Occupation Details
Pipelayers
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.
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Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Work Values
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$51,240.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$62,450.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$66,940.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
540
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
600
+6 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
64
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.1%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Some Training - Certificate or hands-on training
Experience Requirements
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Education Requirements
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
School Programs
School Programs information is not available for this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
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.
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Building and Construction
Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Air compressors
- Air hammers
- Aligning clamps
- Backhoes
- Belting slings
- Bevel grinding machines
- Block and tackle equipment
- Boring machines
- Bulldozers
- Cable plows
- Caulking guns
- Combination squares
- Compactors
- Concrete saws
- Cutting torches
- Desktop computers
- Ditch pumps
- Dredges
- Drill presses
- Excavators
- Explosimeters
- Facing machines
- Fill pumps
- Forklifts
- Framing squares
- Generators
- Graders
- Hammers
- Hand tampers
- Horizontal boring machines
Technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Spreadsheet software
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- lay out piping systems
- verify levelness or verticality, using level or plumb bob
- use basic plumbing techniques
- use hazardous materials information
- use combination welding procedures
- use building or land use regulations
- use knowledge of laser technology
- work as a team member
- adhere to safety procedures
- perform safety inspections in construction or resource extraction setting
- understand construction specifications
- identify properties of soil or water samples
- read blueprints
- read specifications
- read tape measure
- read technical drawings
- signal directions or warnings to coworkers
- apply adhesives, caulking, sealants, or coatings
- cut, shape, fit, or join wood or other construction materials
- build or repair structures in construction, repair, or manufacturing setting
- move or fit heavy objects
- install underground storm, sanitation, or water piping systems
- lay or guide pipe into trench
- dig holes or trenches for foundations, posts, poles, or related items
- operate power construction equipment
- operate power driven pumps
- use two-way radio or mobile phone
- use hand or power tools
- operate land or site surveying instruments
- use measuring devices in construction or extraction work
- use pipe fitting equipment
- use pressure gauges
- use acetylene welding/cutting torch
- weld together metal parts, components, or structures
- operate pneumatic tamper to patch pavement or tamp earth
- use arc welding equipment
- inspect sewer, drain, or water main pipe joints to verify alignment or fit
- grade or redistribute earth for roads or other construction
- assemble and install pipe sections, fittings, or plumbing fixtures
- fabricate, assemble, or disassemble manufactured products by hand
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Install or use instruments such as lasers, grade rods, or transit levels.
- Cut pipes to required lengths.
- 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.
- Align and position pipes to prepare them for welding or sealing.
- Check slopes for conformance to requirements, using levels or lasers.
- Lay out pipe routes, following written instructions or blueprints and coordinating layouts with supervisors.
- Grade or level trench bases, using tamping machines or hand tools.
- Operate mechanized equipment, such as pickup trucks, rollers, tandem dump trucks, front-end loaders, or backhoes.
- Dig trenches to desired or required depths, by hand or using trenching tools.
- Tap and drill holes into pipes to introduce auxiliary lines or devices.
- Locate existing pipes needing repair or replacement, using magnetic or radio indicators.
- Train or supervise others in laying pipe.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn More