Welding trades salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£34,742
Typical Annual pay range
Employment patterns
- 95% of Welding trades work full-time
- 8% are self-employed
- 99.6% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Welding trades pay in the UK
The typical welding trades in the UK earns a median salary of £34,742 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The middle half of welding trades earnings fall between £28,569 and £43,747 a year. That spread reflects the usual gap between newer entrants and more experienced welding trades.
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £36,908. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners is pulling the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical welding trades actually takes home.
Where you work changes the picture: welding trades pay ranges from £23,101 in London up to £39,122 in South East, a difference of £16,021 (69%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see welding trades pay in South East or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
South East is the highest-paying region for welding trades at £39,122 — 13% above the UK median. London is lowest at £23,101.
UK median £34,742
| Region | Median payUK median £34,742 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South East | £39,122 | £39,122 | £38,956 | +13% |
| North West | £38,865 | £38,865 | £38,461 | +12% |
| East of England | £38,814 | £38,814 | £39,701 | +12% |
| Wales | £36,339 | £36,339 | £40,787 | +5% |
| Scotland | £36,309 | £36,309 | £38,087 | +5% |
| North East | £35,423 | £35,423 | £32,566 | +2% |
| East Midlands | £34,793 | £34,793 | £36,156 | ±0% |
| West Midlands | £34,493 | £34,493 | £35,317 | -1% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £32,947 | £32,947 | £36,107 | -5% |
| South West | £29,134 | £29,134 | £31,414 | -16% |
| London | £23,101 | £23,101 | £22,780 | -34% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| South East £39,122 | £39,122Mean £38,956 | +13% |
| North West £38,865 | £38,865Mean £38,461 | +12% |
| East of England £38,814 | £38,814Mean £39,701 | +12% |
| Wales £36,339 | £36,339Mean £40,787 | +5% |
| Scotland £36,309 | £36,309Mean £38,087 | +5% |
| North East £35,423 | £35,423Mean £32,566 | +2% |
| East Midlands £34,793 | £34,793Mean £36,156 | ±0% |
| West Midlands £34,493 | £34,493Mean £35,317 | -1% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £32,947 | £32,947Mean £36,107 | -5% |
| South West £29,134 | £29,134Mean £31,414 | -16% |
| London £23,101 | £23,101Mean £22,780 | -34% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£34,742); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local welding trades pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow welding trades pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for welding trades by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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