Role Snapshot

ANZSCO Code: 322313 — Welder (First Class)
Role Variants: Welder, Structural Welder, Coded Welder, Boilermaker-Welder, Pressure Welder, Fabricator-Welder, TIG Welder, MIG Welder, Pipeline Welder, Welding Inspector, Welding Supervisor
Parent Category: NZ Trades & Engineering Roles
Skill Level: 3
Green List: Not listed. Welder (ANZSCO 322313) is not on the NZ Green List as of 2025.
National Occupation List (NOL): Yes — ANZSCO 322313 is on the National Occupation List, making it eligible for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) with a qualifying job offer from an accredited employer

🇦🇺Also available for AustraliaWelder Roles in AustraliaCSOL listed · resources sector · FIFO opportunities→

Welding is a broad trade. In NZ, the term “Welder (First Class)” under ANZSCO 322313 encompasses a wide range of specialisations, from general fabrication work in engineering shops through to coded welding on pressure vessels, structural steel for commercial construction and infrastructure, marine hull fabrication, and agricultural equipment manufacturing. The distinction that matters most to employers is whether you hold weld procedure qualifications (coded welder) or are a general fabricator. NZ has no single statutory certification body for welders, but weld procedure qualification records are taken seriously by any employer doing structural, pressure, or certified work. WorkSafe NZ has oversight of pressure welding specifically, covering pressure vessels and pipework. For overseas welders, the key practical point is that NZ employers operate within globally recognised welding standard systems, and overseas coded welders from ISO 9606-1, AWS D1.1, or AS/NZS 2980 backgrounds are well understood. You will typically be required to complete a weld test on arrival at a new employer, which is standard practice globally and not a barrier for a qualified tradesperson.

• Structural steel welding: fabrication and erection welding for commercial buildings, bridges, and infrastructure using MIG, TIG, and stick (SMAW) processes
• Coded welding: weld procedure qualification to AS/NZS 2980, ISO 9606-1, or AWS D1.1 for structural, pressure, or specification-grade welds
• Pressure welding: welding of pressure vessels, boilers, and pipework under WorkSafe NZ oversight; requires specific weld procedure qualification
• Fabrication: cutting, fitting, and welding of steel components to drawings and specifications in workshop and site environments
• MIG/GMAW welding: gas metal arc welding for general fabrication, structural, and manufacturing applications
• TIG/GTAW welding: gas tungsten arc welding for stainless steel, aluminium, and high-specification weld applications
• Marine welding: hull fabrication, repair, and modification work at shipyards and marine engineering facilities
• Agricultural equipment fabrication: welding and repair of farm machinery, trailers, and agricultural structures
• Welding inspection and quality assurance: visual inspection, dimensional checking, and documentation of welds to specification
• Supervisory roles: leading welding teams, reviewing weld procedures, coordinating with engineers and project managers

Typical employers: Steel fabrication companies (Fisher Steel, Metalcraft Industries, Formsteel, and many smaller independent fabrication workshops across NZ); construction contractors (Fulton Hogan, Downer NZ, McConnell Dowell); marine yards (primarily Auckland and Nelson); agricultural equipment manufacturers; heavy engineering workshops; infrastructure and civil construction contractors. Outside Auckland, many fabrication shops and engineering workshops across NZ are actively seeking coded welders and report persistent difficulty filling these positions.

Salary Benchmark

Welder salaries in NZ vary substantially by certification level, process specialisation, and industry sector. Coded welders and structural specialists earn meaningfully more than general fabricators, and roles in heavy industrial, infrastructure, and pressure welding applications carry salary premiums. Overtime, shift loading, and remote site allowances are common in infrastructure and heavy industrial roles, and can add materially to base remuneration for welders working outside standard hours or in rural locations.

