Boilermakers construct, assemble, maintain, and repair stationary steam boilers and boiler house auxiliaries. They align structures or plate sections to assemble boiler frame tanks or vats, following blueprints — using hand and power tools, plumb bobs, levels, wedges, dogs, and turnbuckles. Boilermakers assist in testing assembled vessels, direct the cleaning of boilers and furnaces, and inspect and repair boiler fittings such as safety valves, regulators, automatic-control mechanisms, water columns, and auxiliary machines.

• ✓ Assemble large vessels in an on-site fabrication shop prior to installation to ensure proper fit.
• ✓ Clean pressure vessel equipment using scrapers, wire brushes, and cleaning solvents.
• ✓ Install manholes, handholes, taps, tubes, valves, gauges, or feedwater connections using hand tools.
• ✓ Install refractory bricks or other heat-resistant materials in fireboxes of pressure vessels.
• ✓ Locate and mark reference points for columns or plates on boiler foundations, following blueprints.
• ✓ Position, align, and secure structural parts to boiler frames, tanks, or vats.
• ✓ Shape or fabricate parts like stacks, uptakes, or chutes using brakes, rolls, or drill presses.
• ✓ Shape seams and joints to attain specified fit, using cutting torches, hammers, or files.
• ✓ Straighten or reshape bent plates or structure parts using hammers, jacks, or torches.
• ✓ Study blueprints to determine locations, relationships, or dimensions of parts.

Prevailing wage is set per county and local, so actual pay varies by employer and location. Source: ACT Ohio county prevailing-wage schedules.

Typical Entry Requirement — A high school diploma or GED is the standard minimum; no four-year degree is required.

Apprenticeship Path — Most boilermakers enter the trade through a 4-year apprenticeship sponsored by the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, combining paid on-the-job training with in-class instruction.

Core Coursework — Blueprint reading, applied mathematics, welding, and metal fabrication are emphasized throughout the apprenticeship.

Certifications — Many boilermakers pursue welding certifications and OSHA safety credentials to qualify for specialized or higher-hazard work.