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Summary

Boilermakers
Boilermakers install and maintain boiler systems.
Quick Facts: Boilermakers
2010 Median Pay $54,640 per year
$26.27 per hour
Entry-Level Education High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience in a Related Occupation None
On-the-job Training Apprenticeship
Number of Jobs, 2010 19,800
Job Outlook, 2010-20 21% (Faster than average)
Employment Change, 2010-20 4,200

What Boilermakers Do

Boilermakers assemble, install, and repair boilers, closed vats, and other large vessels or containers that hold liquids and gases.

Work Environment

Boilermakers perform physically demanding, dangerous work. Many boilermakers must travel to worksites and live away from home for long stretches of time.

How to Become a Boilermaker

Most boilermakers learn their trade through a formal apprenticeship program. Candidates are more likely to get into training programs if they already have welding experience and certification.

Pay

The median annual wage of boilermakers was $54,640 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of boilermakers is projected to grow 21 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations. Employment growth reflects the need to maintain and upgrade existing boilers. Overall job prospects should be favorable because many potential candidates often seek work that is less hazardous and physically demanding.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of boilermakers with similar occupations.

O*NET

O*NET provides comprehensive information on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

Contacts for More Information

Learn more about boilermakers by contacting these additional resources.

What Boilermakers Do About this section

Boilermakers
Boilermakers often weld.

Boilermakers assemble, install, and repair boilers, closed vats, and other large vessels or containers that hold liquids and gases.

Duties

Boilermakers typically do the following:

  • Use blueprints to determine locations, positions, or dimensions of parts
  • Install small premade boilers into buildings and manufacturing facilities
  • Lay out prefabricated parts of larger boilers before assembling them
  • Assemble boiler tanks, often using robotic or automatic welders
  • Test and inspect boiler systems for leaks or defects
  • Clean vats using scrapers, wire brushes, and cleaning solvents
  • Replace or repair broken valves, pipes, or joints, using hand and power tools, gas torches, and welding equipment

Boilers, tanks, and vats are used in many buildings, factories, and ships. Boilers heat water or other fluids under extreme pressure to generate electric power and to provide heat. Large tanks and vats are used to store and process chemicals, oil, beer, and hundreds of other products.

Boilers are made out of steel, iron, copper, or stainless steel. Manufacturers are increasingly automating the production of boilers to improve the quality of these vessels. However, boilermakers still use many tools in making or repairing boilers. For example, they use hand and power tools or flame cutting torches to cut pieces for a boiler. To bend the pieces into shape and accurately line them up, boilermakers use plumb bobs, levels, wedges, and turnbuckles.

If the plate sections are very large, large cranes lift the parts into place. Once they have the parts lined up, they use metalworking machinery and other tools to remove irregular edges so the parts fit together properly. They join the parts by bolting, welding, or riveting them together.

In addition to installing and maintaining boilers and other vessels, boilermakers help erect and repair air pollution equipment, blast furnaces, water treatment plants, storage and process tanks, and smokestacks. Boilermakers also install refractory brick and other heat-resistant materials in fireboxes or pressure vessels. Some install and maintain the huge pipes used in dams to send water to and from hydroelectric power generation turbines.

Because boilers last a long time—sometimes 50 years or more—boilermakers must regularly maintain them and upgrade parts. They frequently inspect fittings, feed pumps, safety and check valves, water and pressure gauges, and boiler controls.

Work Environment About this section

Boilermakers
Boilermakers must check blueprints related to the pipe system.

Boilermakers held about 19,800 jobs in 2010. Industries employing the most boilermakers in 2010 were as follows:

Nonresidential building construction24%
Building equipment contractors23
Utility system construction11
Boiler, tank, and shipping container manufacturing7

Boilermakers perform physically demanding and dangerous work. They often work outdoors in all types of weather, including extreme heat and cold.

