Boilermaker Apprenticeship in Kentucky

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.

KY Median Salary
$73,340/yr
0% vs. national
National Median
$73,340/yr
KY Employment
300
Boilermakers employed
KY 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 Kentucky: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered boilermaker apprenticeship in Kentucky 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.

Kentucky pay vs. national

Median boilermaker wages in Kentucky are $73,340/year, 0% aligned with the national median of $73,340. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Kentucky 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 — Kentucky-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Kentucky Wage Spread

Annual wages for Boilermakers in Kentucky across all experience levels.

10th pct
$64,780
Median
$73,340
90th pct
$82,590
Middle 50% of workers earn $64,850$78,080

Current Boilermaker Apprenticeship Openings in Kentucky

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

Our directory doesn't surface Boilermaker-specific registered sponsors in Kentucky. 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 KY for the most relevant results.

Boilermaker Apprenticeship in Kentucky

Our directory doesn't list Boilermaker-specific sponsors in Kentucky. This typically reflects a smaller regional market where sponsors operate under generic company names rather than trade-specific branding. Nearby states often accept out-of-state apprentices — and apprenticeship.gov can identify current openings by occupation code and ZIP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Boilermaker salary in Kentucky?
The median annual wage for Boilermakers in Kentucky is $73,340 as of May 2024. Wages range from $64,780 at the 10th percentile to $82,590 at the 90th percentile.
How long is a Boilermaker 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.
Should I do a Boilermaker apprenticeship or go to 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.
Where can I apply for a Boilermaker apprenticeship in Kentucky?
We don't have Boilermaker-identified sponsors listed in Kentucky, but that doesn't mean programs don't exist — small regional contractors often aren't identifiable by name. Start with apprenticeship.gov's job finder (filter by occupation and ZIP), then contact nearby-state IUEC/IBEW/UA/SMART locals if nothing shows up locally.
Do Boilermaker apprentices get paid during training?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $36,670/yr in Kentucky). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the program.

Boilermaker in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Kentucky

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