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Salary comparison

Boilermakers vs. Construction Laborers: Who Earns More?

Boilermakerss out-earn Construction Laborerss by $29K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Boilermakerss land at $76,410 and Construction Laborerss at $47,120. The education gap is real: boilermaker programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while construction laborer programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Boilermakerss is California ($118,150); for Construction Laborerss it's Hawaii ($77,110).

Boilermakers
Construction Laborers
Median salary
$76,410
$47,120
Hourly rate
$36.74/hr
$22.66/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$50,490
$35,090
Senior level (90th %)
$110,370
$78,090
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
10,190
1,096,780
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
7.3%
Category
Construction & Trades
Construction & Trades
Top-paying state
California
Hawaii

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Boilermakers median pay.

State
Boilermakers
Construction Laborers
California
$118,150
$60,270
Illinois
$99,730
$60,690
Michigan
$98,220
$49,590
Wisconsin
$97,590
$56,100
Minnesota
$96,190
$60,260
Washington
$95,200
$57,720
Indiana
$91,410
$50,070
Pennsylvania
$86,850
$49,400
Ohio
$85,550
$56,080
New Hampshire
$85,470
$49,980
New York
$84,770
$55,930
New Jersey
$82,410
$64,060
Connecticut
$80,360
$58,290
Missouri
$78,550
$56,730
Nevada
$61,430
$48,990

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Boilermakerss or Construction Laborerss?

Boilermakerss earn more nationally. The median is $76,410 for Boilermakerss versus $47,120 for Construction Laborerss, a difference of $29K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Boilermakers or Construction Laborers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Boilermakers or Construction Laborers?

Boilermakers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Construction Laborers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Boilermakerss get paid the most?

California is the top-paying state for Boilermakerss at $118,150/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Boilermakers vs. Construction Laborers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Boilermakerss earn $118,150 vs. $60,270 for Construction Laborerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Boilermakers salary breakdownView →Full Construction Laborers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Boilermakerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Construction Laborerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a boilermakersGuide →How to become a construction laborersGuide →