Your role as a welder is to work with engineers’ drawings to cut and join pipes and sheets of metal using different welding techniques. You can be coded to varying levels depending on the complexity of the weld. You will be using techniques such as Oxyacetylene, MIG (Metal Inert Gas), MMA (Manual Metal Arc), TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas), Laster and Ultrasonic.
These positions exist onshore in workshops and offshore where you could be working in confined spaces or within a pressurised tent which is used to keep explosive or flammable gases away from welding operations.
Salary and Progression
Your salary will start at £15,000-£20,000 with limited experience but could rise to £20,000-£30,000 and more depending on your certification and experience.
From a welder people will often progress to welding inspection or NDT technician – Non Destructive Testing.
Training and Experience Requirements
You will be expected to have a welding certificate with more opportunities open to people with higher codings. A fabrication qualification or apprenticeship would be beneficial whilst experience in a welding shop or construction will be expected.
In addition, to work offshore, you will require valid basic offshore certificates including:
- BOSIET
- MIST
- CA-EBS
- Shoulder Measurements
- Offshore Medical
It is likely that an employer will ask for other certificates too. It’s always a good idea to look at a range of job posts to identify commonly requested training requirements.
