Welder Salary In Netherlands: Everything You Need to Know

Are you looking for the latest and honest information about working as a welder in the Netherlands? You’ve come to the right place. Welding is one of the most in-demand skills in the Netherlands, and for good reason.

With major ports, a strong manufacturing sector, and ongoing construction projects, Dutch companies are always looking for skilled welders. If you’re thinking about working as a welder in the Netherlands, 2025 brings even more opportunities, with competitive salaries and excellent working conditions.

In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how much does a welder earn in the Netherlands, from starting salaries to expert-level pay. We’ll also show you which cities offer the best opportunities and how to make the most of your welding career here.

How Much Are Welders Paid in the Netherlands?

Let’s start with the numbers you really want to know. The average welder salary in the Netherlands is €48,278 gross per year, or about €4,023 per month before taxes. Depending on your experience and location, you can earn anywhere from €35,636 to €58,805 per year—that’s between €2,969 and €4,900 monthly before tax.

Here is a detailed breakdown of 2025 welder wages in the Netherlands according to the latest salary survey:

These numbers show the gross salary—what you see in job offers. Your actual take-home pay (net salary) will be about 75% of these amounts after taxes and social contributions.

What does this mean for your pocket?

Let’s look at a real example. How much does welder make after taxes?

If you earn an average salary of €4,023 gross per month, this is how your paycheck breaks down:

The deductions might seem high, but they include important benefits like healthcare coverage, unemployment protection, and pension contributions.

Additionally, as a foreign worker, you might be eligible for the 30% ruling—a tax advantage for skilled foreign workers in the Netherlands. If you qualify, 30% of your gross salary becomes tax-free.

To be eligible, you typically need to:

• Be hired from abroad to work in the Netherlands
• Have specific expertise that’s in high-demand in the Dutch job market
• Meet a minimum salary requirement (which welding positions often do)

Your employment agency or employer can help you apply for this benefit. If you qualify, you can significantly increase your take-home pay:

If approved, you could take home significantly more money each month—in our example, almost €900 extra compared to standard tax rates.

While these numbers give you a good overview, your actual salary will depend on several important factors. Let’s take a look at them.

What Affects Your Welder Wage in the Netherlands?

The average welder salary in the Netherlands varies based on several factors. Let’s look at what really affects your salary and how you can use this information to earn more.

Years of Experience

When it comes to how much does a welder make, experience is your best friend. The average welder salary increases significantly with each year you spend on the job. Let’s break down what you can expect:

Remember, these numbers show the typical average salary of a welder, but you can earn even more with specialised skills and certifications.

Education and Certification Level

How much does a welder earn in the Netherlands and has education anything to do with it?

One of the biggest factors that can increase your welder wage in the Netherlands is your level of education and professional certificates. Most welders here start with a high school diploma—in fact, 74% of welders work successfully with this level of education.

Some have additional degrees, but what really matters is your welding skills and certificates.

You’ll need basic welding certificates to start working. These show employers you know how to weld safely and properly. But this is just the beginning—there are many ways to increase your earnings through additional training.

Once you’re working, you can earn more by getting certificates in specialised areas like:

• Pressure vessel welding
• High-pressure pipe welding
• Special types of steel welding
• Underwater welding
• Quality control

With each new skill or certificate, you become more valuable to employers. Many Dutch companies support additional training by offering paid courses and certification programs. This means you can improve your skills and increase your salary while working.

Especially useful for those who are just starting to work as welders—sometimes, companies are even willing to help you obtain the basic certificate. This means you can start working even though you don’t have one, as long as you’re willing to obtain it at the beginning of your employment.

Speaking of employment, the type of employer can also impact your welder wage.

Type of Employer

When looking for welding jobs in the Netherlands, you’ll mainly find opportunities in two sectors: public and private.

1. Public sector jobs include working for government organisations, state-owned shipyards, and municipal projects. These positions typically offer higher base salaries and more stable employment, with regular working hours and fixed raises.
2. Private sector positions are with construction companies, manufacturing plants, and independent shipyards. While the base salary might be slightly lower, these companies often provide more opportunities for overtime work and performance bonuses, which can significantly increase your total earnings.

Each sector offers different advantages in terms of salary and benefits, but you’re most likely to come upon job offers with private sector companies, especially in manufacturing and shipbuilding. 

You’ll find plenty of opportunities in:

• Shipyard welding
• Manufacturing plant work
• Construction projects
• Industrial maintenance
• Production facilities

These positions are usually easier to get when you’re just starting to work in the Netherlands and offer good opportunities for overtime and skill development. Plus, many of these companies regularly need welders, meaning you can start working immediately.

