Boilermaker Jobs

Your options range from the South Cape TVET College (Boilermaking N1 to N3) and
False Bay College (Occupational Certificate: Boilermaker), to Boilermaking and Welding at the Varsity Institute of Science and Technology, or Oxbridge Academy’s distance-learning courses in boilermaking. You could also consider undertaking your training at Rostec College, the Artisan Training Institute, or iCALC Training Academy – depending on where you reside, your budget for these studies, and the level of qualification you require (from apprentice, right up to business owner/supplier).

A boilermaker needs a spread of physical stamina, strength, and dexterity to handle heavy materials and tools; together with a solid understanding of mechanical principles, the ability to read blueprints, and a good knowledge of welding and fabrication techniques. Don’t undertake this career if you battle with confined spaces or heights – you’ll need to be comfortable working for fairly long periods in such locations.

The average individual in a boilermaker job will earn in the region of R267 000 per annum (R22 250 per month), within a range that starts at R190 463 (R15 871 per month) and rises to at least R501 875 (R41 822 per month) for the most experienced individuals within this profession.

Select between job postings from the likes of De Beers Group, Komatsu, Khonzi Engineering Specialists, Chriyanda Engineering Works, and Proactive Mining & Supply. It is also possible to sign up with a staffing service, that will place you with companies that require your services on an ongoing or ad hoc basis.

To safeguard themselves from potential hazards within their daily working environment, boilermakers should always wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) that includes everything from heat-resistant clothing and gloves, to protective eyewear and steel-toed boots. To thrive in this profession, it is also important for boilermakers to familiarise themselves with what could go wrong from a risk-related perspective (i.e. falls, burns, lifting hazards, poor ventilation, excessive noise levels, and toxic fumes, as just a few examples) so that they can speak up to their client or line manager before anything untoward can take place.

Professional boilermakers in South Africa are also advised to familiarise themselves with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and associated regulations, including the General Machinery Regulations (GMR), which address various aspects of safety – including the necessary PPE, what risk assessments should be done, and what the optimal workplace environment looks like. 

Oxbridge Academy, in their blog post on the “Advantages of Being a Boilermaker in South Africa”, offers the following five reasons why this is a satisfying job to pursue:

• the demand for boilermakers in South Africa is high, thanks to the country’s thriving mining, manufacturing, and energy sectors. Skilled boilermakers are sought after by the construction, oil and gas, power generation, and shipbuilding industries, translating into attractive salaries and excellent job security for those who choose this career path and stick at it;
• boilermakers possess a unique skillset that is always in demand, from their expertise in welding, metal fabrication, and blueprint reading, to the structural assembly they are able to apply to industrial infrastructure;
• the career of a boilermaker offers excellent opportunities for growth and advancement, allowing individuals to progress to supervisory or managerial positions, or to specialise in pressure vessel fabrication or boiler repair – either locally, or abroad;
• this career line is ideal if you enjoy working with your hands and prefer practical, hands-on work over a desk job, where each day brings new challenges and keeps the job interesting;
• whether you’re constructing a new power plant or repairing a ship, you’ll come to realise how important your work is for the safe and efficient functioning of a range of different industries. In turn, the successful completion of jobs – large and small – is likely to bring those in boilermaker jobs a great deal of job satisfaction.