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Life As a Pipelayer
Example of Pipelayer Job Lay pipe for storm or sanitation sewers, drains, and water mains. Perform any combination of the following tasks: grade trenches or culverts, position pipe, or seal joints.
A Day in the Life of a Pipelayer
- Grade or level trench bases, using tamping machines or hand tools.
- Align and position pipes to prepare them for welding or sealing.
- Cover pipes with earth or other materials.
- Install or repair sanitary or stormwater sewer structures or pipe systems.
- Tap and drill holes into pipes to introduce auxiliary lines or devices.
- Operate mechanized equipment, such as pickup trucks, rollers, tandem dump trucks, front-end loaders, or backhoes.
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What Every Pipelayer Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Pipelayers say are important on the job.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Types of Pipelayer
- Sewer Pipe Layer
- Pipelayer
- Pipe Fitter
- Piper Installer
- Water Main Pipe Layer
What Kind of Pipelayer Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 44,100 jobs for Pipelayer in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 17.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 7,600 new jobs for Pipelayer by 2026. There will be an estimated 5,700 positions for Pipelayer per year.
The states with the most job growth for Pipelayer are Nevada, Idaho, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Alaska, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Pipelayer Average Salary
Pipelayers make between $26,870 and $68,930 a year.
Pipelayers who work in Alaska, Illinois, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.
How much do Pipelayers make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $34,200 |
| Alaska | $73,810 |
| Arizona | $43,980 |
| Arkansas | $35,740 |
| California | $52,850 |
| Colorado | $45,420 |
| Connecticut | $55,930 |
| Delaware | $43,060 |
| District of Columbia | $45,030 |
| Florida | $40,060 |
| Georgia | $38,820 |
| Hawaii | $63,140 |
| Idaho | $42,350 |
| Illinois | $70,400 |
| Indiana | $51,390 |
| Iowa | $49,370 |
| Kansas | $38,530 |
| Kentucky | $35,450 |
| Louisiana | $33,050 |
| Maine | $39,250 |
| Maryland | $41,980 |
| Massachusetts | $70,020 |
| Michigan | $43,010 |
| Minnesota | $64,440 |
| Mississippi | $32,830 |
| Missouri | $50,000 |
| Montana | $48,930 |
| Nebraska | $38,360 |
| Nevada | $53,950 |
| New Hampshire | $47,280 |
| New Jersey | $64,850 |
| New Mexico | $38,920 |
| New York | $58,260 |
| North Carolina | $34,120 |
| North Dakota | $53,330 |
| Ohio | $50,770 |
| Oklahoma | $37,300 |
| Oregon | $55,660 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,740 |
| South Carolina | $37,220 |
| South Dakota | $36,690 |
| Tennessee | $36,160 |
| Texas | $34,280 |
| Utah | $39,190 |
| Vermont | $42,480 |
| Virginia | $36,080 |
| Washington | $62,950 |
| West Virginia | $46,620 |
| Wisconsin | $62,940 |
| Wyoming | $35,360 |
What Tools & Technology do Pipelayers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Pipelayers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
How to Become a Pipelayer
Education needed to be a Pipelayer:
What work experience do I need to become a Pipelayer?
Similar Careers
Those interested in being a Pipelayer may also be interested in:
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators
- Slaughterers and Meat Packers
Those who work as a Pipelayer sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
- Helpers–Roofers
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Construction Laborers
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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