Beyond choosing between public and private employers, there’s another key decision that will affect your welder salary in Netherlands – where in the Netherlands you decide to work.

Welder Salaries By City In the Netherlands

Where you work in the Netherlands can make a big difference in your paycheck. Some cities offer much higher salaries than others, but there’s more to consider than just the numbers.

Here’s what welders make in different Dutch cities:

*Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment

**Monthly costs excluding rent (food, transport, utilities)

Why Do Salaries Differ So Much?

The reason for these salary differences goes beyond just the city name. Here’s what really affects your earning potential in each location:

Cost of Living Impact

In Amsterdam, you’ll earn the highest salary, but don’t get too excited yet. A one-bedroom apartment can easily cost €1,500 per month, and daily expenses are higher too. Cities like Groningen or Tilburg offer lower salaries, but you might actually save more money because living costs are much lower.

Industry and Work Type

Each city has its speciality. Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port, needs welders for shipbuilding and repairs – work that often pays premium rates. Eindhoven, known as the tech hub, focuses more on precision welding for high-tech companies. These different types of work require different skills and offer different pay rates.

Job Market Competition

Bigger cities usually have more jobs but also more welders looking for work. Smaller cities might have fewer positions but also less competition, which can sometimes work in your favour during salary negotiations.

Growth Opportunities

Some cities are growing faster than others. Places like Almere and Utrecht are expanding quickly, with lots of new construction projects. This often means more chances for overtime and bonus pay.

Now you know how welder salaries by city in the Netherlands differ and what it roughly costs to live in each of them. This makes it easier to calculate where you’ll be able to save the most money – whether that’s in Amsterdam with higher pay or in cities like Groningen where living costs less.

But there’s more good news about welding jobs in the Netherlands – let’s look at how the industry treats all workers fairly when it comes to pay.

Netherlands Welder Salary Compared by Gender

While many industries still show significant gender pay gaps, welding in the Netherlands is moving toward more equal pay. Dutch companies are leading the way in creating fair workplaces where your skills matter more than your gender.

This is how the industry and welder average salary compares by gender:

The small difference (less than 2%) shows that how much do welders make a year is probably not related to gender. For context, this is much lower than the 14.2% national average for all industries.

Dutch welding companies are actively working to make the industry more inclusive by offering equal opportunities for development and advancement. No matter who you are, if you’re good at your job, you’ll earn a fair salary.

But there’s more good news – your base salary is just the starting point. Let’s look at all the extra money you can earn as a welder in the Netherlands.

Welders Salary In the Netherlands Beyond Base Pay

The Netherlands welder salary isn’t just about your base pay. About 32% of welders receive additional bonuses, with an average bonus of €859 per year. Dutch companies offer several ways to increase your earnings, and knowing about them helps you choose the right job.

Here’s a detailed look at how you can earn extra:

Holiday Pay (Vakantiegeld)

Every worker in the Netherlands gets an extra 8% of their yearly salary in May or June. For example, if your welder salary Netherlands is €48,274, you’ll get about €3,862 extra as holiday pay.

Overtime Opportunities

Eager to know how much do welders make an hour when working extra hours? Your chances to earn more are excellent, especially in busy industrial areas and shipyards.

The standard welding rate in the Netherlands is around €23 per hour, but this increases significantly with overtime:

• Weekday overtime: €34.50 (150% of normal rate)
• Weekend work: €46 (200% of normal rate)
• Holiday work: Can go up to €69 (300% of normal rate)

For example, if you work 10 hours of overtime during weekdays in a month, that’s an extra €345 in your pocket. Weekend work can be even more profitable – just two weekend shifts could add around €736 to your monthly earnings.

Shift Work Bonuses

Many Dutch companies operate around the clock, especially in manufacturing and shipyards. This means more opportunities to earn extra through shift work:

• Evening shifts (typically 2 PM – 10 PM): +25% (€28.75 per hour)
• Night shifts (10 PM – 6 AM): +50% (€34.50 per hour)
• Early morning shifts (6 AM – 2 PM): +25% (€28.75 per hour)

Please note that the bonuses may differ from company to company.

Most companies rotate shifts fairly among workers, so you can usually choose how much extra you want to work. If you regularly work evening or night shifts, these bonuses can sometimes add even hundreds of euros to your monthly income.

For instance, working night shifts full-time could mean earning an extra €920 per month compared to regular day shifts. If interested, make sure to check with your employer if this work organisation is possible.

