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.
Pipelayers
SOC: 47-2151 O*NET: 47-2151.00
Median Salary
$48,710
per year
Job Growth
📉 -4.1%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
2.4
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or less
Job Zone 1
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.
What does a Pipelayers do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$36,840
10th percentile
Early Career
$42,320
25th percentile
Median
$48,710
50th percentile
Experienced
$60,980
75th percentile
Top Earners
$80,710
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$36,840
25th
$42,320
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$48,710
Mean: $54,270
75th
$60,980
90th
$80,710
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $43,870 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $42,320 and $60,980
- •Salary spread is 38.3% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 33,580 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:34,400
Top Industries
Construction79.2%
Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction50.4%
Utility System Construction40.6%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:-4.1%
Annual Openings:2,400
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)34,400
Current
2034 (Projected)32,900
-4.1%
-1,400
Employment Change
-4.1%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: Decline
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Pipelayers professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 46 locations
Texas
6,200 jobs$45,5502.06x
Florida
4,240 jobs$46,3701.98x
North Carolina
3,120 jobs$45,3502.92x
Georgia
1,860 jobs$45,7801.75x
California
1,720 jobs$78,0900.44x
Washington
1,360 jobs$80,2801.76x
Virginia
1,200 jobs$48,5401.36x
Indiana
1,160 jobs$75,3201.67x
Ohio
900 jobs$59,1200.75x
Alabama
720 jobs$39,8701.58x
Utah
710 jobs$51,1801.91x
Tennessee
710 jobs$45,8001.00x
Arizona
700 jobs$61,8101.00x
Colorado
680 jobs$56,6301.08x
Maryland
620 jobs$58,2601.04x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Employment decline projected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Operation and Control
100%
#2
Coordination
90%
#3
Operations Monitoring
80%
#4
Quality Control Analysis
70%
#5
Speaking
60%
#6
Active Listening
50%
#7
Critical Thinking
40%
Skills Overview
Operation and Control
advanced5.0
100%
Coordination
advanced4.5
90%
Operations Monitoring
intermediate4.0
80%
Quality Control Analysis
intermediate3.5
70%
Speaking
intermediate3.0
60%
Active Listening
basic2.5
50%
Critical Thinking
basic2.0
40%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Operation and Control
advancedImportance100%
abilities
5.0/5.0
Coordination
advancedImportance90%
skills
4.5/5.0
Operations Monitoring
intermediateImportance80%
skills
4.0/5.0
Quality Control Analysis
intermediateImportance70%
skills
3.5/5.0
Speaking
intermediateImportance60%
skills
3.0/5.0
Active Listening
basicImportance50%
skills
2.5/5.0
Critical Thinking
basicImportance40%
abilities
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Food Batchmakers75%
5 shared skills
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders75%
5 shared skills
Construction Laborers71%
5 shared skills
Commercial Divers70%
5 shared skills
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders70%
5 shared skills
Machinists70%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Coordination
Learn on the Job:
- →Speaking
- →Active Listening
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Operations Monitoring
- ✓Coordination
- ✓Operation and Control
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Operation and Control
- ★Quality Control Analysis
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Pipelayers
Technology Intensity
Medium
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires intermediate digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Office productivity softwareIndustry-specific applicationsBasic data entry and managementDigital communication tools
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft Excel
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
MOSTLY TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
FREQUENT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy mostly team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
14
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (10)Training & Development (1)Documentation & Record-Keeping (1)Operations & Execution (1)Management & Supervision (1)
1
Check slopes for conformance to requirements, using levels or lasers.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Cover pipes with earth or other materials.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Connect pipe pieces and seal joints, using welding equipment, cement, or glue.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities94% perform96%
4
Cut pipes to required lengths.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities91% perform94%
5
Install or repair sanitary or stormwater sewer structures or pipe systems.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Install or use instruments such as lasers, grade rods, or transit levels.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities85% perform90%
7
Grade or level trench bases, using tamping machines or hand tools.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities82% perform88%
8
Lay out pipe routes, following written instructions or blueprints and coordinating layouts with supervisors.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Training & Development79% perform86%
9
Align and position pipes to prepare them for welding or sealing.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping76% perform84%
10
Dig trenches to desired or required depths, by hand or using trenching tools.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •50% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Pipelayers
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Pipelayers professionals typically have a RCI Holland code and highly value support
RRealistic
CConventional
IInvestigative
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Pipelayers
Dependability
Very ImportantDependability
Importance Level4.32
Attention to Detail
Very ImportantAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.13
Independence
Very ImportantIndependence
Importance Level4.13
Integrity
Very ImportantIntegrity
Importance Level4.09
Analytical Thinking
Very ImportantAnalytical Thinking
Importance Level4.03
Innovation
ImportantInnovation
Importance Level3.98
Complete Work Styles Profile
Dependability
4.3
Attention to Detail
4.1
Independence
4.1
Integrity
4.1
Analytical Thinking
4.0
Innovation
4.0
Initiative
3.9
Cooperation
3.8
Persistence
3.8
Stress Tolerance
3.8
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or less
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 1
Little or No Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or less
These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed.
Training:
Short demonstration or on-the-job training
💼 Experience Requirement
Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • On-the-job training is typical
- • Tasks can be learned within a few days or weeks
- • Basic skills development
1
Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed
These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed.
On-the-job training is typicalTasks can be learned within a few days or weeksBasic skills development
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