Trades & Construction

How to become a Boilermaker

From no experience: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there

4 years

Typical pay

$58k–$85k

Starting from

No experience

Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from no experience and includes any licence or programme legally required — not just course length.

The route

1. 1

   1–4 months

   Apply to a boilermaker apprenticeship

   Local 1st-year intakes run once or twice a year. Aptitude test, interview, and a physical.

2. 2

   day one

   Start earning at apprentice scale

   Roughly half of journeyman rate, stepping up every six months or so.

   Typical titles at this level

   • Boilermaker apprentice
   • Helper
3. 3

   4 years

   Complete the classroom hours

   Rigging, layout, welding and pressure-vessel code, alongside full-time work.

   Course that covers thisIntroduction to Welding Technologies and ProcessesUdemy · around $29.99 →
4. 4

   Pass your welding certifications

   Code welding tests are the gate to the best-paid work in this trade.

   ◆ ASME / AWS code welding qualification

5. 5

   4 years

   Turn out as a journeyman

   Much of the work is travel and shutdowns — high earnings, long stretches away.

6. ✓

   Destination

   Boilermaker

   Browse jobs now →

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