Boilermaker Apprenticeship in Iowa

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.

IA Median Salary
$68,410/yr
-7% vs. national
National Median
$73,340/yr
IA Sponsors
0
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 Iowa: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered boilermaker apprenticeship in Iowa 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.

Iowa pay vs. national

Median boilermaker wages in Iowa are $68,410/year, -7% below the national median of $73,340. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Iowa has 0 registered apprenticeship sponsors 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 — Iowa-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Iowa Wage Spread

Annual wages for Boilermakers in Iowa across all experience levels.

10th pct
$48,740
Median
$68,410
90th pct
$101,200
Middle 50% of workers earn $50,740$73,560

Current Boilermaker Apprenticeship Openings in Iowa

No boilermaker apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Iowa. That doesn't mean programs don't exist — smaller regional contractors often aren't included in the national directory. 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 Iowa

Our directory doesn't surface Boilermaker-specific registered sponsors in Iowa. This usually reflects a smaller regional market where sponsors use generic company names rather than trade-specific branding — it doesn't mean programs don't exist. Direct search on apprenticeship.gov is the most reliable way to find current openings.

Search apprenticeship.gov for current Boilermaker openings

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

Boilermaker Apprenticeship in Iowa

Iowa has a smaller Boilermaker industry, and our directory doesn't surface trade-specific registered sponsors for this state. That doesn't mean programs don't exist — smaller regional contractors often aren't identifiable by name alone. Search apprenticeship.gov for current openings, or contact your state apprenticeship agency and the relevant national union (IUEC, IBEW, UA, SMART, etc.) for referrals to nearby programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Boilermaker salary in Iowa?
Boilermakers in Iowa earn a median salary of $68,410/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is below the national median of $73,340 for the trade.
How long is a Boilermaker apprenticeship?
Most Boilermaker apprenticeships run 4 years. Apprentices work under a journeyman while attending classes, typically earning wages from day one with scheduled increases.
Is an apprenticeship better than trade school for Boilermakers?
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 Iowa?
Our directory doesn't surface Boilermaker-specific registered sponsors in Iowa — typical for smaller markets where sponsors use generic company names. Best path: (1) search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP for current openings, (2) contact the relevant national union's closest local (find locals via apprenticeship.gov), or (3) reach out to your state apprenticeship agency directly.
Do Boilermaker apprentices get paid during training?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $34,205/yr in Iowa). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the program.

Boilermaker in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Iowa

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