Pipelayers: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Stan T.Career, Overview

Pipelayers

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.

Salary
$45060
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match



Job description

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.

  • Install or use instruments such as lasers, grade rods, or transit levels.
  • Cut pipes to required lengths.
  • Connect pipe pieces and seal joints, using welding equipment, cement, or glue.
  • Cover pipes with earth or other materials.
Read more about what does a Pipelayer really do at work and what is it like being and working as one.



Salary

Average salary
$43500 per year

Average hourly wage
$21 per hour


Pipelayers with little to no experience tend to make between $26870 and $31610 while the more experienced ones can earn over $52590 per year.

Top 5 paying states Hourly Annual
AK $35 $73,810
IL $34 $70,400
MA $34 $70,020
NJ $31 $64,850
MN $31 $64,440

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Pipelayer is to move to a higher paying state like AK. Right now, the highest paying states for Pipelayers are AK, IL, MA, NJ and MN.

However, a higher pay at AK doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at AK might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Pipelayer is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.


Requirements

Recommended degree level
No degree required

We asked other Pipelayers what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a High School Diploma followed by less than a High School Diploma.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

NA
Read more about how to become a Pipelayer and the degree, training and education you need.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Pipelayer.

PROS
Suitable for people who likes practical and hands-on work
Suitable for people who wants to work in a supportive work environment
This career is perfect for people who love to work outdoors.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
CONS
Not suitable for people who likes to work with designs
Salary is below average
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week)

What is the job like

Job satisfaction
63%

Is this job meaningful
56%


63% of Pipelayers said they were satisfied with their job and 56% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.


Is this right for me

Best personality for this career
The Builders and The Entrepreneurs

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.



Learn more about Pipelayers

Summary (You are here)
Job Description
Salary
Requirements
Quiz

Related career information

Pipelayers job description, Pipelayers salary, Pipelayers information, what is the job of a Pipelayer like, pros and cons about Pipelayers, colleges and universities for Pipelayers, is Pipelayers the right career for me, careers in Construction and Extraction

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