Are Welders in Demand in South Africa?
Short answer: Yes. Welders are in demand in South Africa. But the demand is not for just any welder. It is specifically for qualified, skilled, trade tested welders who can pass a welding test on site. Those are genuinely hard to find. That gap between supply and demand is exactly why this trade pays very well when you have the right papers.
The South African government officially ranked welding as the number two scarce skill in the country. Companies have been struggling to find qualified welders for decades. It got so bad that firms like Sasol and Grinaker-LTA were importing welders from Malaysia, India, Ireland and Thailand. Eskom at one stage was sourcing 75% of its welders from outside South Africa just to meet construction deadlines.
The welding market is also growing. Infrastructure projects, construction, mining, petrochemical plants and energy development all need welders constantly. Automation is nowhere near replacing skilled coded welders doing on-site, complex work in South Africa.
Then Why Are So Many Welders Not Working?
This gets asked constantly in South African artisan communities online. The honest answer might sting a bit. Two very different problems are happening at the same time. The country does not have enough qualified welders, and many welders sitting without work are not getting hired because they can only do one welding process or cannot pass on-site welding tests.
That is not true that there are no jobs. It depends on where you are. Six months in a row where I work, they have been trying to hire welders. The problem is that welders are only familiar with stick welding while they are clueless about MIG and you have to know them both.
— Experienced welder, South African artisan communityMost companies are not looking for stick welders only. They want MIG, TIG, argon and multiple processes. If you only know one method you are cutting yourself out of most of the available jobs.
The other big issue is the gap between holding a trade test certificate and being able to weld consistently to a standard. A company will put you in front of a test plate and watch what you do. Many welders are failing these on-site screening tests because they have the papers but not the consistent practical skill behind them.
Welding is a skill that takes years to master. When you are hired as a welder your interview is to do a welding test. You set your machine and do the welding on a test plate and a lot of them are failing. You must start somewhere and train yourself to be as good as you can be. A lot of welders who are still in the process of becoming good refuse jobs that underpay them, forgetting that those jobs will make them master their craft.
— Experienced welder, South African artisan communityCoded welders, double coded welders and pipe welders are always in demand regardless of the economic cycle. Secunda and Sasolburg run welding screening sessions regularly. If you are a coded welder willing to travel, those areas offer some of the best welding work in the country.
How Much Does a Trade Tested Welder Earn?
Pay depends on your certification level, the industry you work in and your province. The gap between semi-skilled and Red Seal certified is enormous. It is the single biggest lever you can pull on your income.
According to the National Bargaining Council agreement for the Metal Engineering Industry, no trade tested artisan should earn less than R104 per hour. In 2025 that translates to a minimum of R17,721 per month. Many companies pay above this, especially in mining and power stations.
In the Metal Engineering Industry, no trade tested artisan is to earn less than R104 per hour. This applies to all 9 provinces. Add 6.5% and you get the 2025 minimum. You should not be earning less than R17,721.60 in 2025.
— Artisan community, South AfricaPractical tip: when asked about your rate in an interview, say "market related salary" rather than naming a number first. You could quote R120 when the company was prepared to offer R200, and you will never get that back.
| Welder Type | Hourly Rate | Monthly | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-skilled / No papers | R45 – R65/hr | R8,000 – R11,000 | Entry |
| Trade Tested (Red Seal) | R115 – R180/hr | R22,000 – R35,000 | Qualified |
| Double Coded Welder | R150 – R180/hr | R30,000 – R45,000 | Senior |
| Coded / Pipe / Specialist | R350+/hr | R60,000+ | Specialist |
| Power Station Welder | R90 – R160/hr | R19,500 – R45,000 | High Demand |
| Mine Welder (with overtime) | R95 – R250/hr | R19,500 – R77,000 | Top Paying |
Sources: National Bargaining Council, Jobted.co.za, Indeed South Africa, Swift Skills Academy 2026, industry salary surveys.
Which Sectors Have the Most Welding Jobs?
Not all welding work pays the same. Mining and petrochemical are the top payers. Fabrication and construction have the highest volume of openings. Tap a sector to see what to expect.
What Is a Double Coded Welder?
A double coded welder is certified in more than one welding process, typically both stick welding and argon welding for high pressure pipes. Companies specifically look for double coded welders because they are more versatile on site.
A double coded welder earns around R180 per hour. It is a combination of carbon steel stick welding and argon welding for high pressure pipes. The rate starts at R180 and goes higher depending on the company and the work.
— Experienced welder, South African artisan communityAdding a second coding is one of the fastest ways to increase your earnings. The jump from single coded to double coded can add R10,000 to R15,000 per month in the right sector.
| Coding Type | Process | Monthly Range | Best Sector |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Coded | Stick (SMAW) or MIG (GMAW) | R22,000 – R30,000 | Fabrication, Construction |
| Double Coded | Stick + Argon (TIG) | R30,000 – R45,000 | Petrochemical, Power |
| Pipe Welder | TIG root + SMAW fill | R45,000 – R65,000 | Oil & Gas, Mines |
| Underwater Welder | Wet / Dry Hyperbaric | R60,000 – R100,000+ | Marine, Offshore |
What You Need to Earn More as a Welder
Tick what you already have and see where you stand against the market.
Is Welding Going to Get Automated Away?
Robotic welding is growing in high-volume automotive manufacturing. But it does not replace skilled coded welders doing maintenance, pipe welding, structural work or pressure vessel repairs on site. South Africa cannot even source enough qualified welders locally right now. Skilled artisans are the last to be retrenched and the first to be headhunted when work picks up.
For the full breakdown of welding as a long-term career, read this guide: Welding in South Africa: A High-Demand Career with Great Earning Potential.
How to Find Welding Work Right Now
The fastest way to get in front of employers who are actively hiring is to have a searchable profile that shows your trade, certifications and experience all in one place. Businesses across South Africa search Workforce Direct to find blue-collar workers without going through slow recruitment channels.
You can build your welder CV for free on Workforce Direct. If you are not sure how to set up a professional email to register, check the step by step guide to creating a Gmail account first.
Find Welding Work or Find Welders Fast
Free to join. Built for artisans and trade workers. Businesses across South Africa search Workforce Direct to hire right now.