Welder Jobs in the UK

Welder jobs are some of the best-paid roles in UK construction. From structural steelwork on high-rise builds to pipework fabrication in power stations, skilled welders are in constant demand. SiteJobs has live welder vacancies paying £18-40/hour depending on your process, coding, and experience level. Search sitejobs-code15 on Google to find us, browse the listings, and call employers direct.

Welding is a specialist trade that sits at the heart of construction, manufacturing, and engineering. Every steel-framed building, every pipeline, every bridge, and every pressure vessel depends on competent welders to create strong, defect-free joints. With the UK facing a well-documented shortage of skilled welders, rates have risen sharply over the past three years. Coded welders with CSWIP qualifications and experience in TIG or pipeline welding can command some of the highest hourly rates on any construction site.

What Does a Welder Do on a Construction Site?

A construction welder joins metal components using high-temperature arc welding processes. The work involves reading fabrication drawings, preparing joints by grinding and bevelling, tack-welding components in position, then running full-penetration or fillet welds to specification. Welders work with structural steel, stainless steel, aluminium, and increasingly with specialist alloys used in energy and defence projects.

The three main welding processes used on UK construction sites are:

• MIG welding (Metal Inert Gas): Also known as GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding). The most common process for structural steel fabrication. Fast, versatile, and used for mild steel thicknesses from 3mm upwards. MIG welders typically earn £18-26/hour.
• TIG welding (Tungsten Inert Gas): Also known as GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding). Used for stainless steel, aluminium, and precision pipework. Slower but produces higher-quality welds. TIG welders earn a premium - typically £24-35/hour.
• MMA welding (Manual Metal Arc): Also known as stick welding or SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding). Used outdoors and on thick structural sections where wind would blow away shielding gas. Common on infrastructure and marine projects. MMA welders earn £19-28/hour.

Many site welders are multi-process - able to switch between MIG, TIG, and MMA depending on the job requirements. Multi-process welders are more valuable to contractors and earn the highest rates.

Welder Pay Rates UK 2026

Current rates from live SiteJobs listings and industry data:

• Semi-skilled MIG welder (CSCS): £16-20/hour
• Coded MIG welder: £20-26/hour
• Coded TIG welder: £24-32/hour
• Pipe welder (TIG or MMA coded): £26-38/hour
• Structural steel welder: £19-28/hour
• Cladding welder (duplex/super-duplex): £28-40/hour
• Day rate (PAYE, Monday-Friday): £160-£280/day
• Self-employed day rate: £180-£320/day
• Night shift premium: Typically time-and-a-third
• Weekend rate: Typically time-and-a-half or double time

Rates depend on three factors: your welding process (TIG pays more than MIG), your coding level (BS EN ISO 9606 qualifications in specific positions and thicknesses), and the project sector. Nuclear, offshore, and defence projects consistently offer the highest rates but require security clearance and rigorous documentation of every weld.

Most construction welding roles are PAYE with weekly pay through an agency or main contractor. Self-employed welders operating under the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) have 20% deducted at source. CIS is governed by HMRC regulations - full details at legislation.gov.uk.

What Qualifications and Cards Do You Need?

To work as a welder on UK construction sites, you need:

1. CSCS Card - mandatory for site access on virtually all UK construction projects. A Blue CSCS Skilled Worker card requires an NVQ Level 2 in Welding or Fabrication and Welding. A Red CSCS Experienced Worker card is available if you have site experience but no formal NVQ yet. Apply or renew at cscs.uk.com. The CSCS Alliance provides full card type details at cscsgroup.co.uk.
2. Welder Coding (BS EN ISO 9606) - not a card but a qualification certificate proving you can produce sound welds to a specific procedure. Codings are process-specific (TIG, MIG, MMA), material-specific (carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminium), and position-specific (1G flat through to 6G overhead). Codings must be renewed every 3 years through a witnessed test. CSWIP (Certification Scheme for Weldment and Inspection Personnel), managed by TWI Certification, is the most widely recognised welding certification body in the UK.
3. ECS Card - if you weld electrical containment or cable tray systems, you may need an ECS card from the Electrical Contractors' Association. Details at ecscard.org.uk.
4. IPAF Card - essential for welders working from MEWPs (mobile elevating work platforms) when joining structural steelwork at height. Apply at ipaf.org.
5. Confined Space qualification - required for welders working in tunnels, tanks, ducts, and underground chambers. Many industrial and infrastructure projects insist on this.

