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Pipelayers in Washington

Considering working as a Pipelayers in Washington? Here’s what the data says. 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. Excludes “Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers” (51-4121).

What do Pipelayers Make in Washington?

The pipelayers working in Washington, the median annual wage is $80,280 per year (or about $38.60/hour).Annual wages span from $60,680 at the 10th percentile to $100,580 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$60,680	$29.17
25th percentile	$68,490	$32.93
Median (50th)	$80,280	$38.60
75th percentile	$92,610	$44.53
90th percentile	$100,580	$48.36

The job concentration index in Washington nationwide is 1.76, indicating that pipelayers are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, pipelayers earn a median of $78,700 per year ($37.84/hour), higher than the Washington median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 490,711 pipelayers nationwide. In Washington alone, about 1,360 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 310 pipelayers.

Top Washington Metros for Pipelayers

These are the Washington metros with the most pipelayers in Washington.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	820	$82,660
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	100	$74,470
Kennewick-Richland, WA	70	$73,680
Bellingham, WA	50	$80,310
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	30	$73,610

Top States for Pipelayers Employment

These states have the highest employment of pipelayers work.

State	Number Employed
Texas	6,200
Florida	4,240
North Carolina	3,120
Georgia	1,860
California	1,720
Washington	1,360
Virginia	1,200
Indiana	1,160
Ohio	900
Alabama	720
Utah	710
Tennessee	710
Arizona	700
Colorado	680
Maryland	620
New Jersey	610
Oregon	590
South Carolina	530
Nebraska	500
Pennsylvania	450

Highest-Paying States for Pipelayers

These states pay the most for pipelayers.

State	Annual Median Salary
Alaska	$93,500
Minnesota	$84,880
Wisconsin	$81,300
Washington	$80,280
California	$78,090
New York	$76,490
Indiana	$75,320
New Jersey	$70,780
Michigan	$64,340
Oregon	$64,110

Skills

Key pipelayers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for pipelayers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, pipelayers typically:

• Grade or level trench bases, using tamping machines or hand tools.
• Dig trenches to desired or required depths, by hand or using trenching tools.
• Cut pipes to required lengths.
• Install or use instruments such as lasers, grade rods, or transit levels.
• Cover pipes with earth or other materials.
• Connect pipe pieces and seal joints, using welding equipment, cement, or glue.
• Install or repair sanitary or stormwater sewer structures or pipe systems.
• Check slopes for conformance to requirements, using levels or lasers.
• Align and position pipes to prepare them for welding or sealing.
• Lay out pipe routes, following written instructions or blueprints and coordinating layouts with supervisors.
• 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.

Work Activities

• Getting Information
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Coaching and Developing Others
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

Related Careers

Careers similar to pipelayers include:

• Boilermakers
• Brickmasons and Blockmasons
• Carpenters
• Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
• Construction Laborers
• Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators

Also Known As

Cast Iron Drain Pipe Layer, Drain Layer, Drain Tiler, Pipe Assembly Worker, Pipe Caulker, Pipe Connector, Pipe Cutter, Pipe Fitter, Pipe Installer, Pipe Layer, Pipe Liner, Pipe Setter, Pipe Wrapping Machine Operator, Pipelayer, Pipelaying Fitter.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 47-2151.00