Welder
A precision and safety trade, certified welding is among the most sought-after skills in German industry.
The profession
The welder joins metal parts by welding (WIG/TIG, MAG, MIG and stick electrode processes), reads welding procedure specifications and works to certified standards. The WIG/TIG (141), MAG (135/136) and electrode (111) certifications under the ISO 9606 standard make welders scarce and highly sought after.
Salary
The median across all experience levels is about 3,533 € per month (quartiles about 2,900 to 4,250 €) (source: Entgeltatlas, Federal Employment Agency, 2024). Portals report lower averages (WIG welder about 3,316 €, certified Schweißfachmann about 3,841 €, source: StepStone, 2026); entry is around 2,800 to 3,000 € and experienced specialists exceed 4,250 €. Pay is often tied to the IG Metall collective agreement (holiday pay, Christmas pay, shift bonuses, 35-hour week).
Employers hiring
Employers include Siemens Energy, thyssenkrupp, Linde Engineering and SMS group. The sectors concerned are mechanical engineering, steel construction (Stahlbau), plant construction (Anlagenbau) and pipework (Rohrleitungsbau).
Prospects
Demand is very strong and structural, driven by infrastructure, energy and retirements.
Career progression
You can progress to Schweißfachmann, welding quality control, inspection or team leader.
Language level
On site, safety instructions, work orders and documentation are in German. B2 is the standard expected by employers, and that is the level we aim for with you.
Diploma recognition
These occupations are not regulated: you do not need recognition to work in them, but the skilled worker visa requires a recognized qualification equivalent to the German training. We have your diploma and experience assessed and start the recognition procedure (Anerkennung) with you.
Visa
The main routes are the skilled worker visa with a recognized qualification, the recognition partnership, which since March 2024 lets you enter and work while completing recognition on site (level A2 required), and the Chancenkarte (opportunity card) to come and look for a job. The EU Blue Card, reserved for university profiles, does not apply to these trades. We check your eligibility and prepare the application with you.
Your Karriere Fähre support
We train you in German up to the level you need, have your qualification recognized, present your profile to German employers, prepare the visa application and support you all the way to settling in.
Frequently asked questions
- Which welding certifications are required?
- Employers look above all for the WIG/TIG (141), MAG (135/136) and electrode (111) processes, certified to the ISO 9606 standard. These qualifications are what make your profile scarce and attractive.
- Is English enough on a German site?
- No: safety instructions and work orders are in German, and good comprehension is essential to work safely. That is why we aim for B2.
Indicative gross ranges from public German sources (Federal Employment Agency, Entgeltatlas, Gehalt.de, StepStone, IHK, IG Metall). In industry, pay is often set by the collective agreement (IG Metall) and varies by region, employer and experience. Recognition and visa rules change: always check your case with the competent German authorities.