Boilermaker Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Boilermakers — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$76,410
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$36.74
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$110,370
entry level starts ~$50,490
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 10,000 employed

How much does a Boilermaker make?

A Boilermaker earns a median annual salary of $76,410 in the United States, which works out to roughly $36.74 per hour for full-time work. Most Boilermakers earn between $50,490 at the entry level and $110,370 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $64,760 and $95,430 a year.

That is $15,020 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Boilermaker salary range by percentile

Half of all Boilermakers earn between $64,760 and $95,430 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$50,490$24.27
25th percentile (early career)$64,760$31.13
50th percentile (median)$76,410$36.74
75th percentile (experienced)$95,430$45.88
90th percentile (top earners)$110,370$53.06

Highest-paying states for Boilermaker

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Boilermaker pay at $118,150 a year, followed by Mississippi ($105,910) and New Mexico ($101,200). At the other end, Maryland posts the lowest median at $42,250 — a gap of $75,900 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1California$118,150$56.80+55%
2Mississippi$105,910$50.92+39%
3New Mexico$101,200$48.65+32%
4Illinois$99,730$47.95+31%
5Michigan$98,220$47.22+29%

Workforce and education

About 10,000 people work as Boilermakers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $80,090 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Boilermaker make in the United States?
The median Boilermaker salary in the United States is $76,410 per year, or about $36.74 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $50,490, while the top 10% of earners make $110,370 or more.
How does Boilermaker pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Boilermaker median of $76,410 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Boilermakers the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Boilermakers, with a median salary of $118,150 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Boilermaker?
Becoming a Boilermaker typically requires a high school diploma. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
How many Boilermakers work in the United States?
About 10,000 people were employed as Boilermakers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.