Boilermaker
Builds, installs, and repairs boilers, pressure vessels, and other large industrial steel structures. Boomer trade — heavy travel for premium pay.
Also known as: pressure vessel welder · field boilermaker · shop boilermaker
The Reality.
Boilermaker work is feast-or-famine and travel-heavy — major projects pull crews from across the country. The pay during work is excellent. The off-time is a budgeting challenge. Strong union (Boilermakers International). High-skill welding is central.
The Money.
| Stage | Hourly | Approx. annual (40 hr × 50 wk) |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 apprentice | $22–$30/hr | $44,000 – $60,000 |
| Journeyman (top of scale) | $40–$60/hr | $80,000 – $120,000 |
| BLS national median (all stages) | — | $71,140 |
| BLS top 10% (90th percentile) | — | $98,810 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS (May 2024 release). Apprentice/journeyman hourly ranges synthesized from union scale data and reported non-union rates. Major-metro union scale runs higher; smaller markets run lower.
The Path.
- · AWS welding certs
- · OSHA 10
- · Confined Space
What the recruiter won't tell you.
- 01Heavy travel. Expect months on the road for major shutdowns.
- 02Confined space work is constant. Claustrophobia disqualifies you.
- 03BLS projects slight decline as coal plants retire — but power, refinery, and shipyard work continues.
The Tool Bill.
What you'll spend on tools in your first year. Don't let anyone tell you it's less.
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