Boilermakers and Mechanics

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the median hourly wage for boilermakers in May 2023 was $34.20. For full-time work at 40 hours per week, this wage translates into a median annual income of $71,140. The department also reports that the lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $23.81 per hour, or approximately $49,510 per year for full-time work. At the other end of the pay scale, the highest paid 10 percent made more than $49.10 per hour, which is approximately $102,120 annually.

According to the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, annual earnings vary greatly because of the temporary, cyclical nature of the work. Apprentices start at about 30 to 50 percent of journeyman wages. Earnings also vary according to the part of the country where boilermakers work, the industry that employs them, and their level of skill and experience.

Boilermakers tend to make more than boilermaker mechanics. In August 2024, ZipRecruiter reported the average salary for boilermaker mechanics was $57,223. Among employees in boiler-fabrication shops, layout workers generally earn more while fitters earn less. Both layout workers and fitters normally work indoors; therefore, their earnings are not limited by seasonal variations in weather.

Most boilermakers are members of unions, and union contracts set their wages and benefits. Among the fringe benefits established under union contracts are health insurance, pension plans, and paid vacation time.