Typical Ranges (NZD per year, before tax):

• Entry-level / general fabrication welder: $55,000–$70,000
• Trade-qualified welder (3–7 years experience): $70,000–$85,000
• Coded welder / structural specialist: $85,000–$105,000
• Pressure welder / senior coded welder: $95,000–$110,000+
• Welding supervisor / leading hand: $95,000–$115,000+ (dependent on employer, sector, and team size)

Overseas coded welders with current weld procedure qualifications typically enter at the trade-qualified to coded band, depending on the employer’s assessment of their qualifications and the outcome of the arrival weld test. The weld test result is the primary determinant of starting band for most private fabrication employers. Arrange for your overseas weld procedure qualification records (weld log, qualification certificates, procedure qualification records) before departing, as these are the primary documentation an NZ employer will review before and after your weld test.

Source: SEEK NZ — Welder | Data reviewed May 2026

Cost of living: For an independent comparison of purchasing power by city, see Numbeo — New Zealand. TEFI provides clients with a detailed financial planning workbook to model living costs, net income, and mortgage serviceability by city — ask Tate for a copy.

Where Demand Is Strongest

Welding demand in NZ follows construction and manufacturing activity, which is concentrated in Auckland but spread meaningfully across the country’s provincial and industrial centres. Coded welder shortages are not limited to Auckland; many fabrication employers outside the main centres report that finding qualified coded welders is consistently their biggest staffing constraint. This regional spread is useful for overseas welders, as provincial employment often comes with lower cost of living and faster integration into a smaller community.

• Auckland region — The largest market for structural welding, driven by Auckland’s ongoing commercial construction activity. Multiple large steel fabrication companies operate in South Auckland (Manukau, Wiri, Papakura) and on the North Shore. Marine welding opportunities exist at the Auckland waterfront and in boat repair yards. Competition for roles in Auckland is higher than in provincial centres, but the volume of vacancies is also the highest in the country.
• Waikato / Hamilton — Strong demand from agricultural equipment manufacturers, general engineering fabrication, and the construction sector serving Hamilton’s growth. Waikato has a number of engineering workshops that supply the wider agricultural sector and report ongoing coded welder shortages.
• Bay of Plenty (Tauranga / Mount Maunganui) — Port-related fabrication and engineering, construction activity driven by Tauranga’s growth, and marine engineering. Engineering workshops in this region supply both the construction and marine sectors.
• Manawatu / Palmerston North — Agricultural and food processing equipment fabrication; engineering workshops serving the wider lower North Island. Palmerston North has a smaller but stable welding market with relatively lower cost of living.
• Nelson / Marlborough — Marine welding at Nelson’s significant fishing and pleasure craft industry; fabrication for the horticulture and aquaculture sectors. Nelson has a reputation as a productive and liveable provincial centre for trades workers.
• Canterbury / Christchurch — One of NZ’s strongest welding markets outside Auckland, driven by post-earthquake construction, ongoing infrastructure investment, and Canterbury’s heavy engineering and agricultural equipment manufacturing base. Christchurch has multiple significant steel fabrication employers and a healthy demand for coded welders.
• Southland / Invercargill — Heavy engineering for the aluminium smelting, food processing, and farming sectors. Southland has a smaller but persistent demand for trade welders, and cost of living is lower than most NZ cities.

Licensing & Registration

There is no statutory registration body for welders in New Zealand. The trade is not regulated under the same framework as electricians or plumbers. However, welding certification in the form of weld procedure qualification is a genuine employment requirement for structural, coded, and pressure welding work, and the absence of a registration board does not mean that overseas welders can simply walk into a coded position without documentation.

