Boilermakers
SOC code 47-2011 · O*NET-SOC 47-2011.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Skilled trades
Boilermakers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$76,410
a year
Hourly
$36.74
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$80,090
$38.50 per hour
Middle 50%
$64,760 – $95,430
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$50,490 – $110,370
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
10,190
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $50,490
- $24.28/hr
- 25th percentile
- $64,760
- $31.13/hr
- Median percentile
- $76,410
- $36.74/hr
- 75th percentile
- $95,430
- $45.88/hr
- 90th percentile
- $110,370
- $53.06/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
-2%
Declining
10,400
jobs in 2024
10,100
projected for 2034
About 300 fewer jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What does a boilermaker do?
Construct, assemble, maintain, and repair stationary steam boilers and boiler house auxiliaries. Align structures or plate sections to assemble boiler frame tanks or vats, following blueprints. Work involves use of hand and power tools, plumb bobs, levels, wedges, dogs, or turnbuckles. Assist in testing assembled vessels. Direct cleaning of boilers and boiler furnaces. Inspect and repair boiler fittings, such as safety valves, regulators, automatic-control mechanisms, water columns, and auxiliary machines.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Conduct pressure tests on vessels, such as boilers.
- Study blueprints to determine locations, relationships, or dimensions of parts.
- Assemble large vessels in an on-site fabrication shop prior to installation to ensure proper fit.
- Examine boilers, pressure vessels, tanks, or vats to locate defects, such as leaks, weak spots, or defective sections, so that they can be repaired.
- Inspect assembled vessels or individual components, such as tubes, fittings, valves, controls, or auxiliary mechanisms, to locate any defects.
- Lay out plate, sheet steel, or other heavy metal and locate and mark bending and cutting lines, using protractors, compasses, and drawing instruments or templates.
- Bell, bead with power hammers, or weld pressure vessel tube ends to ensure leakproof joints.
- Locate and mark reference points for columns or plates on boiler foundations, following blueprints and using straightedges, squares, transits, or measuring instruments.
How to become a boilermaker
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 52% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)52%
- Post-Secondary Certificate32%
- Some College Courses16%
Common questions
How much does a boilermaker earn?
The national median is $76,410 a year. The full range runs from $50,490 at the 10th percentile to $110,370 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a boilermaker without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Is boilermaker in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to shrink by about 2% between 2024 and 2034 — declining. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Critical Thinking3.5/5
- Reading Comprehension3.0/5
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Speaking3.0/5
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical4.2/5
- English Language3.3/5
- Mathematics3.2/5
- Administration and Management2.9/5
- Building and Construction2.8/5
- Computers and Electronics2.6/5
- Physics2.5/5
Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repairing, Quality Control Analysis.