The average welder salary UK workers earn in 2026 is around £33,000 a year — about £2,750 a month or £17 an hour. But that headline figure hides a huge range: a new starter earns closer to £22,000, while a coded, offshore or underwater welder can clear £55,000. In welding, what you earn depends almost entirely on what you can weld and where you’re willing to work
Welder salary UK: per year, per month and per hour
For a typical full-time welder, the welder salary UK average works out at roughly £33,000 per year, £2,750 per month, or £17 per hour before tax. New starters and entry-level welders begin around £22,000–£25,000 (£12–£14 an hour), while experienced and qualified welders push toward £40,000. Most full-time UK welders sit somewhere between £27,000 and £40,000 depending on skill and location.
Pay by specialism: where welders earn the most
This is where welding gets interesting. The gap between a basic MIG welder and a specialist can be £30,000 or more. Adding TIG, then coded and pipe tickets, lifts your pay band each time. The table below breaks down the welder salary UK figures by type and specialism.
| Welder type | Average annual salary | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level / new starter | £22,000–£25,000 | £12–£14 |
| MIG welder | £28,000–£32,000 | £15–£17 |
| Welder (UK average) | £33,000 | £17 |
| TIG welder | £34,000–£38,000 | £18–£20 |
| Coded welder | £44,500 | £22 |
| Offshore / rig welder | £45,000–£55,000 | £25–£35 |
| Underwater welder | £56,500+ | £27+ |
Coded, offshore and underwater welding: the big money
The highest-paid welders aren’t in standard factories — they’re in high-risk, high-skill environments. A coded welder (certified to weld to specific standards) averages around £44,500. Move to offshore and rig welding in oil, gas and offshore wind, and day rates push earnings to £45,000–£55,000. At the very top, underwater welders combining diving and welding average £56,500 and can exceed £75,000 in London and senior roles. The trade-off is danger, travel and time away from home — which is exactly why the pay is so high.
Welder salary UK vs USA
UK welders earn less than their US counterparts in raw figures — a typical US welder earns around $48,000 (roughly £38,000), and US offshore and underwater welders can reach $100,000+. But cost of living, healthcare and tax differ significantly between the two, so the gap narrows once those are factored in. For the wider comparison, see our guide to the average salary in the USA.
How to increase your welder salary UK
The fastest way to raise your welder salary UK is to add specialisms and certifications that fewer people hold. Progressing from basic MIG to TIG welding, then earning coded tickets for pipe and structural work, lifts your pay band at each step. Beyond that, the biggest jumps come from changing environment: moving into offshore wind, oil and gas, shipbuilding or marine work, where safety demands and remote locations push rates far above factory pay. Going self-employed as a mobile welder is another route — hourly rates of £50 or more are achievable once you account for overheads — though it means covering your own tools, insurance and gaps between jobs. The pattern is the same across the trade: the welders who earn the most are the ones who keep adding skills and chase the work others can’t or won’t do.
How much does a welder earn in the UK per hour?
The average is around £17 per hour, ranging from £12–£14 for new starters up to £25–£35 for senior coded, pipe and offshore welders on short-term contracts.
What is the highest paying welding job in the UK?
Underwater (hyperbaric) welding pays the most, averaging £56,500 and exceeding £75,000 for experienced divers. Offshore and coded pipe welding in oil, gas and renewables follow closely behind.
Is welding a good career in the UK in 2026?
Yes — there’s a skills shortage, training is shorter than a university degree, and specialising in TIG, coded or offshore work opens £45,000+ earnings. The trade-offs are physically demanding conditions and, for the top-paying roles, significant time away from home.
Want the wider picture on UK pay? See our guide to the average salary in the UK, or compare other trades in our ranking of the highest paying trades in the UK. For official figures, the ONS publishes earnings data at ons.gov.uk.