SOC 2020 · 5213
Welding trades
Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations from
Skilled Worker
Shortage list only
Below the usual skill level, but listed.
Salary floor
£41,700
The general threshold, £41,700, is the higher of the two.
Shortage lists
Immigration Salary List and Temporary Shortage List
Listed roles carry their own restrictions — check GOV.UK.
Shortage list conditions
Immigration Salary List: only high integrity pipe welders, where the job requires 3 or more years’ related on-the-job experience. This experience must not have been gained through working illegally. Listed until 31 Dec 2026.
Temporary Shortage List: all jobs in this code. Certificate of sponsorship must be issued before 31 Dec 2026.
Shortage-list jobs are below the usual skill level, so employers face restrictions such as no dependants and no salary discount. Check GOV.UK for the current conditions.
Salary the job must pay
A Skilled Worker job must pay at least the higher of the general threshold and the going rate for its occupation code.
Going rate (standard)
£34,900
General threshold
£41,700
Visa thresholds from
Minimum for this role
£41,700
Home Office going rates from
New entrants and some other cases can use 70% of the going rate, £33,400, subject to the lower general threshold of £33,400.
What this occupation actually pays
ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, full-time gross annual pay.
- UK pay for this occupation
- Going rate£34,900
- General threshold£41,700
View these figures as a table
| Percentile | Pay |
|---|---|
| 10th | £24,967 |
| 25th | £29,783 |
| 50th | £35,344 |
| 75th | £44,176 |
| Going rate | £34,900 |
| General threshold | £41,700 |
| Region | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK 2025 | £24,967 | £29,783 | £35,344 | £44,176 | — |
| East 2025 | — | — | £38,814 | — | — |
| East Midlands 2025 | — | — | £34,771 | — | — |
| North West 2025 | — | — | £39,848 | — | — |
| Scotland 2025 | — | — | £43,061 | — | — |
| South East 2025 | — |
Job titles in this code
What the work involves
Welding trades workers join metal parts by welding, brazing and soldering, and cut and remove defects from metal using a variety of equipment and techniques.
Typical tasks
selects appropriate welding equipment such as electric arc, gas torch, etc.
connects wires to power supply, or hoses to oxygen, acetylene, argon, carbon dioxide, electric arc, or other source and adjusts controls to regulate gas pressure and rate of flow
cuts metal pieces using gas torch or electric arc
guides electrode or torch along line of weld, burns away damaged areas, and melts brazing alloy or solder into joints
cleans and smooths weld
checks finished workpiece for defects and conformity with specification
Entry routes and qualifications
Entrants typically possess GCSEs/S grades. Training is typically by apprenticeship incorporating practical experience and technical training. NVQs/SVQs at levels 1, 2 and 3 and apprenticeships are available. Welders must normally pass a competency test in the particular type of welding to be carried out.