Occupation · SOC 47-2011
Boilermakers
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.
Median wage
$73,340
$48,390–$107,600
Projected growth
-2.9%
Declining
Annual openings
-20
per year
Employed (US)
10,170
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
13 mapped
Core skills
Operations MonitoringOperation and ControlCritical ThinkingEquipment MaintenanceTroubleshootingRepairingQuality Control AnalysisJudgment and Decision Making
Knowledge areas
MechanicalEnglish LanguageMathematics
Technology & tools
Computer aided design CAD softwareComputer based training softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail software
Representative tasks
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.Shape or fabricate parts, such as stacks, uptakes, or chutes, to adapt pressure vessels, heat exchangers, or piping to premises, using heavy-metalworking machines such as brakes, rolls, or drill presses.Clean pressure vessel equipment, using scrapers, wire brushes, and cleaning solvents.Position, align, and secure structural parts or related assemblies to boiler frames, tanks, or vats of pressure vessels, following blueprints.Attach rigging and signal crane or hoist operators to lift heavy frame and plate sections or other parts into place.Repair or replace defective pressure vessel parts, such as safety valves or regulators, using torches, jacks, caulking hammers, power saws, threading dies, welding equipment, or metalworking machinery.Straighten or reshape bent pressure vessel plates or structure parts, using hammers, jacks, or torches.Shape seams, joints, or irregular edges of pressure vessel sections or structural parts to attain specified fit of parts, using cutting torches, hammers, files, or metalworking machines.Bolt or arc weld pressure vessel structures and parts together, using wrenches or welding equipment.Install manholes, handholes, taps, tubes, valves, gauges, or feedwater connections in drums of water tube boilers, using hand tools.Assemble large vessels in an on-site fabrication shop prior to installation to ensure proper fit.Install refractory bricks or other heat-resistant materials in fireboxes of pressure vessels.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Blueprint symbols and basic notation — recognize and interpret under direct supervision on a commercial boiler installation site.Pressure vessel surfaces — visually examine for obvious leaks, cracks, or weak spots following a checklist provided by a journeyman boilermaker.Straightedges, squares, and measuring tapes — use to locate and mark basic reference points on boiler foundations under close journeyman guidance.Protractors, compasses, and templates — apply to lay out cutting and bending lines on sheet steel plates with direct supervisor oversight.Hand tools and basic power tools — handle safely and store correctly at the end of each shift on an industrial job site.Assembled pressure vessel components such as tubes, fittings, and valves — assist in visual inspection routines under journeyman direction.Personal protective equipment and site safety protocols — follow consistently during all boilermaking tasks in a shop or field environment.Basic mechanical terminology — use correctly when communicating task progress or observations to a lead boilermaker on the work floor.Pressure test preparation steps — assist in setting up equipment and connecting gauges on vessels under direct journeyman instruction.Spreadsheet and word processing software — enter basic work order or inspection data accurately into provided templates in an office or field trailer setting.
developing
Boiler and pressure vessel blueprints — study and interpret independently to determine part locations, relationships, and dimensions on routine installation projects.Pressure tests on boilers and vessels — conduct following established procedures with minimal oversight, recording results accurately on inspection forms.Leaks, weak spots, and defective sections on boilers and pressure vessels — examine and identify using standard diagnostic methods during scheduled maintenance cycles.Tube ends on pressure vessels — bell, bead with power hammers, or weld to produce leakproof joints within accepted quality standards on repair assignments.Heavy-metalworking machines including brakes, rolls, and drill presses — operate to shape and fabricate parts such as stacks and chutes for routine vessel adaptation tasks.Plate and heavy sheet steel — lay out and mark bending and cutting lines using protractors, compasses, and drawing instruments with consistent accuracy on fabrication jobs.Reference points for columns and plates — locate and mark on boiler foundations using straightedges, transits, and measuring instruments in alignment with blueprint specifications.Individual vessel components including valves, controls, and auxiliary mechanisms — inspect after assembly to detect defects, documenting findings for supervisor review.Equipment maintenance schedules — follow and perform routine upkeep on boilermaking tools and machinery to prevent unplanned downtime on a construction site.CAD software and ERP systems — use at a basic level to retrieve drawings, log work orders, and track parts inventory in a shop or field office environment.
