Boilermakers
SOC Code: 47-2011
Boilermakers carries a 21% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $73,340 and -2.4% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 10,400 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011) carries an AI exposure score of 21%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 10,400 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a -2.4% change through 2034 — a decline that often compounds with high AI exposure to create displacement headwinds. Median annual compensation stands at $73,340, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires High school diploma or equivalent, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Boilermakers. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Registered Apprenticeship Pathway Available
Boilermakers is a recognized registered apprenticeship occupation under the DOL RAPIDS system. Earn while you train — apprentices typically start at ~$16/hr and reach $28–$46/hr upon completion, depending on the specific trade and region.
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Conduct pressure tests on vessels, such as boilers.
- 2. Study blueprints to determine locations, relationships, or dimensions of parts.
- 3. Assemble large vessels in an on-site fabrication shop prior to installation to ensure proper fit.
- 4. Examine boilers, pressure vessels, tanks, or vats to locate defects, such as leaks, weak spots, or defective sections, so that they can be repaired.
- 5. Inspect assembled vessels or individual components, such as tubes, fittings, valves, controls, or auxiliary mechanisms, to locate any defects.
- 6. Lay out plate, sheet steel, or other heavy metal and locate and mark bending and cutting lines, using protractors, compasses, and drawing instruments or templates.
- 7. Bell, bead with power hammers, or weld pressure vessel tube ends to ensure leakproof joints.
- 8. Locate and mark reference points for columns or plates on boiler foundations, following blueprints and using straightedges, squares, transits, or measuring instruments.
- 9. Shape or fabricate parts, such as stacks, uptakes, or chutes, to adapt pressure vessels, heat exchangers, or piping to premises, using heavy-metalworking machines such as brakes, rolls, or drill presses.
- 10. Position, align, and secure structural parts or related assemblies to boiler frames, tanks, or vats of pressure vessels, following blueprints.
Key Skills Required
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Critical Thinking
- Equipment Maintenance
- Troubleshooting
- Repairing
- Quality Control Analysis
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
Knowledge Areas
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- Building and Construction
- Computers and Electronics
- Physics
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Customer and Personal Service
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Boilermakers?
Boilermakers has an AI exposure score of 21%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Boilermakers?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Boilermakers is projected to decline by 2.4% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 10,400 workers.
What skills are needed for Boilermakers?
Key skills for Boilermakers include Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Critical Thinking, and others. Typical entry-level education is High school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Boilermakers earn?
The median annual wage for Boilermakers is $73,340, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Boilermakers?
The typical entry-level education for Boilermakers is High school diploma or equivalent. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Apprenticeship. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Boilermakers?
Boilermakers roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
Career Guides
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).