What Does it Take to Be a Boilermaker?
Boilermaker Example 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.
Daily Life Of a Boilermaker
- Position, align, and secure structural parts or related assemblies to boiler frames, tanks, or vats of pressure vessels, following blueprints.
- Install refractory bricks or other heat-resistant materials in fireboxes of pressure vessels.
- Bolt or arc weld pressure vessel structures and parts together, using wrenches or welding equipment.
- Assemble large vessels in an on-site fabrication shop prior to installation to ensure proper fit.
- 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.
- 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.
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Boilermaker Required Skills
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.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Types of Boilermaker
- Boiler Reliner
- Boilerhouse Mechanic
- Manufacturing Assembler
- Assembler
- Boiler Welder
Boilermaker Employment Estimates
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.
How Much Does a Boilermaker Make?
The average yearly salary of a Boilermaker ranges between $37,610 and $89,940.

Boilermakers who work in Kentucky, North Dakota, or Pennsylvania, make the highest salaries.
How much do Boilermakers make in each U.S. state?
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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Boilermakers
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Boilermakers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Windows
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Computer aided design CAD software
- SAP software
How do I Become a Boilermaker?
Are there Boilermakers education requirements?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Boilermakers?

Boilermakers work in the following industries:

Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Boilermaker might also be interested in the following careers:
Are you already one of the many Boilermaker in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Phasmatisnox via Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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