Your Guide to a Career as a Boilermaker

Ever wonder who builds the giant tanks, boilers and pressure vessels that help power entire cities?

These skilled professionals aren’t just working behind the scenes, they’re helping keep energy flowing and industries running.

If you’re a hands-on learner who's not afraid of pushing yourself, a future as a boilermaker might be calling your name.

The good news? You don’t need a four-year degree to get started. With focused training, you can build the skills needed for a role that’s in demand, dynamic and always pushes you to be better.

Keep reading to learn more. We’ll break down what this career looks like, how to become a boilermaker and how 9-10 month Welding Technology training from Universal Technical Institute (UTI) can help you prepare to become a skilled pro.¹

What is a Boilermaker?

A boilermaker fabricates, installs and maintains commercial boilers, tanks and closed vats that hold liquids or gases. These systems are often under extreme pressure and heat, which means safety and precision are critical to the job.

Boilermakers rely on strong welding skills, physical endurance and technical know-how to build and maintain equipment used in industries like energy, transportation and manufacturing.

What Does a Boilermaker Do?

Boilermakers take on a range of complex responsibilities, including:

Reading blueprints and technical drawings

Boilermakers review detailed diagrams to understand how systems are supposed to be built and where each part fits.

Cutting and shaping metal components

Tools like torches, shears and benders, as well as CNC plasma and oxyfuel cutters, shape steel plates and pipes to exact specifications.

Welding and assembling equipment

Welding is a core part of the job, joining metal components together to form airtight, pressure-resistant systems.

Installing and inspecting boilers

Boilermakers often work on job sites to install large systems and check that everything is aligned and secure.

Repairing and maintaining equipment

Routine maintenance helps extend the life of large systems and prevents dangerous breakdowns.

Where Do Boilermakers Work?

This isn’t an office job. Boilermakers often work in tight spaces, at high elevations or in extreme temperatures. Proper safety gear and training are non-negotiable.

Industries that rely on boilermakers include:

• Power generation – Installing and maintaining steam boilers and heat exchangers.
• Shipbuilding – Assembling pressurized tanks and other systems onboard.
• Construction – Supporting large-scale commercial or infrastructure builds.
• Oil and gas – Building and maintaining storage tanks and pipelines.
• Manufacturing – Helping to maintain industrial boilers and production machinery.

How To Become a Boilermaker: 3 Steps

Pursuing a boilermaker career starts with a few key steps. Here’s a basic overview of how to get started:

1. Earn a high school diploma or GED certificate

A high school education or equivalent is often the first step. These credentials help prove you have the capability and discipline to complete a curriculum, which is especially crucial if you have no relevant industry experience. It’s also one of the main basic requirements when applying for career training, including with Universal Technical Institute.

2. Learn the right welding skills

Strong hands-on welding skills are essential. Our students take welding courses that teach skills in MIG, TIG, stick and pipe welding, preparing them for the physical and technical demands of the job.

The good news? Technical training doesn’t have to take four years. With UTI, it only takes 9-10 months.

If you’re interested in learning the foundations of welding, UTI’s Welding Technology program may be right for you. This program prepares graduates for entry-level roles like welder, fabrication welder, welder fitter, and wirer.⁷⁷

3. Graduate and pursue employment

Students at UTI have access to career services that can help them as they look for employment before or after graduation—both by offering a wide employment network and helping them put together application materials. This support helps graduates find an entry-level welding role where they can use their newly learned foundational skills.

3. Keep learning and advancing your career

Learning doesn’t stop at graduation, no matter where your career takes you. The welding industry is always innovating, which means pros in the field need to adapt to new techniques and technologies.

Combining honed welding skills with grit and drive could advance you to potentially lucrative specializations within the field—including as a boilermaker.⁷⁷

Pros and Cons of a Boilermaker Career

Like any skilled trade, becoming a boilermaker comes with rewards and challenges.

Pros

It's in demand

The world still needs tanks, boilers and pressure vessels, which means there’s a demand for the pros that build these systems. It’s also a specialized skill set, and therefore can be more lucrative.

Wide variety of projects

From power generation plants to shipyards, each project brings a different environment and challenge that pushes welders to get even better at their craft.

Travel opportunities

Jobs are available nationwide and internationally, offering welders the chance to travel while building their careers.

Cons

High safety standards

Exposure to heat, confined spaces and high-pressure systems makes safety training essential. That typically requires hands-on welding career training, which should include courses instructing aspiring welders on proper safety protocols.

Tight spaces

Working conditions can be physically demanding, requiring agility and strength. Boilermakers might also work in more confined spaces, especially when working on the interior of the systems being built.

On-call for emergencies

Boilermakers are always ready when it counts. Whether it’s after hours or on weekends, they’re the go-to pros for urgent repairs.

Learn Skills Needed for a Boilermaker Career!

Interested in becoming a boilermaker? Our Welding Technology program can help you build a hands-on welding skill set for an entry-level role, which can help you advance toward a boilermaker career down the road after you gain experience. From basic techniques to industry-relevant theoretical knowledge, we can help you build skills that matter!

Ready to take the next step? Speak with an Admissions Representative at 1-800-834-7308 or enroll now to get started.