Key certification and qualification requirements for overseas welders:

• Weld procedure qualification records: The most important documentation you can bring from overseas. These are the records of the specific weld procedures (process, material type, thickness, position) to which you have been qualified under ISO 9606-1, AWS D1.1, or AS/NZS 2980. NZ employers operating under these standards recognise overseas qualifications from these systems. Keep certified copies of all weld procedure qualification certificates and weld logs.
• ISO 9606-1 (European standard): Widely used in European-origin fabrication environments and recognised in NZ. Qualifications under this system are directly understood by NZ employers who operate to this standard. Pipe and plate weld qualifications under ISO 9606-1 are directly applicable in NZ.
• AWS D1.1 (American Welding Society standard): Used in North American and some international construction environments. Recognised in NZ for structural welding. AWS D1.1 weld qualifications are accepted by NZ structural steel employers who work to this standard.
• AS/NZS 2980 (Australian/New Zealand standard): The domestic standard used in NZ and Australia. If you hold AS/NZS 2980 qualifications from Australia, they are directly transferable — no re-certification is required to work in NZ.
• Weld test on arrival: Regardless of overseas qualifications, most NZ employers will require you to complete a weld test before commencing work. This is normal practice for welders changing employers anywhere in the world and is not a barrier for a qualified tradesperson. The test confirms your practical competency on the processes and materials relevant to the employer’s work.
• Pressure welding: WorkSafe NZ has specific oversight of welding on pressure equipment (pressure vessels, boilers, pressure pipework). Overseas welders with pressure welding qualifications should confirm with their prospective employer which specific procedure qualification records are required for the relevant NZ pressure standard (AS/NZS 3788, AS 4024, and related standards).
• NZ Qualifications: Locally trained welders hold the New Zealand Certificate in Engineering (Mechanical) at Level 3 or Level 4, delivered by providers such as Weltec and Ara Institute. Overseas welders do not need to hold this local qualification to work in NZ, but may wish to explore NZQA recognition of their overseas qualifications for immigration assessment purposes.
• English language: No formal English language test is required by employers for most welder roles. Practical communication in a workplace environment is assessed informally during the hiring process.

Immigration Pathway

Welder (ANZSCO 322313) is on New Zealand’s National Occupation List (NOL) but is not on the Green List. This means there is no direct work-to-residence pathway from the work visa alone. The residence pathway runs through the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) points system. This is longer than the Green List direct pathway available for some health professions, but it is a well-established route and the shortage of coded welders in NZ means employers are motivated to support the visa process.

1. Secure a job offer from an accredited NZ employer in a welding role at ANZSCO 322313. The employer must hold or obtain accredited employer status under the AEWV scheme. Many fabrication and construction employers in NZ are accredited or familiar with the accreditation process for skilled trades migrants.
2. Apply for an AEWV (Accredited Employer Work Visa) — the standard temporary work visa for NOL-listed occupations. The job offer must be at or above the AEWV median wage threshold. The AEWV is initially a temporary visa that does not lead directly to residence.
3. Skilled Migrant Category (SMC): After working in NZ, overseas welders pursue residence through the SMC points system. Points are awarded for occupation (skilled occupation on the NOL), NZ work experience, qualifications, age, and other factors. The earlier you understand your SMC points position, the better placed you are to plan your pathway. Engage a licensed immigration adviser before or shortly after arriving.
4. Permanent residence via SMC provides the same pathway to NZ citizenship as other residence visas, after meeting the five-year residence requirement.

A point worth understanding: while the absence of a Green List pathway means the residence timeline is longer than for some health professions, the welder shortage in NZ means that skilled overseas welders are in a stronger negotiating position with employers than many migrants realise. Employers who need coded welders are often willing to assist with accreditation, provide reference documentation for visa purposes, and offer stable long-term employment, all of which supports the SMC residence pathway over time.

Immigration advice: TEFI does not provide immigration advice. For visa strategy, we recommend Fabien Maisonneuve at New Zealand Shores — email fabien@newzealandshores.com and mention that Tate sent you. Fabien works with skilled trades migrants and understands AEWV and SMC pathways for tradespeople.

