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Boilermakers

Typical education: High school diplomaHigh pressure

What they 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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $76,410 Median per year · $36.74/hr Most earn $50,490–$110,370

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Install refractory bricks or other heat-resistant materials in fireboxes of pressure vessels.
  • Conduct pressure tests on vessels, such as boilers.
  • Study blueprints to determine locations, relationships, or dimensions of parts.
  • Clean pressure vessel equipment, using scrapers, wire brushes, and cleaning solvents.
  • Assemble large vessels in an on-site fabrication shop prior to installation to ensure proper fit.
  • Bell, bead with power hammers, or weld pressure vessel tube ends to ensure leakproof joints.

Job outlook

United States
2% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 700 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Nonresidential building construction16.0%
  • Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors11.5%
  • Fabricated metal product manufacturing8.8%
  • Commercial and industrial machinery and equipment (except automotive and electronic) repair and maintenance7.4%
  • Power and communication line and related structures construction4.7%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Boilermaker is an entry-level job. Many people start with a high school diploma and learn on the job, usually getting up to speed in about 6 months to a year.

  1. High school diploma

    About 4 years

    Build a solid base in math, shop, and blueprint reading, since boilermakers work from plans and need to measure accurately.

  2. Boilermaker Helper

    6 months to 1 year

    Work alongside experienced boilermakers on construction or maintenance sites, handling materials, tools, and cleanup while you learn how boilers and tanks are assembled and repaired.

  3. Boilermaker

    Ongoing career

    Once you know the tools, safety rules, and how to read plans, you can build, align, maintain, and repair boilers and related equipment on your own.

Where it can lead

  1. Boilermaker Foreman

    Several years as a boilermaker of experience first

    You lead a crew, assign tasks, check that work meets plans and safety rules, and communicate with supervisors. It takes strong skills and good judgment, not just hands-on work.

  2. Stationary Engineer

    2 to 4 years of experience first

    You move from building and repairing boilers to running and maintaining the boiler and steam systems in a building or plant. This usually requires a certificate or apprenticeship and more hands-on experience with the equipment.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop and math classesMetal shop, welding, and geometry help you understand measurements, angles, and the tools you'd use on the job.
  • Learn to read blueprintsAsk a shop or drafting teacher to show you how to read plans, since boilermakers build from detailed drawings.
  • Get a part-time or summer job in construction or maintenanceEven basic labor work teaches you job-site habits, teamwork, and how tools and materials are handled.
  • Join a technical or trade clubClubs like SkillsUSA, if your school has one, let you practice hands-on skills and meet people in the trades.
  • Take a basic safety courseLearning workplace safety and first aid early shows employers you take the job seriously.

In college

  • Take welding, metallurgy, or industrial technology coursesThese classes build the metal-joining and materials knowledge boilermakers use when assembling and repairing equipment.
  • Work a summer job or internship at a plant, shipyard, or construction siteHands-on time on a job site shows you the daily work and helps you build contacts in the trade.
  • Earn a welding or safety certificationMany community colleges offer short certificate programs that make you a stronger job candidate.
  • Volunteer or join a campus trades or engineering clubWorking on builds or repair projects helps you practice teamwork and problem-solving with tools and plans.
  • Ask about apprenticeship programsFind out from local unions or contractors how apprenticeships work, since learning on the job while earning is a common way into this trade.

Tips for getting started

  • Take shop, welding, or drafting classes if your school offers them. Reading blueprints and working with tools are everyday skills in this job.
  • Ask a local boiler shop, construction company, or union hall whether they hire helpers or take applications. Showing up in person and asking shows initiative.
  • Get comfortable with safety training, such as basic first aid and workplace safety courses, because employers value workers who follow safety rules every day.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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