In this world of commerce and innovation, it seems like every day I hear about another way to make a living in the United States. The list is dazzlingly limitless. One profession that I’ve wanted to know more about since I first heard of it is boiler making. I had several classmates whose fathers were boilermakers, others who started in this line of work right after high school, and as an adult I know still more who are connected to boiler making in some way. Consequently, I’ve heard about it frequently. But I’ve often wondered, What is boiler making? Is it literally building boilers? Can there really be that much demand for such a specific job? What does a boilermaker actually do?”
So I finally worked up the courage to show my ignorance and ask someone. Actually, I asked a few generous someones in my community who took the time to answer a whole list of questions so I could put this together for you. I am indebted to them for almost every line you can read below! So if you’ve ever been in my shoes and thought, “I should know this. It’s in the name…isn’t it?”- then read on!
“The simplest definition of a boilermaker is a skilled craftsman who fabricates, constructs, erects, and repairs vessels.”
Charles W. Jones
As my research has shown, this “simplest definition” is helpful but far from exhaustive. According to boilermakers.org, boiler making work can include but is certainly not limited to constructing:
- Space shuttle rocket boosters
- Water towers
- Propane tanks
- Thermostats
- Gas pumps
- Elevators
- Stoves
- Cement
- Railroads and locomotives
- Coal mines
- Polished metals (example: golf clubs)
- Golf balls
- And of course, boilers.
Profiles of Boilermakers
I interviewed 5 boilermakers who had been in the field from 0-13 years. One was a woman and 4 were men. Some had families with children at home, others with grown children, and others with no children.
The men and women I interviewed have experience in the field anywhere from starting to seek apprenticeship to 13 years on the job.
What Does a Boilermaker Do?
Each boilermaker I interviewed gave me a different list of job duties and said they could go on for days about all the different things boilermakers do.
Here are some of the fascinating job titles/qualifications of those I interviewed:
- Welder, Mechanic, Journeyman, Laborer:
“We work in refineries, power plants, paper mills, nuke plants, and much more. We do general maintenance on all of the equipment to keep everything running properly.” - Management:
The job title for a manager can vary from one project to another and can take on names such as General Foreman, Superintendent, or Project Manager.
Duties can include:
-Serving as a liaison with plant officials,
-managing manpower,
-job planning,
-improving employee safety,
-and managing a project timeline.
Tools of the Trade
Boilermakers use many of the same tools you might use at home, only much bigger. One boilermaker described using wrenches as little as 9/16 inches, and others as big as 6 inches. Some of the largest cranes in the world are used for boiler making projects! Computers are oft-used tools, as well. They’re necessary for managing large projects with hundreds of employees.
What Are the Hours Like?
Schedules can take various forms depending on the stage of the job. Weekly hours range from 40 to over 90 hours a week with days that last 4-16 hours long. Most employers have a rule that you must take a day off after working 13 days in a row.
How Many Boilermakers Does It Take?
The number of boilermakers working on a project can vary from fewer than 10 to over 1,000! It depends on the project.
Best Parts of the Profession
I asked boilermakers what their favorite parts of their job were. Their responses:
- Traveling all over the country
- Great pay ($27-47/hr)
- Benefits (though there are some who have issue with the system of allotting benefits)
- Most of the boilermakers I interviewed said their favorite part of the job isn’t the money, it’s the people they get to work with!
Least Favorite Parts of the Profession
The overwhelming answer for this question is, “Time away from family.” Some jobs require boilermakers to be away for 6 months, and most of the people I interviewed said this job is not ideal for a person who highly values family time.
Room for Improvement
When asked if there was anything that could be improved upon within the field, I was told that a few aspects would ideally get some tweaking:
- Benefits: retirement, health insurance, and constantly renegotiated contracts for insurance
- Communication and efficiency
- Union politics
Final Thoughts
A few final thoughts the interviewed boilermakers want you to know:
“It’s not just one specific job. You’re going to have to learn a lot of different jobs.”
It is a great opportunity if you’re willing to put in your time and your time away from home. You need to manage your money to thrive.”
“There’s a lot of math in boiler making. For example, figuring weights of equipment loads.”
Want to Be a Boilermaker?
If you think you might want to become a boiler maker, there a couple of routes you could take to get into the profession:
- Route A: Seek an apprenticeship program at a local union hall and/or take OSHA 10 & 30 classes. One boilermaker specifically said, “Don’t just go buy a book.”
- Route B: Contact the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers in Kansas City, MO.
Once employed, grow!
- Learn everything you can with on-the-job experience. You’ll never know everything!
- Pro tip: Learn to weld.
Employers you might find yourself working for:
- Nooter,
- CPS,
- Mist,
- Madison,
- and other companies through your Union Local should you choose to be a union worker.
Learn More
Here are links to further information should you be inspired to learn more.
www.bnap.com (Boilermakers National Apprenticeship Program)
www.boilermakers.org (Exhaustive source of fascinating boiler making information!)
Video: What is a Boilermaker?
What are your thoughts? Did this answer questions you had about boiler making? Have you had a different experience than what you read here? Share your perspective in the comments below.
And as always, feel free to tell me what careers you’d like to learn more about!
Savoring the moment,
Preserving the Present 