All these extra earnings from shifts and overtime can significantly increase your monthly income. But there’s more to the welder salary Netherlands than just bonus payments. Let’s look at how your base salary grows over time and what kind of raises you can expect.

Potential Pay Raises

One of the advantages of working as a welder in the Netherlands is the structured approach to salary increases. Dutch companies typically review salaries annually, and your pay raises are often linked to both your growing experience and performance.

Most companies follow collective labour agreements (CAO), which guarantee regular evaluations and corresponding salary adjustments. Let’s look at what this means for your average welder salary over time.

These numbers show you exactly what kind of raises you can expect as you gain more experience:

As you can see, your welder wage grows fastest in your first five years. This is when you’re learning the most and becoming more valuable to your employer. The average welder salary can increase by up to 10% annually during these early years – much higher than the typical Dutch salary growth of 3-4%.

After five years, when you’re already earning a solid income, the raises become smaller but more consistent.

Now that you understand how your salary can grow in the Netherlands, you might be wondering if these are good numbers compared to other countries. Let’s see how the welder salary Netherlands measures up against other popular working destinations for welders.

Welder Salary in Netherlands vs. Other Countries

If you’re considering a move to the Netherlands, it’s natural to wonder how the pay compares to other countries. The good news is that Dutch welding salaries rank among Europe’s best, especially when you consider the whole package of benefits and working conditions.

Let’s look at the numbers:

As you can see, only Belgium welder salary can compare to what the Netherlands has to offer. When reviewing your options, make sure to compare the cost of living as well.

Many welders also look at Germany. The welder salary in Germany per month and welder salary in Germany per hour are both lower than in the Netherlands, which is one of the reasons why candidates usually choose welder jobs in the Netherlands.

When you combine these higher base rates with the comprehensive Dutch benefits system, holiday pay, and regular raises, the Netherlands often offers the best total package for welders in Europe.

However, when starting your job search, you might notice some positions advertise lower salaries than these averages. Let’s understand why this happens and how it might actually work in your favour.

Employment Agencies and Your Welder Salary In Netherlands

When searching for welding jobs in the Netherlands, you might notice some positions offer lower salaries than the averages we’ve discussed. There’s a good reason for this – these positions often come through employment agencies, which most Dutch employers use to find reliable workers.

While these jobs might show a lower base salary, the total package often works out better for you, especially when starting out. Here’s why: agencies take care of major expenses that would normally come out of your pocket.

For example, housing through an agency typically costs around €100-€150 per week, compared to €800-1,500 monthly if you were to rent on your own in the current Dutch housing market.

Beyond housing, agencies handle everything else you need – from work permits and bank accounts to health insurance and transportation to work. While they do take a percentage of your salary for these services, the math usually works in your favour: with the money you save on housing and other expenses, you often end up with more in your pocket at the end of the month, even with a lower gross salary.

Speed is another major advantage. Instead of spending months looking for work independently, employment agencies can get you started within weeks thanks to their direct connections with Dutch employers and recruitment agencies that source and propose candidates daily.

As you can see, employment agencies provide the easiest path to working in the Netherlands. While some worry about agency fees, the reality is that agencies can make your transition much smoother and often more cost-effective.

So if you’re ready to start working as a welder in the Netherlands, this is how you can do it.

Find a Job as a Welder In the Netherlands

Looking at all the data we’ve covered, it’s clear why working as a welder in the Netherlands is an attractive option for many candidates. The Netherlands needs skilled welders, and companies are willing to pay well for quality work.

You can start at €35,633 and work your way up to €58,800 or more! That’s solid money, especially with all the extras like holiday pay and travel allowance. Whether you’re working in Rotterdam’s shipyards or Eindhoven’s tech industry, you’ll find good opportunities with fair pay and proper working conditions.

How Robin Jobs Can Help You

As a recruitment agency, Robin Jobs is a helping hand to candidates looking for jobs abroad. We partner exclusively with top employment agencies in the Netherlands that meet all standards for fair pay and working conditions, including strict housing standards.

We’ve already helped more than 40,000 workers find good jobs abroad, and we know exactly what you need to get started.

Here’s the best part – Robin Jobs never charges candidates any fees. Our service is completely free for workers – we help you find positions with reputable Dutch companies and support you through the entire process, from your first application until you’re settled in your new job.

If you want to start working as a welder in the Netherlands in a matter of days, check out current job offers in the Netherlands on our website. Register on Robin today and let’s find you a good position with a fair salary and proper working conditions!