Boilermaker Apprenticeship in South Carolina

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.

SC Median Salary
$124,400/yr
+70% vs. national
National Median
$73,340/yr
SC 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 South Carolina: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered boilermaker apprenticeship in South Carolina 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.

South Carolina pay vs. national

Median boilermaker wages in South Carolina are $124,400/year, +70% above the national median of $73,340. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

South Carolina 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 — South Carolina-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

South Carolina Wage Spread

Annual wages for Boilermakers in South Carolina across all experience levels.

10th pct
$64,980
Median
$124,400
90th pct
$128,260
Middle 50% of workers earn $106,980$125,740

Current Boilermaker Apprenticeship Openings in South Carolina

No boilermaker apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for South Carolina. 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 South Carolina

Our directory doesn't surface Boilermaker-specific registered sponsors in South Carolina. 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 SC for the most relevant results.

Boilermaker Apprenticeship in South Carolina

Boilermaker apprenticeship opportunities in South Carolina are best found through direct outreach: contact the relevant national union's closest local chapter, search apprenticeship.gov for current programs, or reach out to your state apprenticeship agency. Our directory reflects what sponsors self-identify by name, which can understate coverage in smaller markets.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Boilermakers make in South Carolina?
Boilermakers in South Carolina earn a median salary of $124,400/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?
Most Boilermaker apprenticeships run 4 years. Apprentices work under a journeyman while attending classes, typically earning wages from day one with scheduled increases.
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 South Carolina?
Our directory doesn't surface Boilermaker-specific registered sponsors in South Carolina — 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?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In South Carolina, a first-year Boilermaker apprentice might earn around $62,200/yr (roughly half the $124,400 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 4-year program.

Boilermaker in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in South Carolina

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