Skilled Wages

Boilermaker salary in Michigan

Median $47.22 an hour for — boilermakers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$47.22/hrMedian hourly wageMichigan, May data
$98,220/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$23.28 – $51.5210th to 90th percentilehourly range
—Jobs countedemployer survey

Boilermaker pay in Michigan: the full range

Wage percentiles, MichiganMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$20$30$40$50$60/hrMichigan: 10th $23.28 · 25th $35.82 · median $47.22 · 75th $48.13 · 90th $51.52Michigan$47.22$23.28$51.52United States: 10th $24.28 · 25th $31.13 · median $36.74 · 75th $45.88 · 90th $53.06United States$36.74
Hourly wage percentiles for boilermakers: Michigan vs United States, May 2025.

Michigan ranks 5th of 37 states for median boilermaker pay, and 5th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $49.09). — boilermakers work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$23.28 – $35.82$48,430 – $74,500roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$35.82 – $48.13$74,500 – $100,110the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$48.13 – $51.52$100,110 – $107,150the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Boilermaker pay by metro in Michigan

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrDetroit: $48.13Detroit$48.13
Median hourly wage for boilermakers by metro area in Michigan, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Detroit$35.82$48.13$51.52—2% above

Boilermaker wages in Michigan over time

Michigan, 1999-2025MichiganUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40$50$60200020052010201520202025$47.22Michigan$36.74United States
Median hourly wage for boilermakers, Michigan vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearMichigan $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$23.42$45.26$18.091,600
2000$23.28$43.52$17.80960
2001$24.91$45.28$19.06680
2002$26.11$46.73$20.171,030
2003$25.08$43.88$20.79750
2004$25.07$42.73$21.68780
2005$24.77$40.83$23.10800
2006$24.08$38.45$22.58630
2007$25.09$38.96$24.38510
2008$26.06$38.97$25.13450
2009$29.63$44.46$26.97530
2010$32.83$48.47$26.27400
2011$32.32$46.26$27.36290
2012$21.92$30.74$27.19460
2013$26.12$36.10$27.74520
2014$23.43$31.86$28.78470
2015$33.44$45.42$28.90260
2016$33.60$45.07$29.84210
2017$32.95$43.28$29.93—
2018$35.47$45.48$29.88—
2019$36.23$45.62$30.34640
2020$38.05$47.33$31.42510
2021$36.30$43.13$30.91970
2022$35.99$39.59$32.171,310
2023$40.49$42.78$34.20720
2024$31.94$32.78$35.26500
2025$47.22$47.22$36.74—

In today's dollars, the median boilermaker wage in Michigan changed by +4.0% over the last ten years of data.

