Boilermaker Apprenticeship in Illinois

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.

IL Median Salary
$95,340/yr
+30% vs. national
National Median
$73,340/yr
IL Employment
150
Boilermakers employed
IL Sponsors
12
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 Illinois: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered boilermaker apprenticeship in Illinois 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.

Illinois pay vs. national

Median boilermaker wages in Illinois are $95,340/year, +30% above the national median of $73,340. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Illinois has 12 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 — Illinois-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Illinois Wage Spread

Annual wages for Boilermakers in Illinois across all experience levels.

10th pct
$80,940
Median
$95,340
90th pct
$110,770
Middle 50% of workers earn $86,860$108,410

Current Boilermaker Apprenticeship Openings in Illinois

No boilermaker apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Illinois. 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 Illinois

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

Organization City County
Great Lakes Boilermakers Local Lodge No. 001 Oak Lawn Cook County
Great Lakes Boilermakers Local Lodge No. 105 Oak Lawn Cook County
Great Lakes Boilermakers Local Lodge No. 107 Oak Lawn Cook County
Great Lakes Boilermakers Local Lodge No. 169 Oak Lawn Cook County
Great Lakes Boilermakers Local Lodge No. 27 Oak Lawn Cook County
Great Lakes Boilermakers Local Lodge No. 363 Oak Lawn Cook County
Great Lakes Boilermakers Local Lodge No. 374 Oak Lawn Cook County
Great Lakes Boilermakers Local Lodge No. 60 Oak Lawn Cook County
Great Lakes Boilermakers Local Lodge No. 647 Oak Lawn Cook County
Great Lakes Boilermakers Local Lodge No. 744 Oak Lawn Cook County
Great Lakes Boilermakers Local Lodge No. 83 Oak Lawn Cook County
Great Lakes Boilermakers Local Lodge No. 85 Oak Lawn Cook County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Boilermaker openings

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

Boilermaker Apprenticeship in Illinois

Program availability in Illinois is moderate: 12 Boilermaker-related sponsors in our directory. Candidates in major cities will find multiple options; those in smaller markets may need to commute or relocate within the state.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Boilermakers earn in Illinois?
The median annual wage for Boilermakers in Illinois is $95,340 as of May 2024. Wages range from $80,940 at the 10th percentile to $110,770 at the 90th percentile.
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.
What's the difference between a Boilermaker apprenticeship and trade school?
An apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn over 4 years with no tuition cost. Trade school is faster (6–24 months) but costs money upfront. Both can lead to the same journeyman credential.
How do I find a Boilermaker apprenticeship in Illinois?
Contact one of the 12 Boilermaker-adjacent registered sponsors in Illinois (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
Do Boilermaker apprentices get paid during training?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $47,670/yr in Illinois). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the program.

Boilermaker in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Illinois

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