How much does a boilermakers make?

The median boilermakers salary in the United States is $76,410 per year ($36.74/hour). Salaries range from $50,490 (10th percentile) to $110,370 (90th percentile). There are 10,190 boilermakers jobs in the U.S. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.

Which state pays boilermakerss the most?

The highest paying state for boilermakerss is California at $118,150 median salary.

Is boilermakers a good career?

Boilermakers employment is projected to decline 2.4% from 2024 to 2034 (decline). There are approximately 800 job openings per year. Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent.

What interview questions are asked for boilermakers roles?

Common boilermakers interview questions include: "Walk me through prepping and welding a superheater tube-to-header stub weld.", "You're on a turnaround, weld tested this morning, and the RT came back with a rejectable indication. Walk me through what happens next.", "Describe a tough outage you worked.". Interview format at top employers ranges from behavioral panels (STAR method) to technical case rounds — for example IBB Boilermakers Local signatory contractors (BMWC, Enerfab, Babcock & Wilcox, APTIM, Day & Zimmermann) typically uses 1-2 phases; hall dispatch drives placement.

What is the career ladder for boilermakerss?

The typical boilermakers career ladder: Apprentice Boilermaker (0-4 yrs, $52-78k stepping up 60% → 100% of journeyman scale + fringe + per diem) → Journeyman Boilermaker (4-10 yrs, $85-135k base + $150-250/day per diem on outages = $135-235k with OT) → Sr Journeyman / Foreman (8-15 yrs, $115-185k base + $200-300/day per diem, top outage earners hit $250-350k with 60-72 hr weeks) → General Foreman / Superintendent (15+ yrs, $155-285k+ salaried + truck + $250-400/day per diem on turnarounds).

What certifications should boilermakerss get?

Top-ROI certifications for boilermakerss: IBB Boilermakers apprenticeship completion (journeyman card) ($0 — union and employer-paid; apprentice dues typically $25-50/month); ASME Section IX qualification (2G, 5G, 6G positions on P-No.1 through P-No.5) ($150-500 per test at Local training center; contractor pays for production tests); R-Stamp Repair Welder (NBBI-jurisdictional repair work) ($300-800 for endorsement testing).

How do you negotiate a boilermakers salary?

Anchor on documented market data (BLS median $76,410, p75 $95,430), specific outcomes you've delivered, and the specific band for your years of experience. Eight years IBB Local [#] journeyman, ASME Section IX qualified through P-No.5 chrome-moly, TIG root on tube-to-header stubs, R-stamp repair welder, and 3 years as a working foreman on Gulf Coast turnarounds. Market for...

Boilermakers Salary

The median boilermakers salary in the United States is $76,410 per year ($36.74/hour). Salaries range from $50,490 at the entry level to $110,370+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 10,190 boilermakers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 2.4% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Also known asBoilermaker

Median Salary

$76,410

per year

Hourly Rate

$36.74

per hour

Employment

10,190

jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile

$50,490

25th percentile

$64,760

Median

$76,410

75th percentile

$95,430

90th percentile

$110,370

Job Growth (2024-2034)

-2.4%

Decline

Annual Openings

800

jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

High school diploma or equivalent

Training Needed

Apprenticeship

Boilermakers Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for boilermakerss.

Boilermakers construct, install, and repair boilers, pressure vessels, tanks, heat exchangers, and specialty industrial equipment at power plants, refineries, chemical facilities, pulp and paper mills, and shipyards. The trade is dominated by the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB) and its local lodges, with signatory contractors covering nearly all major utility and refinery work. Apprentice $52-72k; journeyman $85-125k base with heavy OT; senior with code welding and tube specialty $115-155k; foreman $135-195k. Outage and turnaround travel can push top earners to $200-350k+ with per diem. Dangerous, physically demanding, but one of the best-paid union trades in North America.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Pressure vessel and boiler construction

Layout, fit-up, and welding of ASME Section I (power boilers) and Section VIII (unfired pressure vessels). Tube panel welding, drum and header fabrication, and R-stamp repair work. Every joint is code-stamped and traceable.

Code welding (SMAW, GTAW, FCAW)

Stick, TIG root plus stick fill on 2G/5G/6G positions on P-No.1 (carbon steel) through P-No.5 (chrome-moly). ASME Section IX qualification renewed every 6 months of continuous work; failed X-ray means loss of ticket.

Rigging and heavy lifting

Sling selection, load calculation, WLL derating for angles, spreader beam use, tag lines, and crane signaling. Setting an 80-ton boiler drum into a tight steel structure requires flawless coordination with the crane operator.

Confined space and elevated work

Working inside a cold boiler with 40-foot vertical clearance, permit-required confined space entry, hot work permits, atmosphere monitoring for O2/LEL/H2S, and 100% tie-off on scaffolds above 6 feet. Boilermakers see fatality rates roughly 3x construction average without discipline.

Blueprint reading and ASME code

Interpreting piping isometrics, weld maps, tube layouts, and NDE reports. Understanding what an R-stamp, U-stamp, or S-stamp certification means for a repair. Knowing when a repair needs jurisdictional inspection.

