Boilermaker Jobs Overview

Boilermakers design, build, install, and repair heating systems in boilers, vessels, and other containers. It's common for boilermakers to work under the title of a welder; however, welders focus solely on welding work, whereas boilermakers also install, test, repair, and manage boiler systems. Boilermakers usually work alone, with a foreman, superintendent, or project manager supervising them.

Everyday duties performed by boilermakers include:

• Read blueprints
• Design boiler systems
• Perform boiler system testing
• Fabricate heating system parts
• Install boiler parts
• Analyze part defects
• Weld and bolt pieces together
• Use hand tools and metal-forming machinery

Boilermakers work in factories, warehouses, metal fabrication facilities, and boilers. The work they perform is physically strenuous. You'll have to lift heavy tools and materials, work in small spaces, and stand for extended periods.

Boilermakers typically stay in hotels near their job locations. Many boilermakers move across the state or country from one job to another every few months.

Boilermaker Jobs: Salary Range

The national average salary for boilermakers is $24.15 per hour, or $50,232 annually when working 40 hours per week. Because boilermakers' projects are vast, often lasting for several months and requiring them to work more than 60 hours a week, the extra hours often boost their earnings significantly. The highest demand for boilermakers is in Texas and Louisiana. Boilermaker salaries can vary widely, depending on the exact position. For example:

• Electrician's assistant: $16.59/hr
• Iron/Steelworker: $20.91/hr
• Rigger: $19.82/hr
• Welder/Solderer: $18.45/hr
• Pipe fitter: $23.75/hr

Want to explore salary ranges for different boilermaker jobs? Use the Monster Salary Tool.

Find Your Ideal Boilermaker Job

Working toward specific career goals will help you find a fulfilling job. Consider the following questions to determine whether a boilermaker career is a good match for your interests and goals:

• What boilermaker certifications do I have?
• Am I comfortable working in high places?
• Am I comfortable working in cramped areas?
• Do I know how to read a high-pressure steam chart?
• Do I want to join a union?
• What is my level of welding experience?
• Why are lockout tagouts important?

Some boilermakers enter the field through entry-level positions and work their way up to becoming project managers. Boilermakers with certification through an apprenticeship or journeyman program tend to have higher wages and better access to per diem jobs.

Improve your chances of landing a rewarding boilermaker job by thinking critically about your job preferences. When reading through boilermaker job descriptions, make sure to ask yourself the following:

• Do I need additional training to qualify for the job?
• Am I comfortable with the employer's management style?
• Can I perform the job duties listed in the description?
• Am I interested in doing the tasks outlined in the description?
• Do the company's values align with my own?

Consider whether there will be room for professional development and career advancement. Does the job description mention anything about promotions and training? If you desire to work for the company for an extended period, it should offer ongoing training and a career trajectory.

Many boilermakers seeking long-term career growth join the union International Brotherhood of Boilermakers. The union finds job openings. Joining a union also comes with several other benefits, including:

• Pension
• Retirement savings
• Health insurance
• Disability benefits
• Sick and vacation days
• Annuity
• Travel coverage
• Coverage of tools and equipment
• Per diem pay (typically 28% higher pay)

Tips for Applying for Boilermaker Jobs

You need to have a strong application to land a boilermaker job. You can use the following tips to help ensure your application stands out.

How to Prepare for the Application Process

Underline key skills you notice when reading through job descriptions. When applying, include the skills in your resume and cover letter. For example, if the job description requires a welding certificate, mention if you have it. Follow all application requirements, such as submitting your welding certificate.

Essential skills that boilermakers should include on applications, when relevant, are:

• Welding
• Physical stamina
• Safe work practices
• Mechanical skills
• Comfortable working with heights
• Comfortable working in confined spaces
• Blueprint reading proficiency

How to Create an Effective Boilermaker Resume

Choose one of the following formats when creating a boilermaker resume: functional, chronological, or mixed. For your cover letter, use the application-based format. Read your resume and cover letter several times before submitting them to ensure there are no typos or errors.

Ensure your application meets applicant tracking system (ATS) criteria by including relevant resume keywords. Some of the top boilermaker resume keywords to use are:

• Metal fabrication
• Inspection
• Boiler
• Welding
• Piping
• Construction
• Steam boilers
• Construction safety
• Blueprint reading
• Rigging
• MIG welding
• Arc welding
• Power plants
• TIG welding

Need help creating a boilermaker resume that grabs the attention of recruiters and passes hiring managers’ screening algorithms? Use Monster's Resume Writing Service.

