Career profile · SOC ESC-1EA1A0C1

welding engineer

Welding engineers research and develop optimal effective welding techniques and design the corresponding, equally efficient equipment to aid in the welding process. They also conduct quality control and evaluate inspection procedures for welding activities. Welding engineers have advanced knowledge and critical understanding of welding technology application. They are able to manage high complex technical and professional activities or projects related to welding applications, while also taking responsibility for the decision making process.

welding engineer welding engineers research and develop optimal effective welding techniques and design the corresponding, equally efficient equipment to aid in the welding process. They also conduct quality control and evaluate inspection procedures for welding activities. The role shows moderate AI exposure (0.50 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include production processes, engineering principles, manufacturing processes, design drawings, welding techniques.

AI exposure
5.0/10
automation risk

Pay in the UK

UK: median £51,110 a year for Mechanical engineers (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)

Middle half of full-time jobs: £39,125 to £62,237 a year

UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 2122). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)

Pay in India (occupation group)

Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only welding engineer, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.

Urban India
₹42,717 a month
Rural India
₹30,424 a month
All India
₹38,466 a month

Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 2. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report

Top skills

production processes engineering principles manufacturing processes design drawings welding techniques technical drawings engineering processes types of metal industrial engineering operate oxy-fuel welding torch

Knowledge you'll build

  • Engineering and Technology
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Mathematics
  • Production and Processing
  • English Language
  • Design
  • Computers and Electronics

What you'd actually do

  • Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
  • Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.
  • Monitor material performance, and evaluate its deterioration.
  • Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
  • Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.
  • Modify properties of metal alloys, using thermal and mechanical treatments.

Tools & technology you'd use

Microsoft Excel hot Microsoft Office software hot Microsoft PowerPoint hot Python hot Autodesk AutoCAD hot C++ hot Dassault Systemes SolidWorks hot Microsoft Access hot Microsoft Outlook hot Microsoft SharePoint hot Microsoft Visio hot Microsoft Visual Basic hot

Frequently asked questions

What does welding engineer do?

Welding engineers research and develop optimal effective welding techniques and design the corresponding, equally efficient equipment to aid in the welding process. They also conduct quality control and evaluate inspection procedures for welding activities. Welding engineers have advanced knowledge and critical understanding of welding technology application.

What skills does welding engineer need?

The most in-demand skills for this role include production processes, engineering principles, manufacturing processes, design drawings, welding techniques, technical drawings. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.

Will AI replace welding engineer?

Our AI-durability model gives welding engineer a score of 0.50 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.

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