Tube rolling, expanding, and beading

Boiler tube-to-drum joints rolled with expander tools to specified wall reduction (typically 7-10%), then beaded and seal-welded. A single leaking tube can pull a 500MW unit offline.

Torch cutting, grinding, and fitting

Oxy-fuel and plasma cutting on 1/2" to 6" plate, back-gouging with carbon arc, and fitting to root gap tolerances of 3/32" ± 1/32" so the welder can hit the root pass.

How to Become a Boilermakers

1
Meet baseline (18+, GED/HS, physical, drug test)
Boilermakers Local application process requires proof of age, HS or GED, valid driver's license, DOT-level physical, and clean pre-employment drug/alcohol screen. Random testing continues throughout your career.
2
Apply to a Boilermakers Local apprenticeship
IBB apprenticeship is 4 years / 6,000-8,000 OJT hours + 576-720 classroom hours. Rank-list intake based on aptitude test (mechanical reasoning, arithmetic), interview, and physical. Common wait 3-12 months for a class.
3
Complete OJT + classroom + qualification welds
Wage steps every 6-12 months at 60% → 65% → 75% → 85% → 100% of journeyman scale. Must pass ASME Section IX qualification test in 2G, 5G, and 6G positions to advance to journeyman card.
4
Earn journeyman card and specialty tickets
Journeyman scale $38-58/hr base + fringe + per diem on outages. Add TIG root, chrome-moly welding, tube specialty, and R-stamp repair credentials to reach the top of the wage scale.
5
Advance to Foreman → General Foreman → Superintendent
$135-195k+ foreman with truck and per diem; superintendent salaried $175-285k with outage bonuses. Foremen manage crews of 6-15; general foremen coordinate multiple crews on major turnarounds.

Career Progression

Apprentice Boilermaker

0-4 yrs$52-78k stepping up 60% → 100% of journeyman scale + fringe + per diem

•Work under a journeyman on tube panels, drums, and vessel fit-up
•Complete 216 classroom hours per year + 1,500-2,000 OJT hours
•Pass ASME Section IX weld tests at 2G, 5G, and 6G positions
•Earn OSHA 30, confined space, rigging, and NCCCO signalperson credentials

Next: Journeyman card at end of 4-year program after final weld test and journey exam.

Journeyman Boilermaker

4-10 yrs$85-135k base + $150-250/day per diem on outages = $135-235k with OT

•Independent tube welding, tube rolling, pressure vessel fit-up, and R-stamp repair work
•Travel to refinery turnarounds and utility outages (7-14 day stints)
•Handle critical lifts, rigging setup, and crane signaling on the job
•Mentor apprentices and second-year hands

Next: Sr Journeyman / Foreman at 8-15 years, or specialty (TIG tube welder, code welder) sooner.

Sr Journeyman / Foreman

8-15 yrs$115-185k base + $200-300/day per diem, top outage earners hit $250-350k with 60-72 hr weeks

•Run a crew of 4-8 boilermakers on a section of the job (tube panels, headers, drum work)
•Own daily production, safety, and code-weld compliance
•Coordinate with owner engineer, third-party inspector, and other crafts (millwrights, iron workers)
•Own crew scheduling and shutdown paperwork

Next: General Foreman / Superintendent at 12-18 years.

General Foreman / Superintendent

15+ yrs$155-285k+ salaried + truck + $250-400/day per diem on turnarounds

•Coordinate 3-8 crews on a major turnaround or new-unit installation
•Own the boilermaker scope on a $10-100M turnaround
•Interface with plant maintenance director, IBB business agent, and QA/QC
•Bid, estimate, and manage project P&L

Next: Project Manager, Director of Operations, or launch signatory contractor.

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 13 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through prepping and welding a superheater tube-to-header stub weld.technical

Tube ID and OD verified against the drawing, header stub bored to spec. Grind the joint prep to a J-bevel with matched land, back-purge the header interior with argon before striking an arc, and dam the far end with soluble paper. TIG root pass with ER80S-B2 filler at 90-120 amps, back-purge maintained until second pass covers root. Stick fill and cap with E9018-B3 at 110-130 amps. Slag out clean between passes, no undercut on cap. Present to the inspector for VT and hand off for RT the next shift. On P22 chrome-moly you preheat to 400°F and hold post-weld hydrogen bake at 500°F for two hours or you're welding a crack in six months.

Q2. You're on a turnaround, weld tested this morning, and the RT came back with a rejectable indication. Walk me through what happens next.situational

First: pull my ticket for that procedure until re-qualified. The QC inspector marks the location on the tube with paint, I grind out the defect to sound metal, MT or PT to confirm the cavity is clean, and re-weld with the same procedure. Re-shoot RT. If I fail a second time, the code welding qualification is suspended and I re-test on a coupon before I touch production welds again. Never argue the film — inspectors are looking at porosity, lack of fusion, or undercut and the film doesn't lie.

