Boilermakers
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
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.
Boilermakers held about 19,000 jobs in 2004. Nearly 7 out of 10 worked in the construction industry, assembling and erecting boilers and other vessels. More than 1 in 7 worked in manufacturing, primarily in boiler manufacturing shops, iron and steel plants, petroleum refineries, chemical plants, and shipyards. Some also worked for boiler repair firms or railroads.
In May 2004, the median hourly earnings of boilermakers were about $21.68. The middle 50 percent earned between $17.80 and $26.82. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $14.07, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $32.46. Apprentices generally start at about half of journey-level wages, with wages gradually increasing to the journey wage as progress is made in the apprenticeship.
About half of all boilermakers belong to labor unions. The principal union is the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers. Other boilermakers are members of the International Association of Machinists, the United Automobile Workers, or the United Steelworkers of America.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Boilermakers)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Boilermakers | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Mining employment: n.a. mean earnings: $42,980 (EC) (def) (IG) | $29,420 | $33,720 | $40,620 | $47,960 | $65,040 |
| Construction employment: 12,170 mean earnings: $51,230 (EC) (def) (IG) | $32,180 | $40,040 | $50,660 | $63,060 | $72,370 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: 3,910 mean earnings: $52,550 | $34,260 | $40,890 | $51,750 | $63,220 | $73,560 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 1,880 mean earnings: $51,030 | $32,110 | $39,380 | $48,040 | $64,730 | $71,600 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 6,390 mean earnings: $50,470 | $30,660 | $39,740 | $50,300 | $62,260 | $72,100 |
| Manufacturing employment: 2,270 mean earnings: $43,940 (EC) (def) (IG) | $25,960 | $32,670 | $44,330 | $53,910 | $64,170 |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 40 mean earnings: $30,720 | $13,210 | $25,710 | $31,920 | $38,060 | $43,620 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing employment: 30 mean earnings: $35,160 | $24,780 | $29,450 | $33,010 | $36,970 | $54,010 |
| Paper Manufacturing employment: 30 mean earnings: $52,450 | $37,670 | $40,460 | $45,110 | $65,780 | $78,590 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing employment: 300 mean earnings: $51,390 | $31,740 | $41,810 | $52,640 | $62,270 | $70,100 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 130 mean earnings: $57,840 | $47,430 | $50,680 | $56,100 | $65,620 | $75,890 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 1,350 mean earnings: $42,050 | $24,750 | $31,700 | $41,440 | $51,780 | $58,640 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: 290 mean earnings: $39,930 | $22,890 | $30,250 | $36,440 | $50,270 | $56,030 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 130 mean earnings: $36,500 (EC) (def) (IG) | $23,550 | $28,210 | $37,140 | $43,810 | $51,270 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 120 mean earnings: $36,330 | $23,380 | $27,750 | $37,370 | $43,670 | $50,730 |
| Retail Trade employment: n.a. mean earnings: $49,060 (EC) (def) (IG) | $44,960 | $46,940 | $50,210 | $53,490 | $55,450 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 240 mean earnings: $47,530 (EC) (def) (IG) | $37,700 | $40,410 | $44,930 | $54,030 | $64,450 |
| Rail Transportation employment: 240 mean earnings: $47,520 | $37,700 | $40,410 | $44,920 | $54,010 | $64,470 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 140 mean earnings: $45,390 (EC) (def) (IG) | $38,760 | $41,390 | $45,510 | $49,970 | $54,380 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 140 mean earnings: $45,390 | $38,760 | $41,390 | $45,510 | $49,970 | $54,380 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 120 mean earnings: $54,290 (EC) (def) (IG) | $34,950 | $41,460 | $53,610 | $65,720 | $77,330 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 120 mean earnings: $54,290 | $34,950 | $41,460 | $53,610 | $65,720 | $77,330 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 280 mean earnings: $50,490 (EC) (def) (IG) | $33,850 | $41,670 | $51,120 | $58,150 | $68,740 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 250 mean earnings: $50,830 | $33,800 | $42,360 | $51,440 | $58,060 | $69,220 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 30 mean earnings: $47,720 | $34,280 | $38,980 | $45,040 | $59,390 | $66,930 |
| Educational Services employment: 190 mean earnings: $41,830 (EC) (def) (IG) | $27,000 | $32,270 | $39,990 | $48,920 | $56,180 |
| Educational Services employment: 190 mean earnings: $41,830 | $27,000 | $32,270 | $39,990 | $48,920 | $56,180 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 140 mean earnings: $43,140 (EC) (def) (IG) | $27,510 | $34,170 | $42,240 | $51,060 | $57,790 |
| Hospitals employment: 140 mean earnings: $43,140 | $27,510 | $34,170 | $42,240 | $51,060 | $57,790 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 680 mean earnings: $44,880 (EC) (def) (IG) | $29,240 | $36,970 | $42,770 | $53,510 | $65,500 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: 680 mean earnings: $44,880 | $29,240 | $36,970 | $42,770 | $53,510 | $65,500 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 440 mean earnings: $40,960 (def) (IG) | $25,110 | $28,660 | $39,220 | $47,310 | $61,880 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 440 mean earnings: $40,960 | $25,110 | $28,660 | $39,220 | $47,310 | $61,880 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.