Boilermakers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Boilermakers in the United States earn a median salary of $76,410 per year — about $37 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 10K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of -2%.
AI & Automation Risk
The core work is highly physical, involving manual assembly, welding, and repair in unpredictable and cramped environments like boilers and tanks. While AI can assist with peripheral tasks like blueprint analysis or maintenance scheduling, the primary duties require human dexterity and physical presence that current AI and robotics cannot replicate in non-factory settings.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toledo, OHBEST VALUE | $107,780 | Below avg (90.6) | $118,931 |
| Farmington, NM | $101,250 | Below avg (87.0) | $116,353 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $135,290 | Above avg (117.6) | $115,090 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $106,790 | Below avg (94.9) | $112,504 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $109,640 | Average (102.5) | $106,980 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $100,110 | Average (98.2) | $101,959 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $105,430 | Above avg (104.3) | $101,081 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $94,640 | Below avg (95.0) | $99,649 |
| Cleveland, OH | $90,980 | Below avg (92.9) | $97,924 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $91,420 | Below avg (94.7) | $96,530 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $110,370 | Above avg (114.7) | $96,184 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $86,910 | Average (102.4) | $84,904 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $77,290 | Below avg (91.2) | $84,753 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $74,730 | Below avg (91.2) | $81,911 |
| Lafayette, LA | $70,720 | Below avg (87.6) | $80,774 |