Boilermaker Apprenticeship
A Boilermaker Apprenticeship is a paid, nationally accredited training pathway focused on the fabrication, welding, assembly and repair of metal products, particularly those that hold liquids and gases under pressure.
Apprentices train for around four years on the job while completing the MEM31922 Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade (Boilermaking).
Boilermakers are specialist tradespeople who use blueprints and technical drawings to measure, cut and assemble materials such as steel plate and tubing, building and maintaining tanks, boilers, pipelines and pressurised systems used across mining, oil and gas, manufacturing and transport.
It's a hands-on, physically engaging trade with strong wages, broad industry demand, and the option to chase higher earnings in mining, resources or FIFO work once qualified.
What Does a Boilermaker Do?
Boilermakers play a critical role in keeping industrial facilities operating safely and efficiently. Their work focuses on welding, assembling, repairing and fabricating metal products and structures, often using advanced welding technologies including TIG and MIG welding.
Day-to-day tasks can include:
- Marking precise guidelines for cutting, drilling, welding, bending and punching metal
- Assembling parts and structures with the help of cranes and lifting equipment
- Maintaining, repairing and rebuilding industrial machinery and pressure vessels
- Operating tools such as vices, hydraulic presses, thermal cutting equipment and rolling machines
- Using hand tools for sanding, grinding, cutting, polishing and drilling
- Inspecting welds and finished work for quality and compliance
Boilermakers work across a wide range of industries including mining, oil and gas, manufacturing, transport, shipbuilding and infrastructure construction.
MIGAS Boilermaker Apprentice Caileb working on a chassis.
How Long is a Boilermaker Apprenticeship?
A boilermaker apprenticeship takes approximately four years to complete and combines paid hands-on work with formal study.
You'll learn practical skills under the supervision of qualified boilermakers, alongside studying for your MEM31922 Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade (Boilermaking) at TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation.
The qualification is part of the Manufacturing and Engineering training package, which also covers related trades like Sheetmetal, Fabrication, and Casting and Moulding.
Boilermaker Salary
In Australia in 2026, a qualified boilermaker typically earns between $95,000 and $115,000 per year, with higher salaries common in mining, resources and FIFO roles. (Seek)
As a Boilermaker Apprentice, you'll typically be paid under the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award or an EBA provided by your employer. Award wages increase as you progress through each stage of your apprenticeship. Your weekly pay depends on whether you've completed Year 12, whether you're an adult apprentice, any EBA terms, employer or host benefits, and any government support you're eligible for.
Indicative weekly Award wages for a boilermaker apprentice as at 1 July 2025, ranging from stage 1 (lowest) to stage 4 (highest):
- Junior apprentice, did not complete Year 12: $534.20 to $940.19 per week
- Junior apprentice, completed Year 12: $587.62 to $982.40 per week
- Adult apprentice (21 years and over): $854.72 to $982.40 per week
(Source: Fair Work Ombudsman Pay Guide MA000010) Rates apply to general manufacturing and reflect minimum Award wages. Allowances such as tool allowance and industry allowance may apply on top of these rates depending on classification and circumstances.
Some industries and employers pay above Award wages or under enterprise agreements, particularly in the mining and resources sector, which can lift these indicative figures considerably.
Skills and Requirements
Boilermaking demands precision, physical capability and strong safety awareness. The attributes that set successful apprentices apart include:
- Mechanical aptitude: A natural curiosity about how machines and pressurised systems work, and the instinct to troubleshoot when things go wrong
- Physical fitness: The trade can be physically demanding, with lifting, working in confined spaces, working at heights, and exposure to varying weather conditions
- Attention to detail: Precision is non-negotiable, since the safety of facilities and workers depends on accurate, high-quality work
- Technical knowledge: A solid grasp of welding techniques, blueprint reading and metal fabrication is essential
- Safety consciousness: Strict safety protocols protect you, your workmates and the facilities you work on
- Hand-eye coordination: Welding and fabrication work relies on steady, controlled movements
Career Pathways After Your Apprenticeship
A boilermaker qualification can take you across some of Australia's highest-paying industries, including:
- Mining, resources and FIFO contracting
- Oil and gas (onshore and offshore)
- Power generation
- Heavy industrial manufacturing
- Shipbuilding and marine
- Pressure vessel and pipework specialisation
- Welding inspection and quality assurance (with further certification)
- Site supervision, project management and contracting
- Self-employment as a fabricator or contractor
A trade qualification is one of the most portable and resilient credentials you can earn. Boilermakers are in demand across every state and territory.
Find a Boilermaker Apprenticeship
A boilermaker apprenticeship could be the ideal engineering apprenticeship you’re looking for.
Get started in a boilermaking apprenticeship with MIGAS Apprentices & Trainees. We will match you with a host company where you will complete your on-the-job training, coordinate your off-the-job qualification study, and support you through to the completion of your apprenticeship.
Explore the latest opportunities below or visit the MIGAS Jobs Board for other engineering trade apprenticeships.
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A boilermaker apprenticeship is a specialisation within fabrication trade engineering.
You might consider a Sheetmetal Apprenticeship as well.
View the MIGAS Jobs Board to view current engineering trade apprenticeships.