How to Write a Compelling Boilermaker Cover Letter

Some recruiters make cover letters optional, but including one is an excellent way to stand out from other applicants. Make sure to include the following in your boilermaker cover letter:

• Explain your background and experience in the industry.
• Discuss your certificates and apprenticeship programs.
• Describe why you enjoy working as a boilermaker.
• Reaffirm your interest in the position.
• Encourage the recruiting manager to ask questions at the end of the cover letter.

How to Submit Your Application

Explore boilermaker jobs by joining Monster. Once you sign up and fill out your profile, employers can view your resume. To ensure hiring managers can see your profile, set the profile status to "Visible." You can also include a cover letter. To submit your application for a boilermaker opening, simply hit the "Apply" button on the job listing.

Application Follow-Up Methods

After sending your application to the company, wait five to seven business days before reaching out. This gives the recruiting manager enough time to read through your application.

How to Follow Up On Your Application

The easiest way to follow up after sending an application is through email. You can check the application's instructions for the hiring manager's email address. In your own words, the follow-up email should include sentences like the following:

• Thanks for reading my application for the boilermaker position.
• The position aligns perfectly with my interest in blueprint reading and welding.
• I have more than 16 years of experience in arc and welding.
• Feel free to contact me through email or phone with any questions about my application and experience.

Advice for Boilermaker Job Interviews

To land a boilermaker gig, you'll need to leave a good impression on recruiters and hiring managers. You can do this at your next job interview. Use the tips below to ensure your next boilermaker interview is successful.

Prepare for the Interview

Before agreeing to an interview, revisit the employer's website to investigate the company's culture and reputation. Check out its goal and mission statement, usually located on the "About Us" page. To increase your chances of getting hired, use these interview preparation tips:

• Read the job posting several times.
• Research the person giving the interview.
• Find a friend to have a mockinterview with.
• Study the current pay range for a boilermaker.
• Pinpoint two of your strongest benefits.
• Create a story around each benefit to share with the interviewer.
• Write down your questions regarding the position, its duties, qualifications, and salary.

Interview Process

If chosen for an interview, a recruitment manager will call or email you.

• Use the "Situation, Task, Action, Result" (STAR) technique to answer behavioral interview questions.
• Situational interviews ask about your past accomplishments and failures in comparable situations.
• Check out our practical competency-based interview advice if the interview is competency-based.
• Always look professional for any interview.

Common boilermaker interview questions include:

• Why is lockout tagout so crucial?
• What are boilermaker qualifications?
• How do you monitor your progress toward goals and stay on schedule?
• Do you know your way around a high-pressure steam chart?
• Do you have any background in welding?
• Are you afraid of heights?
• What is your biggest strength and weakness for this job?
• What is your boilermaking experience?
• Can you explain the tools and machinery you use during your work?
• Can you describe a day in the life of a boilermaker?
• How would you go about making a boiler from the ground up?

How to Proceed With a Follow-Up

After your interview, wait 24 hours and send a thank-you note that encourages the hiring manager to reach out with any questions. Make sure to say thank you for the interview and restate your interest in the position. If the hiring manager doesn't respond within a week, contact the employer for a job status update.

How to Respond to a Job Offer

• Carefully read the job offer a few times before responding.
• Write down anything that sticks out as a discrepancy between what you talked to the interviewer about and what the job offer states.
• Ask the hiring manager for clarification on the discrepancies you noticed.
• Perform extensive research before negotiating your salary.

Career Pathways for Boilermakers

Common job opportunities for boilermakers include:

• Boiler operator: Install, operate, and monitor boilers; perform boiler repairs; document boiler data; conduct boiler testing; and follow strict safety regulations.
• Boiler technician: Monitor boilers and make necessary repairs and adjustments to the controls, wiring, panels, conduit, replacement parts, and safety measures.
• Journeyman: Work with cranes to load and unload equipment, tools, and supplies; direct crane operators; build work platforms; examine rigging accessories; and swap out crane booms.
• Industrial blacksmith: Install, monitor, and repair industrial-grade boilers by fabricating metal products.
• Welder: Perform welding to construct, repair, and maintain the many parts of a boiler.

Boilermaker: Related Professions

With boilermaker experience, you can take your career path in other directions. Jobs related to boilermaking include: 

• Facilities maintenance
• Welder helper
• Construction worker
• Pipe welder
• Welding supervisor