A Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Boilermaker

Written by Staff Writer | Edited by Michael Purser

Making boilers is a skilled trade that offers solid pay, steady work and a clear career path to success for those who put in the time to learn it. It’s not a career that many people are aware of. But for those who become boilermakers, the rewards are significant.

With a career like this, which is outside the mainstream trades, finding the path can be challenging. It can be difficult to figure out how to become a boilermaker at all. That’s where this guide comes in.

We will cover the steps to start down this career path, including getting a boilermaker apprenticeship, appropriate licensure and what you can expect to earn. This is one of the highest-paying construction jobs out there!

We will also cover some online education options that will help you prepare for your career. Our team is here to help you work safely in the trades, now and for the rest of your professional journey.

Steps to Become a Boilermaker

While this is a specialized trade, it isn’t incredibly difficult to break into the industry. Here are the primary steps necessary to become a boilermaker:

1. Get a High-School Diploma or GED

You’ll probably need an apprenticeship program to learn the trade, and you can’t get into a quality training program without a diploma or GED.

2. Develop Some Welding Experience

You don’t have to be an expert welder to start. But having some basic welding skills can help you land an apprenticeship. You could seek out a welding certificate in advance or just build some on-the-job experience.

Don’t worry, you don’t already need to know how to weld high-pressure tanks, boiler systems and other high-skill jobs. That’s a big part of what apprentices learn.

3. Apply to an Apprenticeship Program

Most workers enter the trade through a four-year apprenticeship program. These programs combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction. They are often sponsored by unions, such as the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers. These organizations will also be able to help you make the transition from student to independent professional.

As an apprentice, you will learn all the basic skills you need to repair boilers, construct large tanks and work on pressure vessels.

4. Complete the Apprenticeship Program

You’ll learn all sorts of skills, both theoretical and practical, in your program. Major topics include blueprint reading, arc, TIG and MIG welding, metal fabrication, rigging, safety procedures and boiler installation and repair.

5. Build Your Network and Apply for Jobs

You may be able to walk right out of your apprenticeship into a job, possibly as part of your education or through the union that sponsored you. If not, you can look for jobs on popular online job sites and union job boards.

Keep in touch with your instructors. They can probably help you find work. Or at least they can help you make other connections that lead you to your first major job.

Licensing, Certification, and Advancement

The licensing and certification requirements for boilermakers can vary by state and employer, but it can be helpful to plan ahead to satisfy them, where appropriate. The more certifications you earn over time, the better it will be for advancing your career. Highly qualified candidates with documented achievements go further and earn more.

After completing your apprenticeship, you graduate from apprentice to journeyman. As a journeyman, you can get jobs and work under supervision while seeking additional, more advanced certifications to improve your career prospects. Foreman, supervisor and inspector roles are all possibilities as you advance.

Some common certifications include:

• Certified Welder (CW): This is one of the welding industry's most recognized certifications. A CW credential is ideal for entry-level boilermakers. Previous education or work experience is not required.
• NCCER Boilermaker Certification: Offered by the National Center for Construction Education and Research, this certificate verifies competency in blueprint reading, layout, welding, rigging and safety procedures.
• ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section IX Welding Qualifications: This well-respected credential is an advanced certification that demonstrates an individual’s ability to perform welding procedures in accordance with ASME standards.

Earnings, Outlook and Demand

As one of the higher-paying trades professionals, you can expect to make a solid income starting with your first position. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median pay for this trade is $73,340, or $35.26 per hour.

About 800 new boilermaker openings are projected each year, on average, over the decade. That might not seem like many, but the pool of applicants is very small because of the specialized nature of this skill set.

Start Now with Quality Online Courses

Safety is a crucial area of focus while working in the trades. That applies to boilermakers and everyone else on the jobsite. The Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) enforces strict requirements for construction and industrial work, including this skilled subset of welding.

Your state or employer may require you to complete specific safety education courses before going to work. You may even be required to earn an OSHA 10 card from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

At OSHA Education Center, we offer a wide range of online safety courses and certificates for professionals in almost any field, including boilermakers. Start with a basic overview of welding and cutting safety. Or, expand your horizons with expert safety training courses for confined space work.

Even if you’re not a beginner, we have a course that’s perfect for you. For example, an OSHA 10 Outreach course might be fine when you are just starting out, but if you become a supervisor, an OSHA 30 course will be a better fit.

Wherever you go with your career, you can depend on our team to provide you with the best in safety education.