Boilermaker Apprenticeship in California

Wages, programs & career outlook

Boilermakers build, install, and repair the large steel vessels that hold steam, water, gas, or other liquids under pressure — power plant boilers, refinery tanks, industrial piping. It's heavy work that often involves travel to job sites and welding in tight spaces.

CA Median Salary
$107,600/yr
+47% vs. national
National Median
$73,340/yr
CA Employment
690
Boilermakers employed
CA Sponsors
1
Registered programs
Training Term
4.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
-2.4%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
800
Nationally, per yr

Boilermaker Apprenticeship in California: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered boilermaker apprenticeship in California combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 4.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

California pay vs. national

Median boilermaker wages in California are $107,600/year, +47% above the national median of $73,340. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

California has 1 registered apprenticeship sponsor for boilermaker listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -2.4% job growth for boilermakers nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 800 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — California-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

California Wage Spread

Annual wages for Boilermakers in California across all experience levels.

10th pct
$74,690
Median
$107,600
90th pct
$127,020
Middle 50% of workers earn $107,450$122,240

Current Boilermaker Apprenticeship Openings in California

No boilermaker apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for California. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Boilermaker Apprenticeship Sponsors in California

1 boilermaker-related registered sponsor identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for California. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current boilermaker apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
California Boiler, Inc. Apprenticeship Program Santa Ana Orange County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Boilermaker openings

Filter by occupation code 47-2011 and state CA for the most relevant results.

Boilermaker Apprenticeship in California

With 1 trade-specific sponsor in our directory, California's Boilermaker apprenticeship landscape is limited. Candidates should also consider nearby states or contact national union offices for referrals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Boilermakers earn in California?
Boilermakers in California earn a median salary of $107,600/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is above the national median of $73,340 for the trade.
How many years does it take to become a Boilermaker through apprenticeship?
The standard Boilermaker apprenticeship is 4 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom education. Some programs offer accelerated paths for candidates with prior experience.
What's the difference between a Boilermaker apprenticeship and trade school?
The key difference: apprenticeships pay you during training while trade schools charge tuition. Many employers prefer apprenticeship-trained Boilermakers, but trade school can give you a head start on the classroom requirements.
How do I find a Boilermaker apprenticeship in California?
Contact one of the 1 Boilermaker-adjacent registered sponsor in California (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
How much do Boilermaker apprentices earn?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $53,800/yr in California). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the program.

Boilermaker in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in California

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.