proficient
Complex boiler and pressure vessel blueprints — interpret autonomously to plan sequencing of fabrication, installation, and repair tasks across multi-phase industrial projects.Pressure vessel integrity — assess through full pressure testing cycles, troubleshoot anomalous readings, and recommend corrective actions without supervisory input.Defects in boilers, heat exchangers, and pressure tanks — diagnose root causes using deductive and inductive reasoning, distinguishing between weld failures, material fatigue, and corrosion on critical industrial systems.Precision layout of plate and heavy metal — execute using advanced instruments and custom templates to achieve tight dimensional tolerances on non-routine fabrication assignments.Custom parts such as stacks, uptakes, and chutes — fabricate and fit-up independently on heavy metalworking machines to adapt pressure systems to non-standard premises.Tube-end welding and beading operations — perform to code-compliant standards across varied joint configurations on high-pressure vessel repair and replacement jobs.Quality control analysis of completed assemblies — conduct systematic inspection routines, apply acceptance criteria, and generate detailed defect reports for engineering review.Troubleshooting on malfunctioning pressure vessel controls and auxiliary mechanisms — diagnose, repair, and verify resolution independently on live industrial maintenance shutdowns.Time and resource planning for boilermaking tasks — manage personal and small-team schedules to meet project milestones in time-critical plant turnaround environments.Judgment on weld procedure selection and equipment choices — apply industry codes and site conditions to select appropriate methods and tools for complex pressure system repairs.
advanced
Boilermaking competency frameworks and on-the-job training programs — develop and deliver to apprentices and journeymen across a multi-site construction and maintenance operation.Organizational quality assurance standards for pressure vessel fabrication and inspection — establish, implement, and audit to ensure compliance with ASME codes and regulatory requirements.Complex, non-routine pressure vessel failures — lead root-cause investigations, integrating mechanical knowledge, blueprints, and field evidence to direct enterprise-level corrective actions.Blueprint and specification review processes — oversee at the project leadership level, identifying design conflicts or constructability issues before fabrication begins on major industrial contracts.Capital equipment selection for heavy metalworking operations — evaluate and recommend brakes, rolls, welding systems, and inspection technology to optimize shop productivity and safety.Safety culture and risk management protocols — champion and enforce across work crews during large-scale plant shutdowns and new vessel installation projects.Cross-functional coordination among engineers, project managers, and inspection authorities — lead to align boilermaking scope, schedule, and quality requirements on multimillion-dollar industrial projects.ERP and CAD technology adoption — guide boilermaking teams in integrating digital tools into fabrication and maintenance workflows to improve accuracy and traceability across the organization.Industry knowledge and best practices — contribute to through participation in code committees, trade associations, or workforce development bodies representing the boilermaking profession.Workforce performance and professional growth — mentor senior journeymen and developing leads, providing structured feedback and stretch assignments to build organizational depth in boilermaking operations.
Also known as
45 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
AssemblerBoilermaker FitterWheeled Vehicle Repairer (Army 91B)Boiler TesterBoiler Control Technician (Boiler Control Tech)Advanced Utilitiesman (Navy B24A)Boiler WelderBoiler Technician (Boiler Tech)Electronic Automatic Boiler Controls Maintenance Technician (Navy 751B)FitterBoilermaker Pipe FitterBoiler InstallerUtilitiesman (Navy UT)Cannon Crewmember (Army 13B)ErectorBoiler MakerMarine Safety Specialist Engineer (Coast Guard MSSE)Industrial BoilermakerBoilerhouse MechanicMM-Machinist's Mate (Navy MM)Boilermaker JourneymanIndustrial Field Service BoilermakerLocomotive BoilermakerBoilermaker ApprenticeSteam Plant Auxiliary Systems Manager (Navy 003651)Cavalry Scout (Army 19D)Machinery Technician (Coast Guard MK)Naval Engineering Specialty (Coast Guard ENG)BoilermakerBoiler RepairmanBoiler Service Technician (Boiler Service Tech)Pressure TesterUnit Supply Specialist (Army 92Y)Industrial Boiler Service Technician (Industrial Boiler Service Tech)Boiler Shop MechanicBoiler FitterBoilermaker IBoiler RelinerBoilermaker WelderBoiler Mechanic