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Boilermakers: Career Profile
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.
What Do Boilermakers Do?
The core tasks performed by boilermakers cover:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful boilermakers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Boilermakers Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Assembler
- Boiler Control Technician (Boiler Control Tech)
- Boiler Erector
- Boiler Fitter
- Boiler Installer
- Boiler Maker
- Boiler Mechanic
- Boiler Reliner
Employment and Demand
There are about 457,983 boilermakers working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +0.8% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Boilermakers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $84,334 |
| Hourly median | $40.55 |
| 10th percentile | $53,152 |
| 25th percentile | $68,743 |
| 75th percentile | $99,926 |
| 90th percentile | $115,517 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Boilermakers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| South Carolina | $124,400 |
| Washington | $113,970 |
| California | $107,600 |
| Minnesota | $102,730 |
| Wisconsin | $97,410 |
| Illinois | $95,340 |
| Pennsylvania | $87,710 |
| Colorado | $86,980 |
| Connecticut | $85,480 |
| Indiana | $83,500 |
| Montana | $83,200 |
| New Jersey | $80,560 |
| Louisiana | $76,320 |
| Wyoming | $76,050 |
| Arizona | $75,770 |
| New York | $75,060 |
| Arkansas | $74,780 |
| Kentucky | $73,340 |
| Nevada | $73,220 |
| Idaho | $71,700 |
| New Hampshire | $70,530 |
| Iowa | $68,410 |
| Michigan | $66,440 |
| Texas | $64,190 |
| New Mexico | $63,480 |
| Nebraska | $63,310 |
| Georgia | $63,240 |
| Alabama | $63,220 |
| Missouri | $62,490 |
| West Virginia | $61,660 |
| Ohio | $61,520 |
| Maryland | $61,030 |
| Virginia | $60,440 |
| Florida | $53,690 |
| Tennessee | $49,810 |
| North Carolina | $45,760 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for boilermakers differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $105,300 | 9.9% | 0.63 |
| Middle Atlantic | $81,659 | 10.3% | 0.96 |
| New England | $80,043 | 1.2% | 0.66 |
| Great Lakes | $76,178 | 13.0% | 1.12 |
| Rocky Mountains | $76,027 | 2.9% | 3.42 |
| Southwest | $64,172 | 26.5% | 2.64 |
| Southeast | $63,765 | 35.9% | 6.98 |
| Plains States | $63,310 | 0.4% | 0.55 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Boilermakers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $138,790 | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $107,600 | 400 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $102,740 | |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | WI | $99,050 | 70 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | MI | $96,510 | |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | IN | $93,130 | 100 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | PA | $91,690 | 240 |
| Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | TN | $90,210 | 50 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of boilermakers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 6,990 | $74,800 |
| Manufacturing | 970 | $63,120 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 550 | $71,700 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 200 | $78,120 |
| Educational Services | 190 | $49,680 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 180 | $63,370 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 160 | $82,820 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 70 | $65,410 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of boilermakers reflects the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Education and Training
Most boilermakers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (Primary-Short)
- Sheet Metal Workers (Supplemental)
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers (Primary-Long)
- Helpers–Electricians (Supplemental)
- Helpers–Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (Primary-Short)
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (Supplemental)
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door (Supplemental)
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Future boilermakers commonly pursue programs in:
Precision Production
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-2011.00 (Boilermakers).
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