Boilermakers

Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed

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.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $76,410/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$50,490$110,370

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: -2.4% projected growth, 2024–2034 — declining.

About 800 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills

Operations MonitoringOperation and ControlCritical ThinkingTroubleshootingRepairingEquipment MaintenanceQuality Control AnalysisReading ComprehensionEquipment SelectionMonitoring

Top knowledge areas

MechanicalEnglish LanguageMathematicsAdministration and ManagementBuilding and ConstructionComputers and ElectronicsPhysicsEngineering and Technology

Core tasks

• Conduct pressure tests on vessels, such as boilers.

• Study blueprints to determine locations, relationships, or dimensions of parts.

• 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.

• Shape or fabricate parts, such as stacks, uptakes, or chutes, to adapt pressure vessels, heat exchangers, or piping to premises, using heavy-metalworking machines such as brakes, rolls, or drill presses.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Boilermakers?

The median pay for Boilermakers is $76,410 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Boilermakers?

Employment for Boilermakers is projected to change -2.4% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.

What education is typically required for Boilermakers?

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

How many job openings are there each year for Boilermakers?

About 800 openings per year, on average, over the decade.