Boilermakers assemble, install, maintain and repair boilers, tanks and other large vessels that hold liquids and gases. Factories have automated much of boiler production, but on site the work is still done by hand.
The short answer: AI exposure is close to zero, and the BLS ties the outlook to energy, not AI. The ILO's 2025 index rates structural metal preparers and erectors, the closest group, as not exposed with a score of 0.11. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 2 percent decline for boilermakers from 2025 to 2035, with about 700 openings a year, all from replacing workers who leave. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed boilermakers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Structural Metal Preparers and Erectors | Not exposed | 0.11 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so this is the closest group for boilermakers, not a score for the job title itself. The ILO index measures generative AI, not robots or automated machines.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Boilermakers | Decline 2% | About 700 |
The BLS says boilers typically last for decades and need ongoing maintenance, but the shift away from coal-fired power will reduce the need for boilermakers, because solar and wind systems have no boilers and natural gas plants need less boiler maintenance than coal plants. It notes that most manufacturers have automated boiler production, while boilermakers still assemble and maintain boilers manually. Its outlook does not mention AI.
Where AI is helping
- Reading blueprints and specifications faster.
- Planning maintenance and inspection schedules.
- Drafting job reports, safety plans and parts orders.
- Looking up codes and procedures.
What stays with boilermakers
- Assembly and repair: fitting, welding and replacing parts on site.
- Inspection: finding leaks, cracks and worn parts in working systems.
- Safety: working at height and in confined spaces under pressure codes.
- Checking AI help: drafted procedures and lookups can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
The power mix, not AI, is the main force on this trade. Maintenance of existing boilers continues, while coal plant work shrinks. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace welders?, will AI replace sheet metal workers? and will AI replace ironworkers?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for boilermakers at $76,410 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: high school diploma or equivalent. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace boilermakers?
Not on current evidence. The closest ILO group is not exposed, and the BLS projects a 2 percent decline from 2025 to 2035 tied to energy changes.
Why is boilermaker employment declining?
The BLS says the shift away from coal-fired power reduces the need, since solar and wind have no boilers and gas plants need less boiler maintenance.
How many boilermaker openings are expected?
The BLS projects about 700 openings a year, all replacing workers who leave.
Is boiler production automated?
The BLS says most manufacturers have automated boiler production, but boilermakers still assemble and maintain boilers manually.