Boilermaker Salary: United States
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The median annual wage for Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in the United States was $76,410 in May 2025 (BLS). The middle half of workers in this occupation and area earned between $64,760 and $95,430.
Direct match Our title "Boilermaker" is reported by BLS as SOC 47-2011 Boilermakers. BLS reports this occupation as Boilermakers. A license or specialty is still checked separately.
Annual wages: Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011)
Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011), the United States, annual wages: 10% earned less than $50,490, half earned less than the median of $76,410, 90% earned less than $110,370 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Annual wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,490 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $64,760 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $76,410 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $95,430 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $110,370 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $80,090 | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Hourly wages: Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011)
Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011), the United States, hourly wages: 10% earned less than $24.28, half earned less than the median of $36.74, 90% earned less than $53.06 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Hourly wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $24.28 per hour | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $31.13 per hour | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $36.74 per hour | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $45.88 per hour | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $53.06 per hour | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $38.50 per hour | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Employment: BLS estimates 10,190 workers in this occupation nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 47-2011 Boilermakers, National.
What BLS wages measure. OEWS estimates describe straight-time gross wages, not just base salary and not total compensation. They include commissions and production bonuses. They exclude overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. Discuss travel, per diem, tool and truck allowances separately. Percentiles describe the occupation's wage distribution, not seniority, plant size, job complexity or credentials. Licensing, union agreements and prevailing-wage obligations depend on the work and assignment; these figures do not establish a premium for them.
Official BLS wage definitions | Source dates and methodology
BLS definitions, verbatim
wages
Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
hours
Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly wages by 2,080 hours; for occupations where hourly wages are not published, annual wages were taken directly from the reported survey data.
Target metros
New York City and Northern New Jersey share the New York-Newark-Jersey City BLS area and one estimate, shown once below.
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th percentile | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Not published by BLS for this area. Florida annual median: $69,790. | |||
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | Not published by BLS for this area. Florida annual median: $69,790. | |||
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | Not published by BLS for this area. Florida annual median: $69,790. | |||
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | Not published by BLS for this area. North Carolina annual median: $49,720. | |||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $82,420 | $78,250 to $106,460 | 330 | 0.52 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Not published by BLS for this area. Texas annual median: $75,750. | |||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $77,090 | $66,890 to $80,620 | 1,170 | 5.43 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $109,640 | $100,560 to $116,690 | 90 | 0.3 |
How does Boilermaker pay differ by industry?
These are national industry estimates for SOC 47-2011, not local offers or separate estimates for the niche title. Industry names are exactly as BLS publishes them.
| Industry | NAICS | Median | Basis | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utilities | 22 | $62,130 | Annual | 50 |
| Utilities | 221000 | $62,130 | Annual | 50 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 221100 | $60,460 | Annual | 40 |
| Construction | 23 | $77,320 | Annual | 6,160 |
| Construction of Buildings | 236000 | $74,960 | Annual | 1,640 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 236200 | $74,960 | Annual | 1,630 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 237000 | $79,800 | Annual | 2,320 |
| Utility System Construction | 237100 | $80,060 | Annual | 2,130 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 237900 | $75,590 | Annual | 190 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | 238000 | $74,500 | Annual | 2,200 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | 238100 | $92,440 | Annual | 70 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 238200 | $73,150 | Annual | 1,830 |
| Building Finishing Contractors | 238300 | $76,070 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 238900 | $78,250 | Annual | 230 |
| Food Manufacturing | 311000 | $62,260 | Annual | 60 |
| Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 311300 | $62,260 | Annual | 40 |
| Manufacturing | 31-33 | $74,050 | Annual | 1,450 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 324000 | $107,800 | Annual | 200 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 324100 | $107,800 | Annual | 200 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | 325000 | $99,800 | Annual | 120 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 3250A1 | $99,800 | Annual | 120 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 332000 | $63,760 | Annual | 1,000 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 3320A1 | $60,140 | Annual | 60 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 3320A2 | $61,780 | Annual | 840 |
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 332700 | $81,720 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 336000 | $78,350 | Annual | 30 |
| Ship and Boat Building | 336600 | $78,350 | Annual | 30 |
| Rail Transportation | 482000 | $76,810 | Annual | 90 |
| Rail Transportation | 482100 | $76,810 | Annual | 90 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | 562000 | $70,270 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Repair and Maintenance | 811000 | $76,510 | Annual | 740 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | 811300 | $76,510 | Annual | 740 |
Industry estimates are national. Do not combine an industry median with a local percentile to invent an industry-specific local rate.
Which related roles have a different BLS occupation?
A supervisory occupation is not an experience percentile for the craft. Compare the actual responsibilities and the published SOC.
Pipefitter Foreman (47-1011)Welding Foreman (51-1011)Pipe Fabrication Shop Foreman (49-1011)Pipefitting General Foreman (47-1011)Pipefitting Superintendent (11-9021)Which metros publish the highest and lowest medians?