Q3. Describe a tough outage you worked.behavioral

STAR. Situation: 800MW coal unit at a utility plant, 21-day turnaround, superheater tube leak on the pendant section 90 feet up. Task: replace 42 tubes and 6 stub headers with the whole crew scaffolded off the boiler floor. Action: pre-fabricated the header stubs at ground level to reduce hot work on scaffold, rotated welders every 4 hours to manage fatigue at height, and coordinated with the crane operator on lifts through the boiler roof penetration. Result: hydrotest passed first try at day 19, unit synced back to grid on schedule, zero recordable incidents, and I made $32k in per diem plus OT over three weeks.

Q4. Why boilermaker over pipefitter or ironworker?culture

Pressure work pays better and I like the code discipline. Every weld I make is stamped, inspected, and traceable — that's a level of ownership pipefitters don't have on non-code work. The travel and outage schedule is brutal but the money is real, and IBB Local pension is one of the strongest in the trades. Family in the lodge is honestly part of it too — my uncle carried an IBB card for 32 years and put three kids through college on turnaround work.

Q5. Where do you see your career in 5 years?closer

Journeyman card in year 4, then push into TIG tube specialty and R-stamp repair work — that's the top of the wage scale and where I want to sit long-term. By year 8-10 I'd like to be on a foreman track running a tube crew on major turnarounds. Not chasing superintendent — I'd rather stay tools-on with the specialty premium.

Resume Template — Journeyman Boilermaker (4-10 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Journeyman Boilermaker (4-10 yrs)

▸Journeyman IBB Local [#] for 6 years; 42 turnarounds and outages completed across coal, gas, and refinery units totaling $180M+ scope.
▸ASME Section IX qualified in 2G, 5G, and 6G positions on P-No.1, P-No.4, and P-No.5 chrome-moly; TIG root + stick fill on tube-to-header stub welds.
▸OSHA 30, NCCCO Signalperson, confined space entry, hot work permit lead; zero recordable incidents over 6 years.
▸$52/hr union scale + $200/day per diem on outages; $185k FY24 with 220 hours OT.

What Gets You Rejected

✗Failed a Section IX qualification test more than once in 12 months — signals inconsistent welding.
✗Skips preheat, post-weld heat treatment, or moisture control on low-hydrogen electrodes — a rejected weld is a fired welder.
✗Poor rigging judgment or fights the crane operator on the deck — one bad pick can kill someone.
✗Cannot handle 60-72 hour weeks on turnaround schedule or refuses travel — the trade is 40% travel-heavy work.
✗Fear of heights, confined spaces, or heat exposure — daily conditions in this trade.
✗History of failed drug tests or hot bounces — random testing is constant and the lodge won't back you a second time.
✗Weak understanding of ASME code discipline — 'good enough' welds get people killed in pressure equipment.

Salary Negotiation Levers

✓IBB Local scale sets the base wage; specialty premium on top is where negotiation happens.
✓TIG root welders and P-No.5 chrome-moly welders earn $4-8/hr above straight journeyman rate.
✓Per diem on outages runs $150-300/day depending on region and contractor; negotiable at the job level.
✓R-stamp repair welders and code welding foremen carry an additional $3-6/hr premium.
✓Metro premium: NYC, SF Bay, Puget Sound run 15-25% above Midwest averages; Gulf Coast refinery work pays middle scale but has the most hours.
✓Sign-on bonuses of $3-10k common for shortage specialties (TIG tube welder, chrome-moly, R-stamp).
✓Signatory contractor pension contribution runs 25-40% of gross wages — one of the strongest retirement structures in the trades.

Boilermakers Resume Review — $29

Personalized resume review from someone who has hired boilermakerss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.

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Boilermakers Career Kit — $19

✓ All 13 interview questions with expert answers
✓ 6 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
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✓ Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
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✓ Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
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Boilermakers Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →

Salary Map — Click a state for details

$42K

$118K■ No data

Top Paying States

Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.

State	Median	vs. National	Employment
California	$118,150	+54.6%	720
Mississippi	$105,910	+38.6%	280
New Mexico	$101,200	+32.4%	300
Illinois	$99,730	+30.5%	110
Michigan	$98,220	+28.5%	0
Wisconsin	$97,590	+27.7%	170
Minnesota	$96,190	+25.9%	140
Washington	$95,200	+24.6%	190
Indiana	$91,410	+19.6%	170
Colorado	$89,350	+16.9%	40

Showing 1–10 of 37

Boilermakers Salary by Metro Area

Metro Area	Median	vs. National
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$135,290	+77.1%
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$110,370	+44.4%
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$109,640	+43.5%
Toledo, OH	$107,780	+41.1%
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$106,790	+39.8%
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$105,430	+38.0%
Farmington, NM	$101,250	+32.5%
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$100,110	+31.0%
St. Louis, MO-IL	$94,640	+23.9%
Pittsburgh, PA	$91,420	+19.6%

Showing 1–10 of 27

Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.

How does this compare to pro athletes?

A boilermakers earning $76,410/year would need 780 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 838 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.

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📈 See how boilermakers salaries have changed over the past decade.

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