Plumbers & Pipefitters vs Boilermakers
Median pay is about $13k higher for Boilermakers. The usual entry education is apprenticeship plus license for Plumbers & Pipefitters and apprenticeship for Boilermakers.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Plumbers & Pipefitters | Boilermakers |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $63,800 | $76,410, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $50,190 | $64,760, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $85,110 | $95,430, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +6.8% Growing fast, higher | -1.8% Declining |
| Openings a year | 42,000 | 700 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Apprenticeship plus license | Apprenticeship |
| Difficulty modeled | 2.4 / 5 | 2.6 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Low | Moderate |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 24th pct | 26th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Plumbers & Pipefitters
- Writing
Only Boilermakers
- Active Learning
Both lean on critical thinking, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking, active listening.
More comparisons
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.