Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life
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.
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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. They also install or use instruments such as lasers, grade rods, or transit levels.
Other tasks include:
- Cut pipes to required lengths.
- Connect pipe pieces and seal joints, using welding equipment, cement, or glue.
- Cover pipes with earth or other materials.
- 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.
We asked Pipelayers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.
63%
56%
63% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 56% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.
Typical Day At Work
On a daily basis, Pipelayers operate mechanized equipment, such as pickup trucks, rollers, tandem dump trucks, front-end loaders, or backhoes. They grade or level trench bases, using tamping machines or hand tools.
A typical day for a Pipelayer will also include:
- Lay out pipe routes, following written instructions or blueprints and coordinating layouts with supervisors.
- Dig trenches to desired or required depths, by hand or using trenching tools.
- Cut pipes to required lengths.
- Cover pipes with earth or other materials.
- Connect pipe pieces and seal joints, using welding equipment, cement, or glue.
We asked some Pipelayers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.
Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? | 51% said yes | |
How important is it to work in a team in this job? | 60% said very important | |
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? | 83% said yes | |
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? | 11% said yes | |
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? | 6% said yes | |
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? | 51% said yes |
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Pipelayers also tap and drill holes into pipes to introduce auxiliary lines or devices. They may also install or repair sanitary or stormwater sewer structures or pipe systems.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Pipelayers Connect pipe pieces and seal joints, using welding equipment, cement, or glue. They might also Dig trenches to desired or required depths, by hand or using trenching tools.
In addition, they Install or use instruments such as lasers, grade rods, or transit levels.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them Locate existing pipes needing repair or replacement, using magnetic or radio indicators.
To some Pipelayers, it is also their responsibility to Train or supervise others in laying pipe.
Working life
More than 40 hours per week
Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.
In a typical work week as a Pipelayer, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.
Is this right for me
The Builders and The Entrepreneurs
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.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
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