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ANZSCO 3223Skill level 3Engineering and trades

Boilermaker

Fabricate and repair heavy steel structures, pressure vessels and tanks for mining, energy and manufacturing.

Salary

Cited figures from Job Outlook and QILT. ExamExplained does not publish predictive earnings or projections.

FigureAUDSource
Full-time weekly earnings$1850Job Outlook (2025-06-01)

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What a boilermaker actually does

Boilermakers fabricate heavy steel structures, pressure vessels, tanks and pipework for mining, energy, water and manufacturing. Most boilermakers start the day in a fabrication shop reading drawings, marking out plate, cutting with plasma or oxy, fitting components into a jig, and welding with MIG, TIG, MMA or sub-arc. Field boilermakers attend site for repair work on big steel structures, pipelines, conveyors or tank shells. Shutdown work is common in the mining and energy sector and brings long rosters of 12-hour shifts at higher rates. Boilermakers in pressure vessel work need additional qualifications under AS 3992 and AS/NZS 1554. Hours run from 6.30am or 7am in most shops, and bigger jobs can push to 10-12 hour days during shutdown campaigns.

Typical tasks

  • Read fabrication drawings.
  • Fit and weld plate and pipe.
  • Conduct dimensional and visual inspections.

Skills you'll use

  • Reading fabrication drawings, weld symbols and material specifications
  • MIG, TIG, MMA and sub-arc welding processes
  • Operating plasma cutters, oxy-fuel, magnetic drills and section rollers
  • Working from heights and in confined spaces safely
  • Applying AS/NZS 1554 structural welding and AS/NZS 3992 pressure welding
  • Visual weld inspection and basic non-destructive testing
  • Reading procedure qualification records (PQR) and welding procedure specifications (WPS)

How to become one

  1. 1Finish Year 10 or 12. A pre-apprenticeship Certificate II in Engineering Pathways is helpful if you have not found a host yet
  2. 2Secure a host with a fabrication shop, mining contractor or shipyard and sign an apprenticeship agreement
  3. 3Complete a 4-year Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade (MEM30319) at TAFE alongside paid on-job training
  4. 4Build up welding tickets that match employer requirements. Common ones include 3G, 4G, 6G pipe and AS/NZS 1554.1 structural
  5. 5For mining and resources work, get site inductions, working at heights, confined space and hot work tickets
  6. 6Optional next steps include moving into a Welding Supervisor role, Certificate IV in Engineering, NDT qualifications, or specialising in pressure vessel work

Where you can work

  • Steel fabrication shops supplying construction and infrastructure
  • Mining and resources contractors on shutdowns
  • Shipbuilding and naval construction yards
  • Pipeline construction firms
  • Power generation and energy plant operators
  • Pressure vessel and tank manufacturers
  • Mid-tier and heavy manufacturing operations

Career progression

Typical stages and salary bands. Salary figures are sourced from Job Outlook, QILT or industry bodies; brackets are 25th-75th percentile not absolute floors or ceilings.

  1. Apprentice
    0-4 years
    Typical roles: First-year apprentice, Fourth-year apprentice
    Salary band: $30,000 - $60,000 per year (source, sourced 2026-05-21)
  2. Qualified boilermaker
    4-8 years
    Typical roles: Workshop boilermaker, Site boilermaker, Pressure welder
    Salary band: $85,000 - $115,000 per year (source, sourced 2026-05-21)
  3. Senior or shutdown specialist
    8-15 years
    Typical roles: Leading hand, Shutdown boilermaker, Welding supervisor
    Salary band: $115,000 - $165,000 per year (source, sourced 2026-05-21)
  4. Supervisor or business owner
    12+ years
    Typical roles: Workshop manager, Welding inspector, Fabrication business owner

Is this for you?

You might love this if

  • You enjoy heavy hands-on work and like welding
  • You are willing to work shutdowns and FIFO rosters
  • You are good with measurement and reading drawings
  • You take care with safety in noisy, dusty and hot environments
  • You want a trade with strong demand in mining and infrastructure

This might not suit you if

  • You have a vision condition that makes welding difficult
  • You dislike heavy lifting or working in heat
  • You want a quiet office environment

Three ways in

Uni, TAFE and trade routes for boilermaker. Not every career has all three; we only list pathways that actually lead to this occupation.

University

Bachelor degrees that lead to this career.

No direct undergraduate pathway. Consider postgraduate study after a related bachelor degree.

TAFE / VET

Nationally accredited Certificate and Diploma qualifications.

Apprenticeship trade

Earn while you learn through an Australian Apprenticeship.

Sources

ExamExplained does not publish predictive salary figures. For current Australian earnings data check Job Outlook directly. Career classifications follow the ABS ANZSCO 2022 release.