About the Role The Elite Job is hiring experienced Boilermakers for power generation, petrochemical, and industrial construction projects across the US. Boilermaking is one of the highest-paying construction trades in the country — journeyman boilermakers earn $35 – $52 per hour, and with overtime on industrial turnarounds and outages, annual earnings of $90,000 – $130,000 are common. No college degree is required. This career is built through a union apprenticeship and a willingness to work on some of the largest, most technically demanding industrial construction projects in America.
What You Will Do
- Assemble, install, and repair boilers, pressure vessels, heat exchangers, storage tanks, and industrial piping systems at power plants and petrochemical facilities
- Lay out, cut, fit, and weld steel plate and structural components for pressure vessel fabrication and repair in the field and in the shop
- Perform hydrostatic testing, pneumatic testing, and non-destructive examination (NDE) preparation on completed pressure vessels and welds
- Erect and align large industrial boiler components including drums, headers, superheater sections, and economizer modules
- Operate rigging equipment including cranes, come-alongs, chain falls, and hydraulic jacks to set and align heavy boiler components
- Work from scaffolding, aerial work platforms, and elevated structures safely within OSHA confined space and fall protection guidelines
- Perform tube expansion, tube rolling, and tube-to-header welding on boiler tube bundles during outages and new construction
- Follow welding procedure specifications and ASME Section I and Section VIII code requirements on all pressure boundary work
What You Need
- Completion of a Boilermakers Local Union apprenticeship or equivalent documented boilermaker field experience
- AWS or ASME welding certification in SMAW, FCAW, or GTAW — most boilermaker positions require passing a weld test
- Comfort working in high-temperature, high-pressure industrial environments including active power plants and chemical facilities
- Ability to work at significant heights on scaffolding, inside pressure vessel shells, and in confined spaces throughout the shift
- Physical stamina to perform heavy lifting, overhead welding, and sustained physical labor across 10 – 12 hour shifts
- Willingness to travel for project work — many outage and turnaround jobs require 4 – 12 weeks away from home
- High school diploma or GED — no college degree required
Nice to Have
- 6G pipe welding certification
- OSHA 30 industrial construction certification
- Rigging and signal person certification
- Experience with nuclear power plant boiler work (adds significant premium to pay rate)
What We Offer
- Competitive pay of $35 – $52 per hour based on certifications, experience, and project type
- Per diem and travel pay on out-of-area projects — often adding $150 – $300 per day above base rate
- Substantial overtime on power plant outages and industrial turnarounds — many boilermakers earn $120,000+ in high-work years
- Union health and welfare benefits including medical, dental, vision, and pension through Boilermakers Local
- Paid vacation and holiday benefits per applicable labor agreement
- All weld certifications maintained and renewed at company expense
Boilermaking is one of the most physically demanding, most technically skilled, and best-compensated construction trades in the United States. If you are willing to work hard in demanding industrial environments and travel for the best-paying outage and turnaround jobs, your earning potential is exceptional — and you do not need a college degree to reach it. Apply today. Your skills and your willingness to work are your credentials.
The Elite Job is an equal opportunity employer. We work with Boilermaker Local Unions and independent contractors to place qualified boilermakers on high-value industrial projects across the US.