About This Career Path
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.
Construction & Architecture
Lay pipe for storm or sanitation sewers, drains, and water mains.
Construction & Architecture Industry
Pipelayers
Average
$48,580
ANNUAL
$23.36
HOURLY
Entry Level
$37,510
ANNUAL
$18.04
HOURLY
Mid Level
$48,060
ANNUAL
$23.11
HOURLY
Expert Level
$60,950
ANNUAL
$29.30
HOURLY
Pipelayers
1,510
Projected job openings through 2030
Pipelayers
Supporting Certifications
Degree Recommendations
Pipelayers
01
Install or use instruments such as lasers, grade rods, or transit levels.
02
Cut pipes to required lengths.
03
Connect pipe pieces and seal joints, using welding equipment, cement, or glue.
04
Cover pipes with earth or other materials.
05
Install or repair sanitary or stormwater sewer structures or pipe systems.
06
Align and position pipes to prepare them for welding or sealing.
07
Check slopes for conformance to requirements, using levels or lasers.
08
Lay out pipe routes, following written instructions or blueprints and coordinating layouts with supervisors.
09
Operate mechanized equipment, such as pickup trucks, rollers, tandem dump trucks, front-end loaders, or backhoes.
10
Grade or level trench bases, using tamping machines or hand tools.
Pipelayers
Common knowledge, skills & abilities needed to get a foot in the door.
KNOWLEDGE
Building and Construction
KNOWLEDGE
Mechanical
KNOWLEDGE
Mathematics
KNOWLEDGE
Public Safety and Security
KNOWLEDGE
Design
SKILL
Operation and Control
SKILL
Active Listening
SKILL
Operations Monitoring
SKILL
Coordination
SKILL
Critical Thinking
ABILITY
Arm-Hand Steadiness
ABILITY
Control Precision
ABILITY
Oral Comprehension
ABILITY
Near Vision
ABILITY
Extent Flexibility
Construction & Architecture
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