Dams, boilers, storage tanks, and pressure vessels are usually large. Therefore, boilermakers often work at great heights. When working on a dam, for example, they may be hundreds of feet above the ground.

Boilermakers also work in cramped quarters inside boilers, vats, or tanks that are often dark, damp, and poorly ventilated.

Injuries

Although boilermakers often use dangerous equipment, they have lower rates of injuries and illnesses than many other construction occupations. Common injuries include burns from acetylene torches, cuts from power grinders, muscle strains from lifting heavy parts and tools, and falls from ladders or large vessels.

To reduce the chance of injury, boilermakers often wear hardhats, harnesses, protective clothing, earplugs, and safety glasses. In addition, when working inside enclosed spaces, boilermakers often need to wear a respirator.

Work Schedules

Nearly all boilermakers work full time and may experience extended periods of overtime when equipment is shut down for maintenance. Overtime work also may be necessary to meet construction or production deadlines.

In contrast, because most field construction and repair work is contract work, there may be periods of unemployment when a contract is complete.

Many boilermakers must travel to worksites and live away from home for long stretches of time.

How to Become a Boilermaker About this section

Boilermakers
Many boilermakers choose to earn a welding certificate.

Most boilermakers learn their trade through a formal apprenticeship program. Candidates are more likely to get into training programs if they already have welding experience and certification.

Apprenticeship

Most boilermakers learn their trade through a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship. Each year, apprentices must have at least 144 hours of related technical training and 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training.

On the job, apprentices learn to use the tools and equipment of the trade. Those who already have welding experience complete training sooner than those without it.

In the technical training, apprentices learn about metals and installation techniques, as well as basic mathematics, blueprint reading and sketching, general construction techniques, safety practices, and first aid.

When they finish the apprenticeship program, boilermakers are considered to be journey workers, who perform tasks with guidance from more experienced workers. 

A few groups, including unions and contractor associations, sponsor apprenticeship programs.  The basic qualifications to enter an apprenticeship program are as follows:

  • Minimum age of 18
  • High school education or equivalent
  • Physically able to do the work

In addition to satisfying these qualifications, candidates with certification or documented welding experience have priority over applicants without experience.

Education

A high school diploma or GED is generally required. High school courses in math and welding are considered to be useful.

Important Qualities

Physical strength. Workers must be strong enough to move heavy vat components into place.

Stamina. Workers must have high endurance because they spend many hours on their feet while lifting heavy boiler components.

Unafraid of confined spaces. Because workers often work inside boilers and vats, they cannot be claustrophobic.

Unafraid of heights. Some boilermakers must work at great heights. While installing water storage tanks, for example, workers may need to weld tanks several stories above the ground.

Pay About this section

Boilermakers

Median annual wages, May 2010

Boilermakers

$54,640

Construction Trades Workers

$38,240

Total, All Occupations

$33,840

 

The median annual wage of boilermakers was $54,640 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $30,410, and the top 10 percent earned more than $80,830.

Apprentices usually start between 30 percent and 50 percent of the rate paid to fully trained boilermakers. They receive pay increases as they become more skilled.

Nearly all boilermakers work full time and may experience extended periods of overtime when equipment is shut down for maintenance. Overtime work also may be necessary to meet construction or production deadlines.

In contrast, because most field construction and repair work is contract work, there may be periods of unemployment when a contract is complete. Many boilermakers must travel to worksites and live away from home for long stretches of time.

Boilermakers have a higher rate of union membership than many other construction occupations. Although there is no single union that covers all boilermakers, the largest organizer of these workers is the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, and Helpers.

Job Outlook About this section

Boilermakers

Percent change in employment, projected 2010-20

Construction Trades Workers

23%

Boilermakers

21%

Total, All Occupations

14%

 

Employment of boilermakers is projected to grow 21 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations.

Employment growth reflects the need to maintain and upgrade, rather than replace, the many boilers that are getting older. Employment growth will also result as a growing population demands more electric power. Although boilers typically last more than 50 years, the need to replace parts, such as boiler tubes, heating elements, and ductwork, is an ongoing process that will continue to spur demand for boilermakers.

