Boilermaker in Illinois: Salary, License Requirements, and How to Start
Skilled trades
Illinois employs 110 boilermakers, with a statewide median of $99,730 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact Illinois licensing picture, and where to train.
What Boilermakers Earn in Illinois (May 2025)
- Illinois median pay
- $99,730 (May 2025)
- Starting range (10th percentile)
- $83,690
- Experienced (75th percentile)
- $103,430
- Top earners (90th percentile)
- $117,270
- Employed in Illinois
- 110
- U.S. median (for comparison)
- $72,280 (May 2024)
What That Pay Is Worth in Illinois
Prices in Illinois run right about the national average (cost-of-living index 100.0 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $99,730 median holds roughly its face value.
Job Outlook in Illinois (2024–2034)
Illinois is projected to grow boilermakers employment +2.0%, faster than the -2.9% projected nationally. The state expects about 10 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.
Illinois License and Certification Requirements
IBB Journeyman Boilermaker (apprenticeship credential — no IL state license) — regulated by the No Illinois state boilermaker license — IBB apprenticeship is the standard.
- Illinois does not issue an individual boilermaker mechanic license. The entry path is the IBB JATC apprenticeship: 3–4 years, ~6,000 OJT hours with classroom training in welding, rigging, and pressure vessel assembly.
- Apprentices qualify for ASME Section IX pressure vessel welding during the program. Illinois has significant power generation, petrochemical, and industrial refinery infrastructure along the Chicago metro and Illinois River corridor.
- The Chicago area is a major industrial hub with large refineries (Joliet, Lemont), power plants, and commercial boiler installations in high-rise buildings — all requiring boilermaker work.
Official requirements: No Illinois state boilermaker license — IBB apprenticeship is the standard →
Training in Illinois
IBB Local Lodge 1 (Chicago) has a long history in the industrial Midwest. Illinois boilermakers also travel regularly to power plant and refinery turnarounds in Indiana, Wisconsin, and Missouri. Chicago's commercial heating plant sector also provides year-round maintenance work.
Is This the Right Move for You?
Best for: People who want strong union wages and are comfortable with industrial environments, heights, and confined spaces.
Think twice if: Extreme heat, industrial noise, physical intensity, and travel to job sites sound unappealing.
Why it's resilient: Boilermakers install and maintain pressure vessels, tanks, and heat exchangers in industrial settings — licensed work that requires physical presence and specialized expertise.
First Steps
Contact the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB) for apprenticeship openings in your region.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do boilermakers make in Illinois?
The median wage for boilermakers in Illinois is $99,730 per year (May 2025, BLS). Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $83,690, and top earners (90th percentile) make about $117,270. Pay varies by metro and years of experience.
What license or certification do you need to become a Boilermaker in Illinois?
IBB Journeyman Boilermaker (apprenticeship credential — no IL state license), overseen by the No Illinois state boilermaker license — IBB apprenticeship is the standard. Illinois does not issue an individual boilermaker mechanic license. The entry path is the IBB JATC apprenticeship: 3–4 years, ~6,000 OJT hours with classroom training in welding, rigging, and pressure vessel assembly.
Is being a Boilermaker a good career in Illinois?
Boilermakers install and maintain pressure vessels, tanks, and heat exchangers in industrial settings — licensed work that requires physical presence and specialized expertise.
Is Boilermaker a growing career in Illinois?
Illinois projects boilermakers employment to change +2.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 10 openings a year — a growing field in the state.
Sources and Verification
Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Illinois statewide and metro estimates for SOC 47-2011. Licensing summary compiled from the No Illinois state boilermaker license — IBB apprenticeship is the standard (2026-06-11). Requirements change — always confirm current rules with the board and verify program costs and outcomes before enrolling.
BLS Occupational Outlook · O*NET Illinois wages · Illinois licensing/certification source
Employment projections: Projections Central / BLS Employment Projections (2024–2034); Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities.
Pay percentiles describe current workers, not entry-level offers; training costs and local demand vary, so verify locally before committing money or quitting a job.