Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
Architecture and ConstructionO*NET 47-3015.00United States
Help plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, or pipelayers by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
- Median annual earnings
- $42,154
- Projected change
- +8.1%
- Typical education
- High school diploma or less
- Employment
- 46K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
54.3% of the workforce
Growing to 49.74K by 2035
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The work
What helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Perform rough-ins, repair and replace fixtures and water heaters, and locate, repair, or remove leaking or broken pipes.
- Cut or drill holes in walls or floors to accommodate the passage of pipes.
- Measure, cut, thread and assemble new pipe, placing the assembled pipe in hangers or other supports.
- Assist pipe fitters in the layout, assembly, and installation of piping for air, ammonia, gas, and water systems.
- Cut pipe and lift up to fitters.
- Requisition tools and equipment, select type and size of pipe, and collect and transport materials and equipment to work site.
- Fit or assist in fitting valves, couplings, or assemblies to tanks, pumps, or systems, using hand tools.
- Mount brackets and hangers on walls and ceilings to hold pipes, and set sleeves or inserts to provide support for pipes.
- Excavate and grade ditches, and lay and join pipe for water and sewer service.
- Disassemble and remove damaged or worn pipe.
- Clean shop, work area, and machines, using solvent and rags.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $33,284
- 25th percentile
- $36,682
- 50th percentile
- $42,154
- 75th percentile
- $47,845
- 90th percentile
- $58,266
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $42,154 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+8.1%faster than average
202546,004 jobs
2035 projected49,741 jobs
3,737 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- High school diploma or less
- 54.3%
- Certificate
- 26.8%
- Master's or Professional degree
- 9.7%
- Some college
- 9.2%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- 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.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Repairing
- Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Equipment Selection
- Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
- Operation and Control
- Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Troubleshooting
- Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Service Orientation
- Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Mathematics
- Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Equipment Maintenance
- Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Plumbing Apprentices1,914 postings
- 02Plumber Helpers790 postings
- 03Journeyman/Apprentice Plumbers337 postings
- 04Commercial Plumbers42 postings
- 05Licensed Plumbers34 postings
- 06Journeyman Plumbers22 postings
- 07Fire Sprinkler Technicians11 postings
- 08Service Plumbers9 postings
- 09Commercial Construction Plumbers7 postings
- 10Commercial Journeyman Plumbers7 postings
- 11Plumbing Mechanics6 postings
- 12Residential Service Plumbers6 postings
- 13Commercial Service Plumbers5 postings
- 14Plumbers4 postings
- 15Licensed Journeyman Plumbers3 postings
- 16Plumbers/Steamfitters3 postings
- 17Plumbing Assistants2 postings
- 18Well Drillers2 postings
- 19Bilingual Spanish Customer Service Representatives1 postings
- 20Drive Thru Operators1 postings
Top employers
- 01CCS Construction117 postings
- 02Roto Rooter Services Company104 postings
- 03Aerotek83 postings
- 04Lee Company32 postings
- 05Rapid Plumbing32 postings
- 06Volarify25 postings
- 07Atlantic Constructors19 postings
- 08Mr Rooter14 postings
- 09Service Experts Heating And Air Conditioning14 postings
- 10Raptor Rooter Plumbing13 postings
- 11Constellation Energy11 postings
- 12Compass Group10 postings
- 13Krohmer Plumbing10 postings
- 14Roto-Rooter Service10 postings
- 15Bath Concepts Independent Dealers9 postings
- 16Keloland Television9 postings
- 17Premier Group9 postings
- 18Kimbel Mechanical Systems8 postings
- 19Premier Electrical Staffing8 postings
- 20Upchurch8 postings
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