Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Apprenticeship
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Boilermakers build and repair large containers and related structures, working in a role that combines physical ability with technical skill. Nationally, this occupation has a median annual salary of $73,340 with about 10,000 workers employed. While projected employment growth is -2.4%, the field still offers about 1,000 annual openings, reflecting ongoing replacement needs as workers retire or change careers. The work draws on mechanical ability, fine motor skills, physical strength and stamina, and a strong focus on detail and safety. Success in this career also relies on critical and analytical thinking, mathematics, and science, supported by interpersonal, leadership, and project management capabilities. Boilermaking can appeal to people who prefer hands-on, technically oriented work and are comfortable with physically demanding environments. For those willing to develop the core skill set and adapt to modest overall employment decline, it can provide stable, specialized work with notable regional opportunities and strong earning potential in certain states and metro areas.
Boilermakers earn a national median annual salary of $73,340, but pay varies significantly by location. Among the top states by CareerGPS opportunity score, California stands out with a median salary of $118,150, followed by Washington at $95,200, Colorado at $89,350, and New York at $84,770. Virginia’s median salary of $67,540 is below the national median, illustrating that pay can differ notably even in states with solid opportunity scores. At the metro level, salaries can be even higher. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro reports a median salary of $135,290, and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN both exceed $100,000. These figures suggest that workers who can target specific high-paying metros or states may access substantially higher earnings than the national median, although they must weigh this against local job counts and competition.
Nationally, boilermakers have employment of about 10,000 workers, with projected employment growth of -2.4%. Despite this projected decline, the occupation is expected to have about 1,000 annual openings. This combination indicates that a substantial share of opportunities is likely driven by turnover and workforce replacement rather than net job growth. The same projected growth rate of -2.4% appears in the highlighted states and metro areas, signaling a relatively consistent outlook across these regions. For students and job seekers, this means the field is not expanding in overall headcount, but people entering the trade may still find openings as experienced workers leave. Career planning in this occupation should therefore focus on maintaining strong skills, being attentive to regional demand, and understanding that opportunities may be more about replacing existing workers than filling newly created positions over time.
Location choices matter for boilermakers, with both salaries and job counts varying across top states and metro areas. California offers a high median salary of $118,150 and employment of 720, and has the highest state opportunity score at 67.38. New York combines a median salary of $84,770 with employment of 410 and an opportunity score of 65.78, making it another key state. Washington and Colorado offer median salaries of $95,200 and $89,350, respectively, though with smaller employment levels of 190 and 40. Virginia shows a lower median salary of $67,540 and employment of 150 but still earns an opportunity score of 54.96. Among metros, New York-Newark-Jersey City leads with the highest opportunity score of 77.27, median salary of $82,420, and employment of 330. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont offers the highest listed metro salary at $135,290 but only 50 jobs, while Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim combines 320 jobs with a $110,370 median salary, showing different trade-offs between pay and job availability.
The typical education requirement for boilermakers is a high school diploma or equivalent. From there, success in the field is shaped by a distinct mix of technical, physical, and cognitive skills. Mechanical aptitude and fine motor skills support hands-on work with tools and equipment, while physical strength and stamina are important for the demands of the job environment. Science and mathematics skills provide a foundation for understanding measurements, forces, and technical specifications. Critical and analytical thinking, along with attention to detail, help boilermakers complete work accurately and safely. Interpersonal and leadership skills, combined with project management abilities, support coordination with others and managing tasks over time. For students and career changers, building this skill set—starting from a high school education—can make the transition into boilermaking more realistic, positioning them to compete for opportunities in regions where the occupation shows stronger pay or higher opportunity scores.
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