Boilermakers

Career Overview

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.

Also Known As

• Boiler Mechanic
• Boiler Technician (Boiler Tech)
• Boilermaker
• Boilermaker Mechanic

Alternate Job Titles

• Assembler
• Boiler Control Technician (Boiler Control Tech)
• Boiler Erector
• Boiler Fitter
• Boiler Installer
• Boiler Maker
• Boiler Mechanic
• Boiler Reliner
• Boiler Repairman
• Boiler Service Technician (Boiler Service Tech)
• Boiler Setter
• Boiler Shop Mechanic
• Boiler Technician (Boiler Tech)
• Boiler Tester
• Boiler Welder

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

• 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.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

• Mechanical

Essential Skills

Success in this career requires strong skills in:

1. Operations Monitoring
2. Operation and Control

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

• Near Vision
• Control Precision
• Problem Sensitivity
• Deductive Reasoning
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Manual Dexterity
• Finger Dexterity
• Multilimb Coordination
• Inductive Reasoning
• Oral Comprehension

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

• Dependability
• Attention to Detail
• Cautiousness
• Perseverance
• Stress Tolerance

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

• Support
• Relationships
• Independence
• Working Conditions
• Achievement

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Related Work Experience Needed: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years

On-the-Job Training: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years

Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

• Autodesk AutoCAD
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Windows
• Microsoft Word
• SAP software

Tools & Equipment

• Acetylene torches
• Adjustable crescent wrenches
• Adjustable pipe wrenches
• Air carbon arc cutting equipment
• Air compressors
• Air grinders
• Air hammers
• Air manifolds
• Air scalers
• Allen wrenches
• Atmospheric monitoring devices
• Atmospheric testing equipment
• Ball peen hammers
• Bar clamps
• Beam clamps

Work Environment

• 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

Salary & Job Market

Salary Percentile	Annual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)	$48,390
Median	$73,340
Top Earners (90th percentile)	$107,600

Workers Employed Nationally: 10,170

Related Careers

If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:

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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.