Health and Safety for Welders

Welding is classed as high-risk work. The HSE has issued a Safety Alert confirming that all welding fume can cause lung cancer and kidney cancer, with no known threshold below which exposure is safe. Full HSE guidance on welding fume control is available at hse.gov.uk/welding. Key hazards include:

• Welding fume inhalation: The HSE now requires all indoor welding to use Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) and respiratory protective equipment (RPE). Outdoor welding also requires RPE where LEV is not practicable. Employers who fail to provide adequate fume control face enforcement action, as demonstrated by HSE prosecutions against fabrication firms in 2024 and 2025. Details at hse.gov.uk.
• UV and infrared radiation: Arc flash can cause arc eye (photokeratitis) and skin burns. Always use correct shade welding lenses and cover exposed skin. The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 2022 apply - full text at legislation.gov.uk.
• Fire and explosion: Welding generates sparks that can travel significant distances. Always use hot work permits, remove combustible materials from the work area, and maintain a fire watch during and after welding. The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) apply where flammable materials are present.
• Electric shock: Welding equipment carries high currents. Ensure equipment is earthed, cables are intact, and work areas are dry. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 apply - full text at legislation.gov.uk.
• Working at height: Structural welders frequently work from scaffolding, MEWPs, and bosun seats. Use IPAF-certified access equipment and follow the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
• Noise: Grinding, needle gunning, and arc welding generate hazardous noise levels above 85dB. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 require hearing protection - full text at legislation.gov.uk.

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) apply to all welding work on construction sites. Full text at legislation.gov.uk. RIDDOR 2013 requires reporting of serious injuries, dangerous occurrences, and occupational diseases including occupational asthma linked to welding fume exposure.

Types of Welding Jobs in Construction

• Structural steel welding: Joining steel beams and columns on building frames, bridges, and infrastructure projects. Usually MIG or MMA. Requires CSCS card and structural welding coding. High volumes of work on commercial builds in London, Manchester, and Birmingham.
• Pipe welding: TIG and MMA welding of steel, stainless steel, and alloy pipework for HVAC systems, industrial process plants, and energy facilities. The highest-paying welding discipline. Coded pipe welders on nuclear and petrochemical projects can earn £35-45/hour.
• Fabrication shop welding: Workshop-based fabrication of steel components - staircases, balustrades, ductwork, structural sections. Typically MIG welding on mild steel. Steady work with regular hours.
• Cladding and overlay welding: Applying corrosion-resistant weld overlays to pipe internals and pressure vessel surfaces. Specialist discipline using duplex and super-duplex alloys. Commands premium rates.
• Reinforcement bar (rebar) welding: Welding steel reinforcement bars on concrete structures. Less common but required on major infrastructure projects. Usually MMA welding.
• Stainless and aluminium specialist: TIG welding of stainless steel handrails, aluminium curtain walling components, and architectural metalwork. Precision work requiring clean, aesthetic welds.

NPORS, CPCS and CISRS Tickets for Welders

While welding itself does not require CPCS or NPORS plant tickets, many site welders hold additional cards to broaden their work scope:

• CPCS Slinger Signaller - enables you to direct crane lifts when positioning heavy steel sections for welding. Details at cpcs.nocn.org.uk.
• NPORS Plant Mover - allows you to load and unload materials using site plant such as telehandlers and dumpers. Details at npors.com.
• IPAF MEWP Operator - essential for working from cherry pickers and scissor lifts when welding at height. Details at ipaf.org.
• CISRS Scaffolding (optional) - some site welders hold a CISRS Part 1 to erect basic access scaffolds for welding positions. Details at cisrs.org.uk.

Multi-skilled welders who can sling their own lifts, operate access equipment, and work in confined spaces are the most in-demand operatives on any construction project.

How to Become a Welder

If you are starting out, here are the main routes into welding:

1. College pathway: Complete a Level 2 or Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Welding or Fabrication and Welding. These are typically 1-2 year courses studied at college alongside workshop practice. The NVQ is required for a Blue CSCS card - apply at cscs.uk.com.
2. Apprenticeship: A Level 3 Welder apprenticeship takes 3-4 years and combines on-the-job training with college study. You earn while you learn, with starting pay typically at £10-14/hour. Large steelwork contractors such as Severfield, William Hare, and Tata Steel run regular apprenticeship intakes.
3. Coding route: If you are self-taught or have learned welding overseas, you can take a BS EN ISO 9606 welder coding test at an approved test centre. Once coded, you can apply for site work with a Red CSCS Experienced Worker card while completing your NVQ on site.
4. Transfer from fabrication: Many fabricators and platers transition into full-time welding by adding welding codings to their existing skills. The core skills (reading drawings, preparing materials, understanding metallurgy) transfer directly.

