Boilermaker
Role lens
Boilermakers operate a variety of equipment and machinery to create, repipe and retube hot water and steam boilers, producing them in all steps of the production process. They cut, gouge and shape the metal sheets and tubes for the boilers to size, using oxy-acetylene gas torches, assemble them by shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding or gas tungsten arc welding, and finish them by the appropriate machine tools, power tools and coating.
As a boilermaker, your days involve a mix of fabrication, repair, and maintenance work on boilers and related equipment. You’ll use specialized tools and techniques to cut, shape, and weld metal sheets and tubes, ensuring the safe and efficient operation of these critical systems. This role demands precision, attention to detail, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
- • Cutting, gouging, and shaping metal sheets and tubes using oxy-acetylene torches.
- • Assembling boiler components using shielded metal arc, gas metal arc, or gas tungsten arc welding techniques.
- • Performing repairs and retubing on existing boilers.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Figures cover Metal, machinery and related trades workers — 106 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia and 15 more.
Longest-running shortage: Austria, 4 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person’s chances. It describes a market.
Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading (United States, Ireland, Australia, Malta, United Kingdom)
| Reported demand | Typical pay | Where it is heading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not reported | $76,410 2025-05 | −2.4% 2024–2034 · BLS 2024-2034 |
| Ireland | Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2025 * | — | +15.1% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
| Australia | Shortage reported Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 * | — | — |
| Malta | Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2024 * | — | — |
| United Kingdom | Not reported | £31,920 2025-provisional | — |
* Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS)
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Open Government Licence v3.0
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Future Outlook for boilermaker
The outlook for boilermaker reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could boilermaker change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Model-based estimate. Use it as a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Compare this to your profile
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- wear appropriate protective gear
- apply arc welding techniques
- operate welding equipment
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- read standard blueprints
- handle gas cylinders
- smooth burred surfaces
Tasks most exposed to automation
- record production data for quality control
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Advanced Manufacturing
A typical day as a boilermaker
09 09:00 · Morning smooth burred surfaces
10 10:30 · Mid-morning ensure equipment availability
12 12:00 · Midday select filler metal
14 14:00 · Afternoon apply arc welding techniques
15 15:30 · Late afternoon apply precision metalworking techniques
17 17:00 · Wrap-up ensure correct metal temperature
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
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apply arc welding techniques
Apply and work with a variety of techniques in the process of arc welding, such as shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, submerged arc welding, flux-cored arc welding, and others.
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operate welding equipment
Use welding equipment to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel, wearing protective eyewear during the working process.
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operate soldering equipment
Use soldering equipment to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel, such as a soldering gun, soldering torch, gas-powered iron, and others.
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select filler metal
Select optimal metal used for metal joining purposes, such as zinc, lead or copper metals, specifically for welding, soldering or brazing practices.
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record production data for quality control
Keep records of the machine's faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.
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troubleshoot
Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
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operate precision measuring equipment
Measure the size of a processed part when checking and marking it to check if it is up to standard by use of two and three dimensional precision measuring equipment such as a caliper, a micrometer, and a measuring gauge.
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perform test run
Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.
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handle gas cylinders
Grip gas cylinders in a safe manner and ensure they are compliant with safety and health regulations.
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wear appropriate protective gear
Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
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read standard blueprints
Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.
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ensure equipment availability
Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
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operate oxy-fuel cutting torch
Operate a cutting torch fueled by oxyacetylene gas safely to perform cutting processes on a workpiece.
manufacturing of heating equipment
The manufacture of electrical ovens and water heaters by metalworking processes.
3D printing process
The process of reproducing 3D objects by using 3D printing technologies.
casting processes
The various practices used in the casting of metal, plastics and other cast materials, including mould filling, solidification, cooling, and others, all relating to varying approaches in case of different types of material.
ferrous metal processing
Various processing methods on iron and iron-containing alloys such as steel, stainless steel and pig iron.
maintenance of printing machines
Upkeep procedures and technical working of machines that produce printed graphical material.
manufacturing of steam generators
The manufacture of steam or other vapour generators, the manufacture of auxiliary plant for use with steam generators: condensers, economisers, superheaters, steam collectors and accumulators. The manufacture of nuclear reactors, parts for marine or power boilers. Also the production of pipe system construction comprising further processing of tubes generally to make pressure pipes or pipe systems together with the associated design and construction work.
printing materials
The materials, such as paper, film, metal foils, and glass, on which texts or designs can be transferred by applying ink through direct pressure or with intermediate rollers.
- flammable fluids
- fuel gas
- metal smoothing technologies
- quality standards
- types of metal
Path to become a boilermaker
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Upper secondary education
1,044 programmes in 26 countries teach the core skills of this job. Plus 237 short courses that build single skills.
A few examples, taught in the language of this page:
Diploma of Printing and Graphic Arts Business Management
Australian National College Pty Ltd · Australia
Master of Engineering (Industrial Automation)
Engineering Institute of Technology Pty Ltd · Australia
Bachelor of Engineering Technologies (Advanced Manufacturing)
TAFE Queensland · Australia
Certificate in Automation and Robotics
Munster Technological University · Ireland
These are 6 of 1,281.
Sources
- 1. Source: Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Education), CRICOS, data.gov.au, CC BY 2.5 AU. Data as at 01/09/2026. Adapted by NexPath.
- 2. Source: Study in Serbia, an initiative of Foundation Tempus (bazaobrazovanja.rs).
- 3. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (collegescorecard.ed.gov), CC BY. Data as at 10/06/2026. Adapted by NexPath.
- 4. Source: Europass Qualification Dataset Register (European Commission)
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does boilermaker fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
For organisations
The data on this page, working for your students, clients and staff.
Frequently asked questions
What industries typically employ boilermakers?
What kind of physical demands are involved in this role?
What skills are important for success as a boilermaker?
How much does Boilermaker pay in the United States?
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated October 3, 2026 About our data