Welder
4AI EXPOSURE TODAY4
20-YEAR SCENARIO
NOT A FORECAST49%
NOT A FORECAST49%
THE DOOR · ENTRY DIFFICULTY TODAYB
STARTING PAYnot published
MOAT NOT YET CLASSIFIEDA real score, but the moat is not yet classified. No claim either way.
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CAREERMASH (EN)FROM CONSTRUCTION & TRADES →
Welder
A welder joins metal parts together using heat, building and repairing everything from gates and vehicles to ships and structures. It is a skilled, hands-on trade that suits precise, patient people who like working with their hands and seeing solid, lasting results.
THE DOOR: ENTRY DIFFICULTY TODAY, graded A (easy) to E (extremely hard). A Careermash rule-of-thumb index built from our AI exposure index and the job's moat class. It is not a forecast and not a count of job openings.
AI EXPOSURE TODAY is a Careermash index from 0 to 100 of how exposed this job's everyday tasks are to AI today. We estimate it by matching published research on how people use AI to this job, usually by keyword or subject area, and we lower it where the work is protected (for example by physical, personal or legal requirements). It is not a direct measurement of how much people in this job use AI.
AI exposure is low for this work today
AI exposure today for this job is low on our index (4), an estimate rather than a measurement. We have not yet classified what, if anything, structurally protects it, so we make no claim either way about a moat. Learn the tools, and build the judgement that stays human.
The role
The work is reading drawings, preparing and cutting metal, then welding pieces together accurately and safely using various techniques, and checking the joints are sound. Precision, a steady hand and care with safety matter, since strong, clean welds are vital and the work involves intense heat, bright light, fumes and heavy materials.
You may work in factories, on sites or in workshops, sometimes in cramped or outdoor conditions, often with shift work, and protective gear is essential against the heat and sparks. Pay grows well with skill and specialism, and there is strong demand for good welders, with some going self-employed.
Most people get in through a welding or fabrication apprenticeship or college course, gaining recognised qualifications and coding for different techniques. A CSCS card is often needed for sites, and skilled, certified welders, especially in specialist areas, are well paid and sought after.
Daily responsibilities
- Read drawings and plan the work
- Prepare and cut metal pieces
- Weld joints using the right technique
- Check welds are strong and clean
- Use protective gear and follow safety rules
- Maintain welding equipment
- Grind and finish welded work