Union scale and prevailing wage for boilermakers in Michigan

On federally funded construction in Michigan, contractors must pay boilermakers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 83 of the 83 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $81.14 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $47.22.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, MIAlcona: $81.14 (union)Alger: $81.14 (union)Allegan: $81.14 (union)Alpena: $81.14 (union)Antrim: $81.14 (union)Arenac: $81.14 (union)Baraga: $81.14 (union)Barry: $80.24 (union)Bay: $80.24 (union)Benzie: $81.14 (union)Berrien: $80.24 (union)Branch: $81.14 (union)Calhoun: $80.24 (union)Cass: $80.24 (union)Charlevoix: $81.14 (union)Cheboygan: $81.14 (union)Chippewa: $81.14 (union)Clare: $81.14 (union)Clinton: $80.24 (union)Crawford: $81.14 (union)Delta: $81.14 (union)Dickinson: $81.14 (union)Eaton: $80.24 (union)Emmet: $81.14 (union)Genesee: $80.24 (union)Gladwin: $81.14 (union)Gogebic: $81.14 (union)Grand Traverse: $81.14 (union)Gratiot: $81.14 (union)Hillsdale: $81.14 (union)Houghton: $81.14 (union)Huron: $81.14 (union)Ingham: $80.24 (union)Ionia: $80.24 (union)Iosco: $81.14 (union)Iron: $81.14 (union)Isabella: $81.14 (union)Jackson: $80.24 (union)Kalamazoo: $80.24 (union)Kalkaska: $81.14 (union)Kent: $80.24 (union)Keweenaw: $81.14 (union)Lake: $81.14 (union)Lapeer: $80.24 (union)Leelanau: $81.14 (union)Lenawee: $81.14 (union)Livingston: $80.24 (union)Luce: $81.14 (union)Mackinac: $81.14 (union)Macomb: $80.24 (union)Manistee: $81.14 (union)Marquette: $81.14 (union)Mason: $81.14 (union)Mecosta: $81.14 (union)Menominee: $81.14 (union)Midland: $81.14 (union)Missaukee: $81.14 (union)Monroe: $81.14 (union)Montcalm: $81.14 (union)Montmorency: $81.14 (union)Muskegon: $80.24 (union)Newaygo: $80.24 (union)Oakland: $80.24 (union)Oceana: $81.14 (union)Ogemaw: $81.14 (union)Ontonagon: $81.14 (union)Osceola: $81.14 (union)Oscoda: $81.14 (union)Otsego: $81.14 (union)Ottawa: $80.24 (union)Presque Isle: $81.14 (union)Roscommon: $81.14 (union)Saginaw: $80.24 (union)St. Clair: $80.24 (union)St. Joseph: $81.14 (union)Sanilac: $81.14 (union)Schoolcraft: $81.14 (union)Shiawassee: $81.14 (union)Tuscola: $81.14 (union)Van Buren: $80.24 (union)Washtenaw: $80.24 (union)Wayne: $80.24 (union)Wexford: $81.14 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for boilermakers by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AlconaUnion BOIL0169-002 2025-07-01$43.50$37.64$81.14MI20260102
AlgerUnion BOIL0169-002 2025-07-01$43.50$37.64$81.14MI20260103
AlleganUnion BOIL0169-002 2025-07-01$43.50$37.64$81.14MI20260104
AlpenaUnion BOIL0169-002 2025-07-01$43.50$37.64$81.14MI20260105
AntrimUnion BOIL0169-002 2025-07-01$43.50$37.64$81.14MI20260106
ArenacUnion BOIL0169-002 2025-07-01$43.50$37.64$81.14MI20260107
BaragaUnion BOIL0169-002 2025-07-01$43.50$37.64$81.14MI20260108
BenzieUnion BOIL0169-002 2025-07-01$43.50$37.64$81.14MI20260109
BranchUnion BOIL0169-002 2025-07-01$43.50$37.64$81.14MI20260110
CharlevoixUnion BOIL0169-002 2025-07-01$43.50$37.64$81.14MI20260111
CheboyganUnion BOIL0169-002 2025-07-01$43.50$37.64$81.14MI20260112
ChippewaUnion BOIL0169-002 2025-07-01$43.50$37.64$81.14MI20260113
ClareUnion BOIL0169-002 2025-07-01$43.50$37.64$81.14MI20260114
CrawfordUnion BOIL0169-002 2025-07-01$43.50$37.64$81.14MI20260115
DeltaUnion BOIL0169-002 2025-07-01$43.50$37.64$81.14MI20260116

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Michigan prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Michigan?

211.1kConstruction jobsMichigan, 2026-08
-1.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k250k19901995200020052010201520202025211kAug 2026
Construction employment in Michigan (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Contractor pay by county

Average pay at specialty trade contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just boilermakers), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.

CountyEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Dickinson County707$102,654$1,974
Kalkaska County317$100,718$1,937
Oakland County21,304$95,370$1,834
Monroe County1,461$95,332$1,833
Wayne County16,808$92,147$1,772
Genesee County5,228$86,793$1,669
Muskegon County1,898$84,641$1,628
Macomb County12,658$84,297$1,621
Washtenaw County3,154$84,026$1,616
Kent County13,928$83,955$1,615
Kalamazoo County4,400$82,733$1,591
Calhoun County1,463$82,475$1,586

Keep comparing

Boilermaker pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Michigan

Questions this page answers

How much do boilermakers make in Michigan?

The median boilermaker in Michigan earned $47.22 an hour ($98,220 a year) in May 2025, 29% above the national median of $36.74. The middle half earn $35.82–$48.13; the top 10% earn more than $51.52.

Where does Michigan rank for boilermaker pay?

Michigan ranks 5th of 37 states for boilermaker pay, with a median of $47.22 an hour, and 5th after adjusting for Michigan's cost of living (BEA price parity 96.2, US = 100).

What is the union boilermaker rate in Michigan?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for boilermakers in 83 counties, with a typical package of $81.14 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many boilermakers work in Michigan?

BLS counted — boilermakers in Michigan in May 2025, 0.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.00; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Michigan and metro areas, SOC 47-2011.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.