Boilermaker

Become a Boilermaker in Georgia

Boilermakers Local 26 Apprenticeship & Careers

Boilermakers build, install, and maintain large industrial equipment used to produce power and process materials. Their work includes assembling boilers, pressure vessels, storage tanks, and heavy mechanical systems used in power plants, manufacturing facilities, and refineries.

In Georgia and across the Southeast, many boilermakers start their careers through a union apprenticeship with Boilermakers Local 26, which represents skilled workers throughout the region.

If you enjoy working with heavy equipment, welding, and building large industrial systems, a career as a boilermaker can provide strong wages, job stability, and hands-on work without the need for a college degree.

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What Boilermakers Do

Boilermakers build and repair large metal structures and equipment used in industrial facilities.

Their work includes:

• Installing and assembling boilers
• Fabricating and installing pressure vessels
• Welding and cutting heavy steel components
• Installing industrial tanks and containers
• Repairing equipment in power plants and factories
• Reading blueprints and technical drawings
• Performing maintenance shutdown work in industrial plants

Boilermakers must understand welding techniques, rigging, blueprint reading, and strict safety procedures.

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Where Boilermakers Work

Boilermakers typically work in heavy industrial environments throughout Georgia and the Southeast, including:

• Power plants
• Manufacturing plants
• Pulp and paper mills
• Chemical plants
• Industrial processing facilities
• Refineries
• Steel mills
• Large industrial construction sites

Much of their work occurs during plant construction projects or maintenance shutdowns when major equipment must be installed or repaired.

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Example Projects Boilermakers Work On

Boilermakers help build and maintain important industrial infrastructure such as:

• Power generation facilities
• Manufacturing plants and industrial factories
• Chemical processing plants
• Pulp and paper mills
• Industrial boilers and pressure systems
• Large storage tanks and industrial vessels

These systems are critical to energy production and manufacturing across the region.

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Boilermaker Apprenticeship Program

Most boilermakers begin their careers through a registered apprenticeship program.

The Boilermakers Local 26 apprenticeship combines:

• Paid on-the-job training
• Classroom instruction
• Hands-on welding and fabrication training

Apprentices earn wages while they learn and receive regular pay increases as they gain experience.

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How Long the Apprenticeship Takes

Boilermaker apprenticeship programs typically last:

4 years

During that time apprentices complete:

• ~6,000-8,000 hours of on-the-job training
• Classroom and technical instruction

Training includes:

• Welding and metal fabrication
• Blueprint reading
• Rigging and crane signaling
• Industrial safety procedures
• Boiler and pressure vessel installation
• Equipment maintenance and repair

After completing the program, apprentices become journeyman boilermakers.

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Local Union for Boilermakers in Georgia

International Brotherhood of Boilermakers - Local 26

Boilermakers Local 26 represents skilled boilermakers working throughout Georgia and the southeastern United States.

The union helps members access:

• Apprenticeship training
• Health insurance
• Retirement benefits
• Job opportunities at industrial facilities
• Ongoing training and certifications

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How To Apply for the Boilermaker Apprenticeship

To apply for the apprenticeship program, contact the union training program:

Boilermakers Local 26

Website
https://boilermakers.org

Phone
(912) 748-3394

Location
Savannah, Georgia

Applicants typically need:

• High school diploma or GED
• Basic math skills
• Ability to perform physically demanding work
• Valid driver's license

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Why Choose a Career as a Boilermaker?

Boilermakers enjoy careers that offer:

• Strong union wages and benefits
• Paid training instead of college debt
• Opportunities to travel and work on major industrial projects
• Highly specialized skills
• Long-term demand in energy and manufacturing industries

Boilermakers play a critical role in building and maintaining the equipment that powers industries and infrastructure.