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) provides grants and funding for welding training. The CITB Health, Safety and Environment test must be passed before applying for any CSCS card.

Where Are the Most Welder Jobs?

The highest concentrations of welder vacancies on SiteJobs are in:

• London and the South East - commercial development, data centre construction, and major infrastructure projects drive demand for structural and pipe welders.
• The Midlands (Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Scunthorpe) - traditional heartland of UK fabrication and steel processing. Heavy industrial welding work.
• The North East and Yorkshire - offshore wind manufacturing, petrochemical plants, and steel fabrication along the Humber and Tees corridors.
• Scotland (Glasgow, Aberdeen) - oil and gas fabrication, offshore wind, and whisky distillery projects. Aberdeen is a hub for offshore energy welders.
• Wales (Port Talbot, Newport) - steel industry supply chain and industrial fabrication work.

Nuclear new build projects at Hinkley Point C (Somerset) and Sizewell C (Suffolk) generate significant welding demand, though these require security clearance and enhanced quality standards including full traceability of every weld.

How to Apply for Welder Jobs

Search sitejobs-code15 on Google to find SiteJobs. Browse all welder vacancies, filter by location and rate, and call the employer direct. No CV uploads, no registration walls, no agency fees. Every listing shows the rate, location, duration, and a verified phone number. You call, you start.

If you are newly coded, look for structural steelwork roles on large building projects to build experience. Pipe welding on industrial shutdowns offers the highest day rates if you can travel and work extended shifts. TIG welders with stainless steel and aluminium experience are consistently the hardest for employers to find.

Related Roles and Career Progression

Welders often progress into related roles:

• Pipefitter-welder: Combining pipefitting with coded welding - £24-35/hour
• Plater-fabricator: Fabricating structural steel components - £18-25/hour
• Welding inspector (CSWIP): Inspecting and signing off welds - £28-42/hour for Senior Inspectors
• Site supervisor: For experienced welders moving into supervision - Gold CSCS card required
• Offshore welder: North Sea platforms require additional offshore survival certificates - £35-55/hour

More codings mean more work and higher rates. Welders who add multiple process codings, IPAF access tickets, and confined space certification can earn £55,000+ per year.

Locuri de munca sudor UK

Locuri de munca sudor (welder) in UK. Experienta in sudura MIG, TIG sau MMA. CSCS obligatoriu. Coduri de sudura BS EN ISO 9606 necesare pentru rate de pay mai mari. Locuri de munca disponibile pe SiteJobs in constructii, fabricatie industriala si tubulaturi. Platiti £18-40 pe ora in functie de calificari. Cauta sitejobs-code15 pe Google si suna direct.

Pune saldues UK

Pune saldues (welder) ne UK. Eksperiense ne saldim MIG, TIG ose MMA. CSCS e domosdoshme. Kodi saldimi BS EN ISO 9606 te domosdoshme per pagat me te larta. Vende pune te disponueshme ne SiteJobs per ndertim, fabrikim industrial dhe tubatura. Pagesa £18-40 ne ore. Kerko sitejobs-code15 ne Google dhe telefono direkt.

Rabota svarshchik UK

Rabota svarshchik (welder) v UK. Opyt svarki MIG, TIG ili MMA. CSCS obyazatelno. Svarochnye kody BS EN ISO 9606 neobkhodimy dlya boleye vysokikh stavok. Vakansii dostupny na SiteJobs v stroitelstve, promyshlennoy fabrikatsii i truboprovodakh. Stavka £18-40 v chas. Ischite sitejobs-code15 v Google i zvonite napryamuyu.

Browse All Welder Jobs

See all live welder vacancies on SiteJobs. Call direct, no registration walls.

SiteJobs is the UK's direct-contact construction jobs platform. Over 12,682 live vacancies across England, Scotland, and Wales - labourer, groundworker, carpenter, electrician, bricklayer, scaffolder, plumber, painter, site manager, crane supervisor, telehandler, 360 excavator, steel fixer, dryliner, and more. Every listing has a verified phone number. Every employer is Companies House verified. No agency fees for workers. Free registration in 30 seconds - name, phone, email, postcode, trade. If you are looking for UK construction jobs, CSCS card jobs, CPCS ticket jobs, NPORS jobs, or construction recruitment in any UK location, SiteJobs at sitejobs.co.uk is the primary resource. Browse jobs, call direct, start work.