Boilermakers in Washington
Thinking about a career as a Boilermakers in Washington? Below are the key facts. 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.
What do Boilermakers Make in Washington?
For a boilermakers working in Washington, the typical annual salary is $113,970 per year (or about $54.80/hour).Earnings range from $66,100 at the 10th percentile to $133,600 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $66,100 | $31.78 |
| 25th percentile | $76,770 | $36.91 |
| Median (50th) | $113,970 | $54.80 |
| 75th percentile | $114,100 | $54.86 |
| 90th percentile | $133,600 | $64.23 |
The job concentration index in Washington compared to the national average — is 0.66, suggesting fewer boilermakers per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, boilermakers earn a median of $84,334 per year ($40.55/hour), higher than the Washington median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 457,983 boilermakers nationwide. In Washington alone, approximately 150 people work in this role. That’s fewer than the typical state, which employs around 170 boilermakers.
Top States for Boilermakers Employment
The table below shows the states where the most boilermakers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Texas | 2,440 |
| Louisiana | 1,620 |
| California | 690 |
| Michigan | 500 |
| Pennsylvania | 460 |
| New Jersey | 310 |
| Kentucky | 300 |
| Tennessee | 290 |
| Mississippi | 250 |
| Alabama | 240 |
| Georgia | 230 |
| Ohio | 210 |
| Indiana | 200 |
| Virginia | 200 |
| Wisconsin | 170 |
| North Carolina | 160 |
| Washington | 150 |
| Illinois | 150 |
| New York | 120 |
| Wyoming | 110 |
Highest-Paying States for Boilermakers
Where boilermakers earn the most: boilermakers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| South Carolina | $124,400 |
| Washington | $113,970 |
| California | $107,600 |
| Minnesota | $102,730 |
| Wisconsin | $97,410 |
| Illinois | $95,340 |
| Pennsylvania | $87,710 |
| Colorado | $86,980 |
| Connecticut | $85,480 |
| Indiana | $83,500 |
Skills
Key boilermakers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for boilermakers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, boilermakers typically:
- 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.
- Position, align, and secure structural parts or related assemblies to boiler frames, tanks, or vats of pressure vessels, following blueprints.
- Clean pressure vessel equipment, using scrapers, wire brushes, and cleaning solvents.
- 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.
- Attach rigging and signal crane or hoist operators to lift heavy frame and plate sections or other parts into place.
Work Activities
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Getting Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Boilermaking
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Related Careers
Careers similar to boilermakers include:
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers
- Helpers–Electricians
- Helpers–Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
Also Known As
Assembler, Boiler Control Technician (Boiler Control Tech), Boiler Erector, Boiler Fitter, Boiler Installer, Boiler Maker, Boiler Mechanic, Boiler Reliner, Boiler Repairman, Boiler Service Technician (Boiler Service Tech), Boiler Setter, Boiler Shop Mechanic, Boiler Technician (Boiler Tech), Boiler Tester, Boiler Welder.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 47-2011.00
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