Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
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.
What it pays
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters earn a median of $20.36/hr — about $42,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $16.15/hr; the top 10% earn $27.78/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters earn a median of $20.36/hr — about $42,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $16.15/hr; the top 10% earn $27.78/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- Measure, cut, thread and assemble new pipe, placing the assembled pipe in hangers or other supports.
- Cut or drill holes in walls or floors to accommodate the passage of pipes.
- Perform rough-ins, repair and replace fixtures and water heaters, and locate, repair, or remove leaking or broken pipes.
- 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.
- Fit or assist in fitting valves, couplings, or assemblies to tanks, pumps, or systems, using hand tools.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
The feel of the work
Much of the work happens outdoors. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 1.8% of helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are hands-on and organized and detail-focused.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers
- Electricians
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Construction and Building Inspectors
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
- Helpers--Electricians
Quick questions
- How much does a helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter make?
- The median pay is $20.36 per hour — roughly $42,500 a year, with the real range running from about $16.15/hr (10th percentile) to $27.78/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter?
- The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
- What does a helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter actually do all day?
- Measure, cut, thread and assemble new pipe, placing the assembled pipe in hangers or other supports. Cut or drill holes in walls or floors to accommodate the passage of pipes. Perform rough-ins, repair and replace fixtures and water heaters, and locate, repair, or remove leaking or broken pipes.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.