Migrant Readiness Signals

Many skilled migrants overlook welding as a migration pathway because they assume NZ (or Australia) prioritises professional or degree-qualified roles for immigration purposes. This assumption is incorrect. Coded welders are in genuine shortage across NZ’s fabrication, construction, and heavy industrial sectors, and the immigration pathway for a qualified coded welder is often faster, cheaper, and more predictable than the pathway for many professional occupations. The readiness signals below reflect what distinguishes overseas welders who move smoothly into NZ employment from those who encounter unnecessary delays.

• Weld procedure qualification records gathered and ready: The single most important practical step before approaching NZ employers. Your weld procedure qualification certificates and weld logs are the primary evidence of your coded status. These records can take time to obtain from former employers or certification bodies, so gather them before you begin your NZ job search. Certified copies are acceptable for most purposes.
• Understanding of your welding standard system and its NZ equivalents: Know which standard system your qualifications sit under (ISO 9606-1, AWS D1.1, or AS/NZS 2980) and be able to explain clearly to an NZ employer how your qualification maps to their work. NZ employers in structural steel, pressure, and heavy fabrication work operate across all three systems. An overseas welder who can articulate their process, position, and material qualifications clearly demonstrates substantive readiness.
• Preparedness for a weld test on arrival: NZ employers expect to test you before you start. Treating this as a formality rather than a threat is the right framing. Keep your practical skills current before departing — an overseas welder who has not been welding regularly for several months before arriving is at a disadvantage in a weld test. Stay active in your trade right up to departure.
• Realistic salary expectations by sector: General fabrication work pays at the lower end of the range. Coded and structural work pays at the upper end. Knowing where your qualifications and experience place you on the NZ salary spectrum, and being able to explain this to an employer, avoids misalignment in early conversations. Provincial employers often pay rates comparable to Auckland for coded work, and the lower cost of living makes provincial locations financially attractive.
• Target sector identified: NZ’s welding market spans structural steel, manufacturing, marine, and agricultural equipment. Each has different employer cultures, certification expectations, and regional concentrations. An overseas welder who knows they want to be in Canterbury structural steel, or in Nelson marine welding, or in Waikato agricultural fabrication, demonstrates preparation that general applicants do not. Sector-specific preparation makes you a faster hire.
• Immigration pathway clarity (AEWV and SMC): Understanding that welding is on the NOL (not the Green List) and that your residence pathway runs through the SMC points system means you have done the full planning, not just the trade side. Employers find overseas applicants with a realistic visa understanding easier to onboard, and a rough sense of your SMC points position before you leave home is worth an hour of an immigration adviser’s time.

Where to Find Roles

Unlike some health or professional roles, welding vacancies in NZ are spread across a large number of employers ranging from large steel fabrication companies to small independent workshops. SEEK NZ is the primary board for formal advertised vacancies. Direct outreach to fabrication employers is also highly effective for coded welders, given the persistent shortage and the relatively low volume of qualified overseas applicants approaching employers directly.

• SEEK NZ — Welder — the primary job board for welding and fabrication roles in NZ; structural welder, coded welder, boilermaker-welder, and TIG/MIG welder roles all appear here regularly
• SEEK NZ — Fabricator Welder — targeted search for fabrication-focused roles, including workshop and site positions across NZ regions
• Trade Me Jobs — Welding & Metal Fabrication — NZ-specific board; smaller employers and regional workshops frequently advertise here rather than on SEEK
• LinkedIn Jobs — New Zealand Welder — larger fabrication companies and construction contractors post here; also useful for welding supervisor and inspection roles
• MyJobSpace — Welding — NZ trades-focused job board; provincial employers appear here regularly
• Direct outreach to fabrication employers: Many NZ fabrication workshops and steel companies do not advertise every vacancy on public boards, particularly for skilled coded positions. A well-prepared direct approach to a target employer, with your weld qualification records attached, is an effective channel for coded welders. TEFI can help you prepare this approach.
• Industry associations: Welding New Zealand is the industry body for the welding sector in NZ, with resources on welding standards, certification, and industry connections. The Engineering New Zealand network is relevant for welding roles with an engineering focus.