Boilermaker salary in the U.S.
Boilermakers in the U.S. earn a median of $76,410 a year ($36.74 an hour), based on BLS data for 10,190 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $110,370 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $80,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for boilermakers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,490 | $24.28 |
| 25th percentile | $64,760 | $31.13 |
| Median | $76,410 | $36.74 |
| 75th percentile | $95,430 | $45.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $110,370 | $53.06 |
| Average (mean) | $80,090 | $38.50 |
Half of boilermakers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,367.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,183.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,938.85 |
| Weekly | $1,469.42 |
| Hourly | $36.74 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Boilermaker salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $118,150 | 720 |
| Mississippi | $105,910 | 280 |
| New Mexico | $101,200 | 300 |
| Illinois | $99,730 | 110 |
| Michigan | $98,220 | n/a |
| Wisconsin | $97,590 | 170 |
| Minnesota | $96,190 | 140 |
| Washington | $95,200 | 190 |
| Indiana | $91,410 | 170 |
| Colorado | $89,350 | 40 |
| Idaho | $88,400 | 70 |
| Pennsylvania | $86,850 | 260 |
| Ohio | $85,550 | 300 |
| New Hampshire | $85,470 | 60 |
| New York | $84,770 | 410 |
| Iowa | $82,470 | 50 |
| New Jersey | $82,410 | 280 |
| Connecticut | $80,360 | 50 |
| Missouri | $78,550 | 100 |
| Arizona | $77,940 | 170 |
| Wyoming | $77,900 | 30 |
| Oklahoma | $77,750 | n/a |
| Arkansas | $76,810 | 50 |
| Texas | $75,750 | 2,340 |
| South Carolina | $74,840 | n/a |
| Kentucky | $74,810 | 150 |
| Louisiana | $73,980 | 1,220 |
| Kansas | $72,170 | 70 |
| Florida | $69,790 | 400 |
| Virginia | $67,540 | 150 |
| Georgia | $64,200 | n/a |
| West Virginia | $63,850 | 30 |
| Alabama | $63,570 | 180 |
| Nevada | $61,430 | 70 |
| Tennessee | $51,810 | 180 |
| North Carolina | $49,720 | 150 |
| Maryland | $42,250 | 30 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,120 | 120 |
Best-paying metro areas for boilermakers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $135,290 | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $110,370 | 320 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $109,640 | 90 |
| Toledo, OH | $107,780 | 40 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $106,790 | n/a |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $105,430 | n/a |
| Farmington, NM | $101,250 | n/a |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $100,110 | n/a |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $94,640 | 40 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $91,420 | 100 |
| Cleveland, OH | $90,980 | 30 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $86,910 | 140 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $82,420 | 330 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $77,290 | 120 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $77,090 | 1,170 |
Metro areas with the most boilermakers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,170 | $77,090 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 680 | $74,730 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 330 | $82,420 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 320 | $110,370 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 230 | $73,060 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 170 | $64,660 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 140 | $86,910 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 120 | $77,290 |
| Lafayette, LA | 110 | $70,720 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 100 | $91,420 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 90 | $109,640 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 90 | $68,350 |
| Knoxville, TN | 50 | $51,430 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 50 | $135,290 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 40 | $94,640 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| Electrician | $63,190 | $30.38 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $59,850 | $28.78 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,800 | $30.67 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $57,020 | $27.41 |
| Roofer | $55,440 | $26.65 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 | $29.71 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $58,930 | $28.33 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $62,780 | $30.18 |
| Glazier | $57,080 | $27.44 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $62,120 | $29.87 |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | $49,120 | $23.62 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a boilermaker make in the U.S.?
The median salary for boilermakers in the U.S. is $76,410 a year, or $36.74 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $110,370 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid boilermakers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of boilermakers in the U.S. earn at least $110,370 a year. The top 25% earn $95,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for boilermakers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,490 a year, and a quarter of boilermakers earn $64,760 or less.
How many boilermakers work in the U.S.?
About 10,190 boilermakers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.