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Welding trades

Occupation · SOC 2020 5213 · United Kingdom

SOC 2020 code
5213
Going rate (Table 1, options A and D)
£34,900 (£17.90 per hour)
On the Immigration Salary List
Yes
Sponsored work visas 2025, minor group 521
355
Going rate£34,900 Table 1
Year by year
Data as at Immigration Rules, 11 Nov 2025
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Going rates

Minimum salaries by table of Appendix Skilled Occupations (per year, 37.5-hour week). Which table applies depends on the route and option.

TableGoing ratePhD points
Table 1a£34,900 (£17.90 per hour)No
Table 2aa£29,500 (£15.13 per hour)No

Example job titles (non-exclusive)

  • Braziers and solderers
  • Pipe welders
  • Plate welders
  • Welding trades not elsewhere classified
Source: Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Occupations and Appendix Immigration Salary List (GOV.UK)Data as at 11 Nov 2025

Immigration Salary List

This occupation is on the Immigration Salary List (lower salary threshold and fee).

CriteriaEnglandScotlandWalesNorthern Ireland
5213 Welding trades – only high integrity pipe welders, where the job requires 3 or more years’ related on-the-job experience. This experience must not have been gained through working illegally.YesYesYesYes
Source: Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Occupations and Appendix Immigration Salary List (GOV.UK)Data as at 11 Nov 2025

Sponsored work visas, minor group 521

Home Office grants for SOC 2020 minor group 521 (Metal Forming, Welding and Related Trades); unit-group detail is published only for part of the data.

Visas granted by year (minor group)

474948202120222023202420252026
474948202120222023202420252026
Data table
202131
2022258
2023948
2024705
2025355
2026150
By route
  1. Skilled Worker2,429
  2. International Agreement (previously Tier 5)12
  3. Service Supplier (Global Business Mobility)2
  4. Creative Worker2
  5. Government Authorised Exchange (previously Tier 5)1
  6. Health and Care Worker1
By nationality, unit group 5213 (where published)
  1. Philippines283
  2. Trinidad and Tobago57
  3. South Africa52
  4. India49
  5. Zimbabwe26
  6. Malaysia10
  7. Romania6
  8. Poland6
  9. France5
  10. Nigeria3
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at Jun 2026

Compared with other occupations

The going rate for Welding trades (Table 1 where listed) is £29,500 a year, #152 highest of 277 eligible occupations and 1.7% below the median going rate of £30,000.

Going rate (Table 1 where listed)
£29,500
Median going rate, all occupations
£30,000
Rank (highest first)
152 of 277
Occupations on the Immigration Salary List
25
Going rate (Table 1), this and related occupations, £ a year
  1. Welding trades29,500
  2. Sheet metal workers26,800
  3. Metal plate workers, smiths, moulders and related occupations29,200
  4. Pipe fitters40,400
  5. Metal machining setters and setter-operators28,500
  6. Tool makers, tool fitters and markers-out33,400
  7. Metal working production and maintenance fitters29,900
  8. Precision instrument makers and repairers28,300
  9. Air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers35,500
  10. Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians27,900
  11. Vehicle body builders and repairers27,600
Source: Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Occupations and Appendix Immigration Salary List (GOV.UK)Data as at 11 Nov 2025

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more