Welder salary in Australia
ANZSCO occupation: Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers
Last reviewed July 2026
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) · 2025 data. Annual figure derived from median weekly earnings × 52.
See your take-home pay on $88,000 →At a glance
- People employed
- 79,100
- Annual employment growth
- +1,100/yr
- 5-yr projected growth
- +2.9%
- Skills shortage rating
- Shortage
- Main industry
- Manufacturing
- Works full-time
- 96%
- Avg full-time hours
- 46 hrs/wk
- Works part-time
- 4%
- Female share
- 1%
- Median age
- 39 yrs
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) (2025) · Jobs and Skills Australia — Employment Projections (May 2025 to May 2030), produced with Victoria University (2025) · Jobs and Skills Australia — 2025 Occupation Shortage List (unit-group level) (2025)
What does a welder do?
Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers cut, shape, join and repair metal components of iron and steel structures, boilers, pressure vessels and pipes, ships and other vessels.
- Studying blueprints, drawings and specifications to determine job requirements
- Selecting, cleaning and preparing metal stock
- Cutting marked-out metal sections and shapes using hand tools, flame cutting torches and metal cutting machines
- Shaping and bending metal sections and pipes using hand and machine tools, and by heating and hammering
- Aligning parts to be joined using hand tools and measuring instruments
- Joining metal sections using various welding techniques, bolting and riveting
- Examining welds for width of bead, penetration and precision
- Finishing products by cleaning, polishing, filing and bathing in acidic solutions
- Cleaning and smoothing welds by filing, chiselling and grinding
How to become a welder
Typical education for this occupation, and courses that lead to it.
Education held by people in this role
Courses to get started
Where welders are employed
Share of workers by state and territory (employment distribution, not pay).
Welder jobs
Related occupations
Similar occupations
Frequently asked questions
How much does a welder earn in Australia?
The median welder earns $87,776 per year ($1,688 per week, or about $44/hour), based on Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) (2025).
What qualifications do you need to be a welder?
Most welders hold a Certificate III or IV (66.1% of workers). Pathways vary — see typical courses above.
Is welder a job in demand in Australia?
Around 79,100 welders are employed in Australia. Employment is changing by about +1,100 workers per year.
Earnings, employment and education data: Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) (2025). Used under CC BY 4.0.
Employment projections: Jobs and Skills Australia — Employment Projections (May 2025 to May 2030), produced with Victoria University (2025). Used under CC BY 4.0.
Skills shortage ratings: Jobs and Skills Australia — 2025 Occupation Shortage List (unit-group level) (2025). Used under CC BY 4.0.
The ABS median refers to full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate; individual pay varies. Annual figures derived from median weekly earnings × 52. Figures are estimates for guidance only.