Getting into a boilermaker apprenticeship
Boilermakers earn a median of $76,410 a year across the US. Here is what the application actually asks for.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · survey 2025-05
Building, repairing and maintaining boilers, pressure vessels and large steel structures. Much of the work is in power plants, refineries and shipyards, and a lot of it is shutdown work: intense stretches when a plant goes offline.
What year one actually looks like
Rigging, fitting and welding heavy plate, often inside a vessel or at height. Physically hard and frequently hot.
5 common requirements
What they ask for
- 18 or older.
- High-school diploma or GED.
- Basic math, and welding ability helps a great deal.
- Willingness to travel. This is the defining feature of the trade.
- Drug screen and a demanding physical.
These are what most programs ask. Every sponsor sets its own, so check the program page before you rely on any of it.
Aptitude, often a weld test
The test
Aptitude testing plus, commonly, a weld test. Existing welding certification is a strong advantage.
When to apply
Hiring follows plant outage schedules rather than a calendar, so it can be sudden. Local lodges are the place to ask.
We do not list application dates, because no registry publishes them and we will not invent one. Calling the training center and asking is the only reliable way, and it takes five minutes.
3 next steps
If you are not ready yet
- Learn to weld first. It shortens the road considerably.
- Understand the travel: many boilermakers work away from home for weeks at a time. The pay reflects that, and so does the strain.
- Confined-space and rigging tickets are useful before you apply.
None of this disqualifies you permanently. Most of it is a few months of work.
31 boilermaker programs listed