Career comparison
Boilermaker vs. Welder
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Boilermakers earn more at the median ($76,410 vs. $53,750), while welders usually get to work faster (3–18 months of training). Boilermakers build and repair boilers, tanks and pressure vessels in power plants and refineries. Welders join and cut metal with MIG, TIG and stick welding for construction and manufacturing.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Boilermaker | Welder | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $76,410 ($36.74/hr) | $53,750 ($25.84/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $50,490 – $110,370 | $39,240 – $77,530 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -1.8% (a projected decline) | +2.4% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 700 | 40,300 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 4–5 year apprenticeship | 3–18 months |
| Key credential | Boilermaker apprenticeship | AWS Certified Welder |
| Work setting | Boilermakers work in plants, refineries and shipyards, often in confined spaces and at heights.. | Welders work in fabrication shops, factories, shipyards, construction sites and refineries, sometimes outdoors or at heights. |
What each job does
Boilermaker
- Read blueprints
- Fit steel plate and tube
- Weld
- Rig heavy components
- Repair boilers
Welder
- Read blueprints, specifications and weld symbols
- Prepare, clean and fit metal parts
- Set up welding equipment and select processes and settings
- Weld components in flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead positions
- Cut metal with oxy-fuel or plasma torches
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work and physical work. Both are part of the skilled trades & construction field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose boilermaker if…
- I like heavy industry
- I can weld
- I don’t mind heights or tight spaces
Choose welder if…
- I like making things with my hands
- I have a steady hand and patience for precise work
- Heat, sparks and noise don’t bother me
Still torn? Take the Boilermaker fit quiz and the Welder fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, boilermaker or welder?
Boilermakers earn more at the median: $76,410 versus $53,750 for welders, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Welders typically train faster (3–18 months) than boilermakers (4–5 year apprenticeship).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects welders to grow +2.4% from 2025–35, compared with -1.8% for boilermakers.