Boilermaker in Texas: Salary, License Requirements, and How to Start
Skilled trades
Texas employs 2,340 boilermakers, with a statewide median of $75,750 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact Texas licensing picture, and where to train.
What Boilermakers Earn in Texas (May 2025)
- Texas median pay
- $75,750 (May 2025)
- Starting range (10th percentile)
- $57,610
- Experienced (75th percentile)
- $80,090
- Top earners (90th percentile)
- $100,170
- Employed in Texas
- 2,340
- U.S. median (for comparison)
- $72,280 (May 2024)
What That Pay Is Worth in Texas
Prices in Texas run about 3% below the national average (cost-of-living index 97.1 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $75,750 median stretches to roughly $78,012 in national buying-power terms.
Job Outlook in Texas (2024–2034)
Texas is projected to grow boilermakers employment +4.0%, faster than the -2.9% projected nationally. The state expects about 220 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.
Texas License and Certification Requirements
IBB Journeyman Boilermaker (apprenticeship credential — no TX state license) — regulated by the No Texas state boilermaker license — IBB apprenticeship is the standard.
- Texas does not license individual boilermakers. The entry path is an IBB (International Brotherhood of Boilermakers) Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) apprenticeship: 3–4 years, approximately 6,000 hours of OJT combined with classroom training in welding, rigging, and boiler assembly.
- Apprentices complete ASME Section IX pressure vessel welding qualification — the critical technical credential for boilermaker work. Many also earn AWS D1.1 structural welding certification.
- Texas has large refinery and petrochemical complexes (Houston Ship Channel, Beaumont, Corpus Christi) with ongoing boilermaker demand. Work is often project-based; journeymen travel to job sites.
Official requirements: No Texas state boilermaker license — IBB apprenticeship is the standard →
Training in Texas
IBB Local Lodge 587 (Houston area) and Local Lodge 68 are the primary Texas locals. The Houston petrochemical corridor provides some of the strongest boilermaker employment in the country. Expect travel — boilermakers follow industrial construction and maintenance turnarounds across the region.
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 Texas?
The median wage for boilermakers in Texas is $75,750 per year (May 2025, BLS). Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $57,610, and top earners (90th percentile) make about $100,170. Pay varies by metro and years of experience.
What license or certification do you need to become a Boilermaker in Texas?
IBB Journeyman Boilermaker (apprenticeship credential — no TX state license), overseen by the No Texas state boilermaker license — IBB apprenticeship is the standard. Texas does not license individual boilermakers. The entry path is an IBB (International Brotherhood of Boilermakers) Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) apprenticeship: 3–4 years, approximately 6,000 hours of OJT combined with classroom training in welding, rigging, and boiler assembly.
Is being a Boilermaker a good career in Texas?
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 Texas?
Texas projects boilermakers employment to change +4.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 220 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), Texas statewide and metro estimates for SOC 47-2011. Licensing summary compiled from the No Texas 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 Texas wages · Texas 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.