · Heavy Next-day ready

Career data Verified

Welders use handheld or remotely-controlled equipment to join, cut and repair metal.

Most common salary $62k – $97k
Upper salary up to $119k
Training 0-3 years

Description

Fabricates and repairs metal products using various welding techniques.

Typical work tasks

Aligns parts to be joined using hand tools and measuring instrument; joins metal sections using various welding techniques, bolting and riveting; examines welds for width of bead, penetration and precision; cleans and smoothes welds by filing, chiselling and grinding.

Typical work environment

  • Works indoors in a heavy engineering workshop or yard or may be predominantly out on client worksites such as client industrial or processing worksites.
  • Indoor work spaces need good ventilation to disperse gasses and other by-products of welding and other metal-working processes.
  • Frequently works at heights and on ladders or inside large heavy steel containers that are being constructed. Worksites will often be dirty, dusty and noisy.
  • Employees will use a variety of personal protective equipment including face masks, eye protection, safety footwear, over-alls and gloves as appropriate for specific tasks. They may need safety harnesses for some jobs.

Typical physical and mental demands

  • The physical demand is heavy.
  • Walking required. Standing is constantly required, frequently on concrete floors. Sitting is not required.
  • Stretching up and across is frequently required to weld, bolt or otherwise join and fit metal structural components in place.
  • Squatting, crouching or kneeling is occasionally required, especially to access low level and awkward areas.
  • Twisting of the body or neck, bending and Lifting and carrying are frequently.
  • engineering materials and equipment about the work-site is frequently required.
  • Repetitive movements are frequently required especially in the use of hands and arms for holding welding, flame-cutting or grinding equipment.
  • Driving is not a significant component of the job.
  • There is a requirement for the use of a wide range of engineering hand, power and machine tools and equipment including gas and electric welders, flame and other cutting and grinding equipment.
  • Climbing is frequently required when on-site.
  • Mental skills necessary include practical, technical, and problem-solving skills.
Entry signal Model estimate

Enter via experience or on-the-job training; no mandatory pre-entry qualification. A licence may be required for some roles or employers. Flagged next-day ready.

Entry barrier Experience or on-job training
Licence / registration Licence may be required
ANZSCO skill level 3
Next-day ready Yes

Unverified — this label is model-generated and not yet clinician-reviewed. Confirm against the WTDS before relying on it.

How this was determined (model-generated): 'No specific entry requirements'; full cert optional later, driver licence incidental => experience_or_training, may_be_required, next_day_ready true. Proposal stands.

Entry Requirements

There are no specific entry requirements to become a welder, but to become a fully qualified welder a National Certificate in Welding (Level 3), or a similar qualification needs to be completed (ANZSCO Skill Level 3). This requires full-time study for 6-9 months, or can be obtained as part of an industry traineeship from on-the-job learning. A pre-apprenticeship course may be useful for gaining a welding traineeship. Welders who have completed the Level 3 qualification can then complete the National Certificate in Welding (Level 4), which covers more complex welding skills and techniques. A driver's licence may also be useful.

Further Comments

There are opportunities for flexibility of movement but they are limited.