Boilermaker Apprenticeship in Pennsylvania

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.

PA Median Salary
$87,710/yr
+20% vs. national
National Median
$73,340/yr
PA Employment
460
Boilermakers employed
PA Sponsors
2
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 Pennsylvania: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered boilermaker apprenticeship in Pennsylvania 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.

Pennsylvania pay vs. national

Median boilermaker wages in Pennsylvania are $87,710/year, +20% above the national median of $73,340. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Pennsylvania has 2 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 — Pennsylvania-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Pennsylvania Wage Spread

Annual wages for Boilermakers in Pennsylvania across all experience levels.

10th pct
$57,010
Median
$87,710
90th pct
$127,600
Middle 50% of workers earn $75,810$100,480

Current Boilermaker Apprenticeship Openings in Pennsylvania

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

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

Organization City County
(PHL) BOILERMAKER JAC 13 Levittown Bucks County
Western PA Boilermakers Pittsburgh Allegheny County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Boilermaker openings

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

Boilermaker Apprenticeship in Pennsylvania

The 2 Boilermaker-related registered sponsors in Pennsylvania mean apprenticeship programs exist but aren't abundant. Building relationships with local contractors and trade unions is often more effective than waiting for formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Boilermakers earn in Pennsylvania?
The BLS reports a median wage of $87,710/yr for Boilermakers in Pennsylvania (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
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 Pennsylvania?
Our directory surfaces 2 Boilermaker-related registered sponsors in Pennsylvania. Start with your local trade union hall, joint apprenticeship committee (JAC), or state apprenticeship agency. You can also search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP.
Do Boilermaker apprentices get paid during training?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Pennsylvania, a first-year Boilermaker apprentice might earn around $43,855/yr (roughly half the $87,710 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 4-year program.

Boilermaker in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Pennsylvania

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