Welder (First Class)

A First Class Welder performs high-skill welding and cutting operations on ferrous and non-ferrous metals in manufacturing, construction, shipbuilding, and fabrication environments. They operate arc welding equipment, oxy-acetylene torches, and plasma cutting tools to join and shape metals to precise specifications, often working from engineering drawings and blueprints. First Class Welders also supervise junior welders, inspect weld quality, and ensure compliance with Australian Standards and workplace safety regulations.

Perform manual metal arc (MMA), gas metal arc (GMA), and tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding on structural steel, stainless steel, and aluminium components. Operate oxy-acetylene and plasma cutting equipment to prepare materials and cut sections to specification. Read and interpret engineering drawings, welding symbols, and specifications to determine joint preparation, welding technique, and material requirements. Prepare workpieces by grinding, bevelling, and cleaning surfaces to remove scale, rust, and contaminants before welding. Select appropriate welding parameters (amperage, voltage, travel speed, gas mix) based on material type, thickness, and joint design. Perform visual and tactile inspection of completed welds to identify defects such as porosity, lack of fusion, and undercut. Conduct non-destructive testing procedures including visual inspection, magnetic particle inspection, and dye penetrant testing to verify weld integrity. Maintain welding equipment including electrode holders, nozzles, cables, and regulators; replace consumables and troubleshoot equipment faults.

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.

You'll need to complete a Certificate III or IV in welding, which takes 1 to 2 years. The work is physically demanding: standing, bending, and holding uncomfortable positions while managing heat stress and fume exposure. Your eyes and lungs take a beating over time. Once qualified, you're competing in a field where automation (robotic welding) keeps cutting into jobs, especially in car manufacturing. Pay caps out faster than other trades.

Regional Australia has steady work in mining services and agricultural equipment, but fewer employers means less flexibility. Remote work is not an option: you're on-site at the metal.

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.

• Attention to Detailcore
• Continuous Learning and Upskillingcore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
• Process Documentation
• Process Improvement Identification
• Supplier Communication
• Workload Self-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.

What Welder (First Class) workers move into, from ten years of tax records.

Last updated: 30 October 2026