ANZSCO code
322311 Metal Fabricator (the group that covers boiler and pressure vessel fabrication)
Source: ABS: ANZSCO 2022 structure (occupation codes), read 2026-10-06 (retrieved 6 October 2026)
Employer guide
Hire a Boilermaker in Australia
To hire a boilermaker, decide the mix of marking out, fabrication and welding, plan a practical assessment, and set out shutdown or FIFO conditions clearly. CrossNation recruits boilermakers for employers across Australia. The fee is 12% of the annual salary, charged only on a successful placement.
By CrossNation Editorial Team. Sources checked 6 October 2026.
12% of annual salary
Charged only when a placement succeeds. No placement, no fee.
90-day placement guarantee
See our terms.
Official data
Key facts from official sources
Common entry qualification
Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade
Source: training.gov.au: National register of VET qualifications (retrieved 6 October 2026)
Overseas skills assessment
Trades Recognition Australia assesses many trade occupations
Source: Trades Recognition Australia (retrieved 6 October 2026)
Modern award
Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award [MA000010]
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman: List of awards (retrieved 6 October 2026)
What you need to know
How is a boilermaker brief different from a welder brief?
A boilermaker reads drawings, marks out plate and sections, cuts, rolls and fits parts and then welds them, so the brief should cover fabrication as well as welding. Describe the products: structural steel, tanks, chutes, wear plate, pressure equipment or mining plant. List the drawings and standards used, the thicknesses and the lifting and handling equipment on site. State whether the person will lead a small crew or work to a leading hand. This separates boilermakers from welders and improves candidate quality. If the person will also weld to a procedure or to a pressure equipment standard, say so, and say whether you supply the drawings, the consumables and the lifting equipment or expect the boilermaker to arrange them.
What should an assessment and onboarding check cover?
Ask for the Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade or equivalent evidence of trade training, weld certificates and references for comparable fabrication. A practical test should include reading a drawing, marking out and fitting a joint before welding, with clear acceptance criteria. Record the tickets held: white card, working at heights, confined space, elevated work platform and any crane or dogging tickets the site needs. Mine and industrial sites add inductions, a medical and drug and alcohol testing.
How should you explain shutdown and FIFO terms?
Shutdown work runs to tight schedules with long shifts, and FIFO rosters add travel and accommodation. Put the roster cycle, shift length, flights or pick-up, accommodation standard, medical requirements and whether travel time is paid into the brief and the contract. Workshop boilermakers are generally covered by the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award [MA000010], while site and shutdown work is often set by agreements. We do not publish pay figures here. Confirm the instrument and classification, and cost the role with the Fair Work Pay Calculator.
How do you make a shutdown or workshop start smooth?
Send the drawings, procedures and site rules in advance where you can. On arrival, run the site induction, confirm tickets and medical results and introduce the leading hand and the inspection points. Clarify who signs off fit-up and welds, how rework is recorded and how lifts are planned. For shutdowns, agree the handover between shifts and how progress is reported. Workers return to employers that run organised sites and pay correctly, so get the basics right before day one.
Before you brief a recruiter: boilermaker checklist
Checklist
- Describe products, drawings, standards and thicknesses
- Ask for trade qualification evidence and weld certificates
- Design an assessment covering drawing, marking out, fit-up and welding
- List the tickets, medical and induction requirements
- State roster cycle, accommodation and travel terms for shutdown work
- Confirm the award or agreement and classification
Tell us the role, location and start date
The fee is 12% of the candidate's annual salary, charged only when a placement succeeds.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is a boilermaker the same as a fabricator?
The trades overlap, and boilermaker usually implies fabrication from drawings in plate and structural work. Write the duties so applicants understand the role.
Do boilermakers need a white card?
If the work is on a construction site, yes. Workshop-only roles may not require it, but site roles do.
What should a shutdown contract state?
The dates and length of the shutdown, roster and shift hours, travel and accommodation, the agreement that sets pay and allowances, and what happens if the work ends early.
How does CrossNation charge to recruit a boilermaker?
The fee is 12% of the candidate's annual salary, charged only when a placement succeeds, and placements carry a 90-day placement guarantee. There is no charge to send a brief. CrossNation recruits boilermakers for employers across Australia, and you can send the role, location and start date through the employer enquiry form.
Can I recruit an overseas boilermaker through CrossNation?
CrossNation recruits sponsorship-ready overseas candidates for employers that want them. Trades skills assessment and site tickets are separate from any visa, and fabrication roles are classified differently from welders. The employer holds or obtains its own approval, and CrossNation cannot promise a visa, an approval or a job. This is general information, not migration advice. Speak to a registered migration agent.
What should I verify before I offer a boilermaker the job?
Boilermakers do not hold a national licence. Employers expect a Certificate III fabrication trade qualification and often run a practical test. For a boilermaker, the award that commonly applies is the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award (MA000010), but coverage depends on your industry and the person's duties, so confirm it with the Fair Work Ombudsman before you set the offer. Keep a copy of any licence, registration or check you sight for your boilermaker, and confirm their right to work in Australia before they start.