To meet requirements of the Clean Air Act, utility companies also will need to continue upgrading their boiler and scrubbing systems. The installation of new boilers and pressure vessels, air pollution equipment, water treatment plants, storage and process tanks, electric static precipitators, and stacks and liners will further drive employment growth of boilermakers, although to a lesser extent than repairs will.

Job Prospects

Overall job prospects should be favorable because the work of a boilermaker remains hazardous and physically demanding, leading some qualified applicants to seek other types of work. Although employment growth will generate some job openings, the majority of positions will arise from the need to replace the large number of boilermakers expected to retire in the coming decade.

People who have welding training or a welding certificate should have the best opportunities to be selected for boilermaker apprenticeship programs.

As with many other construction workers, employment of boilermakers is sensitive to fluctuations of the economy. On the one hand, workers may experience periods of unemployment when the overall level of construction falls. On the other hand, shortages of workers may occur in some areas during peak periods of building activity.

However, maintenance and repair of boilers must continue even during economic downturns, so boilermaker mechanics in manufacturing and other industries generally have more stable employment than those in construction.

Employment projections data for boilermakers, 2010-20
Occupational Title SOC Code Employment, 2010 Projected Employment, 2020 Change, 2010-20 Employment by Industry
Percent Numeric

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program

Boilermakers

47-2011 19,800 24,000 21 4,200 [XLS]

Similar Occupations About this section

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of boilermakers.

Occupation Job Duties ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION Help 2010 MEDIAN PAY Help
Assemblers and fabricators

Assemblers and Fabricators

Assemblers and fabricators assemble both finished products and the parts that go into them. They use tools, machines, and their hands to make engines, computers, aircraft, toys, electronic devices, and more.

High school diploma or equivalent $28,360
Stationary engineers and boiler operators

Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators

Stationary engineers and boiler operators control stationary engines, boilers, or other mechanical equipment to provide utilities for buildings or for industrial purposes.

High school diploma or equivalent $52,140
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers weld or join metal parts. They also fill holes, indentions, or seams of metal products, using hand-held welding equipment.

High school diploma or equivalent $35,450
Machinists and tool and die makers

Machinists and Tool and Die Makers

Machinists and tool and die makers set up and operate a variety of computer-controlled or mechanically-controlled machine tools to produce precision metal parts, instruments, and tools.

High school diploma or equivalent $39,910
Industrial machinery mechanics and maintenance workers

Industrial Machinery Mechanics and Maintenance Workers

Industrial machinery mechanics and maintenance workers maintain and repair factory equipment and other industrial machinery, such as conveying systems, production machinery, and packaging equipment.

High school diploma or equivalent $44,160
Millwrights

Millwrights

Millwrights install, dismantle, repair, reassemble, and move machinery in factories, power plants, and construction sites.

High school diploma or equivalent $48,360
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters install and repair pipes that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases to and in businesses, homes, and factories.

High school diploma or equivalent $46,660
Sheet metal workers

Sheet Metal Workers

Sheet metal workers fabricate or install products that are made from thin metal sheets, such as ducts used for heating and air-conditioning.

High school diploma or equivalent $41,710

Contacts for More Information About this section

For information about apprenticeships or job opportunities as a boilermaker, contact local boiler construction contractors, a local chapter of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, and Helpers, a local joint union-management apprenticeship committee, or the nearest office of your state employment service or apprenticeship agency. Apprenticeship information is available from the U.S. Department of Labor's toll free help line, 1 (877) 872-5627, or Employment and Training Administration.

For apprenticeship information, visit

International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, and Helpers

For certification information, visit

American Welding Society

Suggested citation:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Boilermakers,
on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/boilermakers.htm (visited October 17, 2012).

Publish Date: Thursday, March 29, 2012