Pressure Welder

A pressure welder assembles, welds and repairs pressure vessels, boilers and pipes that carry or hold gas, steam, oil or other substances under pressure. Because a failed weld on pressure equipment can be dangerous, the work is done to strict Australian Standards, and welders usually need to pass welding qualification tests for the type of work they do. Pressure welders read drawings and specifications, prepare and fit up the metal, weld it, and check and repair the finished welds.

Read drawings, welding procedures and specifications for pressure vessels, boilers and pipework. Cut, shape, bend and prepare pipe and plate using hand and machine tools. Fit up and tack components so joints line up correctly before welding. Weld joints using processes such as manual arc, TIG or MIG welding, following the approved procedure. Check welds for size, penetration and defects, and grind out and repair faults. Work with inspectors who test welds using methods such as X-ray or ultrasonic testing. Record welding details for quality and traceability. Follow safety procedures for hot work, confined spaces and working at heights.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate IV or Certificate III with at least two years of on-the-job training (ABS skill level 3). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

The standard is high and mistakes are costly, because welds on pressure equipment are inspected and faulty welds must be cut out and redone. You may need to pass, and keep current, welding qualification tests. The work can be hot, noisy and physically demanding, sometimes in confined spaces, at heights or on remote sites, and some jobs involve shift work or fly-in fly-out rosters.

Work is found in heavy fabrication, power generation, oil and gas, mining, chemical processing and maintenance contracting. The work is hands-on and on-site, so remote work isn't possible.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 3223, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Active Listeningcore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Process Documentationcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Health Terminology Literacy
• Process Improvement Identification
• Record Management
• Written Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026