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What Does it Take to Be a Boilermaker?
Job Description: 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.
Life As a Boilermaker
- 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.
- Repair or replace defective pressure vessel parts, such as safety valves or regulators, using torches, jacks, caulking hammers, power saws, threading dies, welding equipment, or metalworking machinery.
- Examine boilers, pressure vessels, tanks, or vats to locate defects, such as leaks, weak spots, or defective sections, so that they can be repaired.
- Clean pressure vessel equipment, using scrapers, wire brushes, and cleaning solvents.
- Inspect assembled vessels or individual components, such as tubes, fittings, valves, controls, or auxiliary mechanisms, to locate any defects.
- Straighten or reshape bent pressure vessel plates or structure parts, using hammers, jacks, or torches.
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What Every Boilermaker Should Know
When polled, Boilermakers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Boiler/Chiller Technician
- Boiler Technician
- Manufacturing Assembler
- Boiler Control Technician
- Boilermaker
Are There Job Opportunities for Boilermakers?
In the United States, there were 17,200 jobs for Boilermaker in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,500 new jobs for Boilermaker by 2026. There will be an estimated 1,900 positions for Boilermaker per year.
The states with the most job growth for Boilermaker are Arizona, Connecticut, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Mississippi, Idaho, or Delaware. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Boilermaker Salary
The salary for Boilermakers ranges between about $37,610 and $89,940 a year.
Boilermakers who work in Kentucky, North Dakota, or Pennsylvania, make the highest salaries.
How much do Boilermakers make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $56,540 |
| Arizona | $60,740 |
| Arkansas | $47,500 |
| California | $70,120 |
| Colorado | $70,520 |
| Connecticut | $68,250 |
| Florida | $59,240 |
| Georgia | $62,070 |
| Illinois | $69,030 |
| Indiana | $71,600 |
| Kentucky | $76,340 |
| Louisiana | $60,720 |
| Maryland | $61,910 |
| Massachusetts | $64,610 |
| Michigan | $71,930 |
| Minnesota | $64,360 |
| Missouri | $51,420 |
| Montana | $65,250 |
| Nebraska | $76,620 |
| Nevada | $38,930 |
| New Jersey | $68,640 |
| New Mexico | $60,310 |
| New York | $69,820 |
| North Carolina | $62,370 |
| North Dakota | $81,500 |
| Ohio | $71,840 |
| Oklahoma | $54,610 |
| Oregon | $61,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,380 |
| South Carolina | $60,590 |
| Tennessee | $66,380 |
| Texas | $57,480 |
| Utah | $60,290 |
| Virginia | $57,310 |
| Washington | $65,900 |
| West Virginia | $68,270 |
| Wisconsin | $58,020 |
| Wyoming | $69,440 |
What Tools do Boilermakers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Boilermakers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Windows
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Computer aided design CAD software
- SAP software
How do I Become a Boilermaker?
What education or degrees do I need to become a Boilermaker?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Boilermaker?
Boilermakers Sector
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Similar Careers
Those interested in being a Boilermaker may also be interested in:
Those who work as a Boilermaker sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Phasmatisnox via Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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