Q&A topic

Standards, tickets & careers: 8 questions answered

• Do I need a licence to weld in Australia?

  For your own projects, farm repairs and most hobby work: no licence exists — welding itself is unregulated. What's regulated is th…

• How much do welders earn in Australia?

  Welders in Australia typically earn $70,000–$110,000 a year: around $30–$40/hr base for tradesmen, more with tickets, overtime and…

• How do I get a welding ticket in Australia?

  Book an assessment with an authorised examiner, pay the fee (typically $500–$1,500 depending on class), and pass a practical test …

• What is AS/NZS 1554 and does it matter to me?

  AS/NZS 1554 is the Australian/New Zealand structural steel welding standard — the rulebook for welds in buildings and structures, …

• Boilermaker vs welder — what's the difference in Australia?

  In Australia a boilermaker is a tradesperson (engineering – fabrication trade) qualified to lay out, cut, form and weld metal stru…

• Is welding a good career in Australia in 2026?

  Yes — Australia's welder shortage is structural: an ageing workforce, infrastructure pipelines and defence shipbuilding all compet…

• What welding courses and pathways exist in Australia?

  Australian welding pathways: the Certificate III in Engineering (Fabrication Trade) apprenticeship (3–4 years, paid), TAFE short c…

• What do 1G to 6G mean on welding tickets?

  1G–6G are welding POSITION codes used in qualification tests (aligned with AS/NZS ISO 9606-1 and ASME practice): 1G flat, 2G horiz…