Where to Find Boilermakers for Hire in Australia (2025 Guide)

Boilermakers are the backbone of heavy industry yet right now, demand far outweighs supply across mining, manufacturing, fabrication, and defence sectors. With a national shortage of skilled blue-collar trades, finding reliable boilermakers for hire in 2025 has become a major bottleneck for project delivery.

Whether you need a workshop fabricator, a site-ready shutdown welder, or a trade-qualified boilermaker for full-time hire, this guide will show you:

• Where to find skilled boilermakers in Australia
• What they cost (metro vs FIFO rates)
• How to attract them before your competitors do
• Where specialist recruiters source top talent

Why Boilermakers Are in High Demand Right Now

Boilermakers are listed as a priority shortage trade in most Australian states. In 2025, demand is driven by:

• A surge in infrastructure, rail and defence projects
• WA and QLD FIFO roles drawing trades out of metro areas
• A decline in apprenticeship completions over the past 3 years
• Growing pressure on fabricators and shutdown contractors to fill skilled gaps fast

🔧 Related: How to recruit mechanical fitters in Australia

Where to Find Boilermakers for Hire in Australia

Here are the five most effective ways to find boilermakers in today’s market:

1. Trade Recruitment Agencies (Like Us)

At HJ Recruitment, we’ve built deep databases of boilermakers with:

• Heavy fabrication experience
• Pressure vessel certification
• Welding ticket coverage (FCAW, MIG, TIG, etc.)
• Site-readiness and white cards

We can fill roles in workshops, mining shutdowns, FIFO, and local projects often within 72 hours.

2. Job Boards (But Use Niche Categories)

Seek, Indeed and Workforce Australia are saturated, but niche categories help:

• “Boilermaker Welder”
• “Fabrication Trades”
• “Heavy Metal Fabrication”
• “FIFO Trade Assistant / Boilermaker”

Most ads that perform well use location + specialisation in the title.

Example: Boilermaker Welder – Structural Steel | Bayswater WA

3. TAFEs and RTOs

Partner with local training organisations such as:

• TAFE Queensland – Engineering
• TAFE NSW – Fabrication Trade

Many are open to early-access employment pathways and apprenticeship placements.

4. Facebook & Community Trade Groups

Believe it or not, hundreds of qualified boilermakers browse:

• “FIFO Jobs Australia”
• “Blue Collar Jobs WA”
• “Boilermakers & Fitters Wanted Australia”

Join and post with clear pay, roster, and role info.

5. LinkedIn Recruiter + AI Search Tools

Using tools like AI sourcing plugins and Boolean searches can uncover passive candidates open to moving for the right offer.
We use AI-matching inside our CRM to automate shortlist delivery based on location, ticketing, pay, and experience.

How Much Do Boilermakers Cost in 2025?

Boilermaker pay depends on experience, site requirements, and location. Here’s what we’re seeing across Australia:

• Metro workshop roles typically range between $47–$55/hr
• FIFO and shutdown roles can range from $58–$72/hr flat
• Welders or 2nd-class trades sit lower around $35–$44/hr
• For permanent hires, expect to pay $90k–$120k+ per year depending on scope

💡 Tip: Don’t undercut the market doing so will drastically reduce ad performance and create high churn. Want a breakdown by location? Get in touch here.

Who’s Hiring Boilermakers Right Now?

We work with leading companies hiring boilermakers across:

• Mining contractors and shutdown firms
• Fabrication workshops (structural, pressure vessels, stainless)
• Transport & heavy vehicle manufacturers
• Marine, rail, and defence fabricators
• Councils & local infrastructure projects

We place boilermakers in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Townsville, Kalgoorlie, Rockhampton and everywhere in between.

Why Use HJ Recruitment?

We specialise in skilled trades recruitment across Australia—no labour hire, just full-time, long-term placements.

Access to job-ready boilermakers
Candidates pre-checked for tickets, licences, and references
Fast turnaround – Shortlists in 48–72 hours
No lock-in contracts, only pay when you hire

Ready to hire? Book a call with our trades team.

Final Tip: Move Fast or Lose Them

Skilled boilermakers are receiving multiple offers per week. If you’re slow to respond, someone else will lock them in.

We’ve built our process to eliminate delays and streamline hiring for your team.

Let's get your roles filled submit your brief now.

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