This ranking uses the May 2025 annual median for Boilermakers. It is not adjusted for living costs. A metro is a BLS statistical area, not just the city limits. Top-coded or suppressed medians are not ranked.
| Metro | Median | Employment | Location quotient | Trade median / all-occupations median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $135,290 | 50 | 0.29 | 1.82 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $110,370 | 320 | 0.77 | 1.98 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $109,640 | 90 | 0.3 | 2.00 |
| Toledo, OH | $107,780 | 40 | 2.15 | 2.24 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $106,790 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS | 2.10 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $105,430 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS | 1.78 |
| Farmington, NM | $101,250 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS | 2.21 |
| commercial-vehicle manufacturers-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $100,110 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS | 1.92 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $94,640 | 40 | 0.5 | 1.89 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $91,420 | 100 | 1.4 | 1.84 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $73,060 | 230 | 21.39 | 1.50 |
| Lafayette, LA | $70,720 | 110 | 9.14 | 1.69 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $68,350 | 90 | 1.83 | 1.38 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $67,010 | 30 | 3.73 | 1.50 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $64,660 | 170 | 13.19 | 1.43 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $64,200 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS | 1.25 |
| Tulsa, OK | $64,110 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS | 1.37 |
| Decatur, AL | $64,060 | 30 | 8.45 | 1.38 |
| Birmingham, AL | $64,000 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS | 1.34 |
| Knoxville, TN | $51,430 | 50 | 1.68 | 1.09 |
The wage ratio is simple arithmetic: this occupation's median divided by the all-occupations median in the same area and unit. It is not a cost-of-living measure. Location quotient describes the concentration of employment, not relative pay. Neither predicts what a particular candidate will accept.
What do these published wages mean for an offer?
Skilled Trades Headhunters reads the May 2025 figures for Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker) as an offer reference, not a quote for a particular candidate. For Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker), the published median for SOC 47-2011, Boilermakers, is $76,410 per year. The middle half of the Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker) wage distribution runs from $64,760 to $95,430, a width of $30,670 per year; that spread shows how much published pay varies within the occupation and area, without assigning experience levels.
For the national Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) comparison used for Boilermaker, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX reports $77,090 per year while Baton Rouge, LA reports $74,730 per year; these are the largest-employment metros with published medians for the occupation, rather than neighboring places to a national estimate. The United States Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) reference for Boilermaker pools markets with different work scopes and schedules, so use the area table before setting a local offer.
The highest published medians among the selected national industry rows for Boilermakers, read alongside Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker), are Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing at $107,800 per year (NAICS 324000); Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing at $107,800 per year (NAICS 324100); Chemical Manufacturing at $99,800 per year (NAICS 325000). Those Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker) industry comparisons are national cross-sections, not local industry estimates; BLS does not give us a metro-by-industry wage cut here, and overlapping industry groups should not be added together.
The Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker) median was $73,340 per year in May 2024, compared with $76,410 in May 2025, a published difference of $3,070. That Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker) comparison is between separate BLS releases, not the raise paid to the same workers or a projection of next year's offer. Read the $73,340 and $76,410 Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker) estimates with both dates visible, because the employers and workers represented by the survey can change.
Before using $76,410 per year from Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker) to calibrate an offer, separate overtime, per diem, lodging and mobilization separately; prevailing wage obligations and union scale depend on the assignment and agreement, not a special BLS traveling-worker percentile. The Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker) BLS comparison measures straight-time gross wages, including commissions and production bonuses, but excludes overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. A candidate's take-home pay and the employer's total cost for Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker) can therefore differ from the median without either number being an error.
The mapping for Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker) is direct: BLS reports this occupation as Boilermakers; A license or specialty is still checked separately. When calibrating a Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker) opening, the work checks include ASME Section IX, tube welding, rigging; Boilermakers card or open-shop history; ask for evidence of that scope instead of using a percentile as a substitute for qualification. The Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker) direct mapping still describes an occupation and area rather than a specific applicant, so credentials and actual duties remain part of offer calibration.
Questions about this occupation and area
What does the middle-half band tell a Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker) buyer?
Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker) has a published middle-half band of $64,760 to $95,430, a width of $30,670 per year, with median $76,410. An offer inside that Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker) band is not automatically competitive for every scope; match the required work and the separate pay terms first.
Which areas should I compare before hiring Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker)?
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX and Baton Rouge, LA are the largest-employment comparison markets used for Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker). Comparing those Boilermakers tables with the $76,410 Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker) median does not measure commuting costs or predict what a particular applicant will accept.
Are the industry figures local to Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker)?
Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker) uses national industry rows for SOC 47-2011, not local sector-specific wages. Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing leads the selected sortable rows at $107,800 per year, but that national industry figure is not a quoted offer for Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker).
What changed between the releases for Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker)?
Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker) moved from $73,340 in May 2024 to $76,410 in May 2025. These Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) in National (reference for Boilermaker) published medians do not describe an individual raise or establish a future wage trend.
What changed since May 2024
SOC 47-2011. Published annual median: $73,340 (May 2024) and $76,410 (May 2025). These are two BLS releases, not a projection.