Standards, tickets & careers
How much do welders earn in Australia?
Quick answer
Welders in Australia typically earn $70,000–$110,000 a year: around $30–$40/hr base for tradesmen, more with tickets, overtime and shutdown work. FIFO and pressure-pipe welders commonly clear $130,000–$180,000+, while first-year apprentices start near $25/hr under the modern award.
Where the money actually is
| Segment | Typical earnings | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Workshop/production welder | $70k–$95k | award + site rates |
| Structural welder (tickets) | $90k–$130k | AS 1796/2214 work, overtime |
| Pressure/pipe welder | $130k–$180k+ | scarce 6G tickets, shutdowns |
| FIFO mining shutdowns | $150k–$200k+ | allowances + penalties |
| Boilermaker-welder trade | $80k–$110k | fabrication + welding combined |
Leverage for a new welder
The pay cliff is certification: a welder who can pass a 6g pipe test with TIG root moves into the scarcest, best-paid tier. The second lever is process breadth — laser welding skills are newly in demand as Australian sheet-metal shops adopt handhelds.