Updated 2025 · Industrial
How to Become a Boilermaker
Boilermakers build, install, and maintain boilers, vats, and other large vessels that hold liquids and gases in power plants, refineries, and factories.
Steps to Become a Boilermaker
- Meet basic requirements — You must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED. A strong foundation in math, physics, and shop classes helps.
- Apply to an apprenticeship program — Boilermaker apprenticeships last 4 years and combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Apply through your local union (IBEW, UA, etc.) or a non-union contractor program. You earn while you learn from day one.
- Complete required training — Complete 8000 hours of on-the-job training and related classroom instruction.
- Earn certifications — Required certifications include: ASME boiler welding certifications, OSHA 10/30-Hour, NCCER Boilermaker certification, National Board Commission certification.
- Pass the journeyman exam — After completing your apprenticeship, pass the journeyman licensing exam in your state to earn full journeyman status and pay.
What Does a Boilermaker Do?
Boilermakers build, install, and maintain boilers, vats, and other large vessels that hold liquids and gases in power plants, refineries, and factories.
Daily Duties
- Fabricate and assemble boilers and pressure vessels
- Read blueprints and follow engineering specifications
- Weld, rivet, and bolt boiler sections together
- Test boilers for pressure, leaks, and defects
- Perform maintenance shutdowns and emergency repairs
Skills Needed
- Pressure vessel welding
- Boiler operation knowledge
- Blueprint reading
- Rigging
- Non-destructive testing
Required Certifications
- ASME boiler welding certifications
- OSHA 10/30-Hour
- NCCER Boilermaker certification
- National Board Commission certification
Boilermaker Salary (2025)
The national median boilermaker salary is $67,891 per year. Pay ranges from $56,764 in the lowest-paying metro to $90,363 in the highest-paying metro. See the full boilermaker salary breakdown by city.
Apprentice Pay Progression
Boilermaker apprentices earn while they learn, starting at approximately 40% of journeyman pay:
| Year | % of Journeyman | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 40% | $27,156 |
| Year 2 | 57% | $38,698 |
| Year 3 | 73% | $49,560 |
| Year 4 | 90% | $61,102 |
| Journeyman | 100% | $67,891 |
Union vs Non-Union Boilermaker Pay
Union boilermakers earn 35% more than non-union workers — $38.75/hour union vs $28.70/hour non-union. Approximately 52.3% of boilermakers are union members. See the full union vs non-union comparison.
Work Environment
Boilermakers work in power plants, refineries, and factories. Work involves extreme heat, confined spaces, heights, and significant travel for shutdown work.
Career Outlook
Demand driven by power plant maintenance, refinery turnarounds, and industrial boiler replacements. Significant travel required for outage work.
Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for a boilermaker is $67,891 per year (2025 BLS data). Pay ranges from $56,764 to $90,363 depending on location, with top earners in the 90th percentile making significantly more.
It takes 4 years to complete a boilermaker apprenticeship. During this time, you earn while you learn — starting at approximately 40-50% of journeyman wages and receiving annual raises.
No college degree is required to become a boilermaker. The primary path is through an apprenticeship program or trade school. You will need to earn specific certifications: ASME boiler welding certifications and OSHA 10/30-Hour.
Boilermaker earns a Trade Pay Score grade of C, meaning it rates moderately on pay relative to cost of living, wage growth, and demand. Demand driven by power plant maintenance, refinery turnarounds, and industrial boiler replacements. Significant travel required for outage work.
/methodology