Overview
Welders and related machine operators
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Welders
Read and interpret blueprints or welding process specifications
Operate manual or semi-automatic welding equipment to fuse metal segments using processes such as gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), flux-cored arc welding (FCAW), plasma arc welding (PAW), shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), oxy-acetylene welding (OAW), resistance welding and submerged arc welding (SAW)
Operate manual or semi-automatic flame-cutting equipment
Operate brazing and soldering equipment
Operate metal shaping machines such as brakes, shears and other metal straightening and bending machines
Repair worn parts of metal products by welding on extra layers.
Welders may specialize in certain types of welding such as custom fabrication, ship building and repair, aerospace precision welding, pressure vessel welding, pipeline construction welding, structural construction welding, or machinery and equipment repair welding.
Welding, brazing and soldering machine operators
Operate previously set up welding machines such as spot, butt and seam resistance or gas and arc welding machines to fabricate or repair metal parts
Operate previously set up brazing or soldering machines to bond metal parts or to fill holes, indentations and seams of metal articles with solder
Start up, shut down, adjust and monitor robotic welding production line
Assist with the maintenance and repair of welding, brazing and soldering equipment
May adjust welding heads and tooling according to work specifications.
Employment prospects
Annual salary
$49,742
$66,739
$94,895
Job openings
Use this interactive map to explore job openings in different regions across B.C.
British Columbia
1,463expected job openings (5-year forecast)
Education and training
Employment requirements
Welders
Completion of secondary school is usually required.
Completion of a three-year apprenticeship program or A combination of over three years of work experience in the trade and some college or industry courses in welding is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
Additional information
The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
Certification requirements
Optional: The following certifications are optional to practice as Welders and related machine operators in B.C.
- Welder Red Seal Certification
- Skilled Trades Certification - Welders
Welder Red Seal Certification
Confirm with the certifying body that your intended program qualifies you for this certification.
This career is eligible for Red Seal endorsement. When all levels of your trades training are complete, you can write an Interprovincial Red Seal exam. A successful result demonstrates you have met the national standard for your trade in Canada will allow you to practice your trade outside of B.C. in provinces and territories covered by the Red Seal certification.
Skilled Trades Certification - Welders
Confirm with the certifying body that your intended program qualifies you for this certification.
To work as a welder or related machine operator in B.C., you may need a SkilledTradesBC certification demonstrating that you have completed the necessary technical training and work experience part of your apprenticeship program.
Post-secondary programs in B.C.
Explore programs related to this career offered at post-secondary institutions in B.C.