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.
- O*NET-SOC code
47-2151.00 - Preparation Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Wages
Median annual wage, U.S.$49,000
Employment, U.S.33,050
Median hourly wage$23.56
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $37,730 | $43,980 | $49,000 | $61,400 | $80,170 |
By state (44)
| State | Employment | Median annual | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 460 | $44,550 | 1.03 |
| Arizona | 480 | $62,740 | 0.70 |
| Arkansas | 430 | $37,650 | 1.57 |
| California | 1,420 | $76,180 | 0.37 |
| Colorado | 790 | $59,740 | 1.30 |
| Delaware | $58,240 | ||
| District of Columbia | 110 | $55,470 | 0.76 |
| Florida | 4,050 | $47,260 | 1.92 |
| Georgia | 1,890 | $46,220 | 1.82 |
| Idaho | 280 | $58,650 | 1.52 |
| Illinois | 280 | $49,590 | 0.22 |
| Indiana | 800 | $73,580 | 1.18 |
| Iowa | 280 | $53,990 | 0.85 |
| Kansas | 240 | $47,390 | 0.80 |
| Kentucky | 60 | $58,820 | 0.14 |
| Louisiana | $44,340 | ||
| Maine | 110 | $50,980 | 0.82 |
| Maryland | 650 | $55,640 | 1.11 |
| Massachusetts | $72,770 | ||
| Michigan | 180 | $61,560 | 0.19 |
| Minnesota | 510 | $81,980 | 0.82 |
| Mississippi | 320 | $41,900 | 1.29 |
| Montana | 80 | $48,080 | 0.77 |
| Nebraska | 570 | $44,470 | 2.63 |
| Nevada | 450 | $63,570 | 1.35 |
| New Hampshire | 210 | $53,870 | 1.47 |
| New Jersey | 400 | $78,830 | 0.44 |
| New Mexico | 190 | $45,550 | 1.03 |
| New York | 250 | $70,370 | 0.12 |
| North Carolina | 3,830 | $47,220 | 3.65 |
| North Dakota | 170 | $47,810 | 1.83 |
| Ohio | 1,160 | $71,560 | 0.99 |
| Oklahoma | 530 | $45,190 | 1.47 |
| Oregon | 620 | $64,230 | 1.49 |
| Pennsylvania | 590 | $41,600 | 0.46 |
| South Carolina | 670 | $45,180 | 1.36 |
| South Dakota | 300 | $50,650 | 3.12 |
| Tennessee | 810 | $46,020 | 1.16 |
| Texas | 5,010 | $45,620 | 1.68 |
| Utah | 530 | $52,000 | 1.44 |
| Virginia | 1,080 | $48,700 | 1.23 |
| Washington | 1,050 | $82,450 | 1.40 |
| West Virginia | 180 | $40,440 | 1.20 |
| Wisconsin | 350 | $86,870 | 0.56 |
Similar occupations
Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.
Circles are the 20 most similar occupations, coloured by Job Zone. Lines join pairs where one is among the other's 10 most similar; darker lines are pairs O*NET also lists as related. Drag a circle to move it out of the way; select one to open it.
| # | Occupation | Job Zone | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | 1-2 | 0.964 |
| 2 | Riggers | 1-2 | 0.961 |
| 3 | Commercial Divers | 3 | 0.958 |
| 4 | Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | 1-2 | 0.954 |
| 5 | Sheet Metal Workers | 1-2 | 0.953 |
| 6 | Millwrights | 1-2 | 0.953 |
| 7 | Carpenters | 1-2 | 0.953 |
| 8 | Helpers--Carpenters | 1-2 | 0.952 |
| 9 | Weatherization Installers and Technicians | 1-2 | 0.950 |
| 10 | Mechanical Door Repairers | 1-2 | 0.949 |
One skill away
Among the 50 occupations most similar to Pipelayers, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.
| Occupation | Skill to build | Level gap | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riggers | Complex Problem Solving | 1.00 | 0.961 |
| Sheet Metal Workers | Mathematics | 1.12 | 0.953 |
| Weatherization Installers and Technicians | Service Orientation | 1.12 | 0.950 |
| Mechanical Door Repairers | Complex Problem Solving | 1.00 | 0.949 |
| Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers | Equipment Maintenance | 1.25 | 0.947 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | Equipment Maintenance | 0.88 | 0.947 |
| Roofers | Coordination | 0.88 | 0.937 |
| Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | Equipment Maintenance | 1.00 | 0.937 |
| Helpers--Extraction Workers | Equipment Maintenance | 1.12 | 0.935 |
| Pile Driver Operators | Equipment Maintenance | 1.12 | 0.934 |
Software to learn next
Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Pipelayers, excluding software Pipelayers already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.
| Software | Similar jobs using it | Lift |
|---|---|---|
| Job costing software | 3 of 20 | 27.7x |
| Microsoft Windows | 11 of 20 | 2.1x |
| Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal | 3 of 20 | 9.9x |
| Intuit QuickBooks | 3 of 20 | 1.6x |
| Database software | 4 of 20 | 1.1x |
| Autodesk AutoCAD | 4 of 20 | 1.1x |
| SAP software | 6 of 20 | 1.0x |
| Microsoft Outlook | 13 of 20 | 0.9x |
| Web browser software | 8 of 20 | 0.9x |
| Microsoft Word | 15 of 20 | 0.9x |
Skills
From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.
| Skill | Type | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operation and Control | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Active Listening | Essential skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Coordination | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Operations Monitoring | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Quality Control Analysis | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | Essential skill | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Speaking | Essential skill | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Time Management | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Reading Comprehension | Essential skill | 2.88 | 2.75 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 2.38 |
| Installation | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 3.00 |
| Troubleshooting | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 3.00 |
| Repairing | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Monitoring | Essential skill | 2.62 | 2.88 |
| Social Perceptiveness | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.50 |
| Equipment Maintenance | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.00 |
| Equipment Selection | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | Transferable skill | 2.38 | 2.00 |
| Learning Strategies | Essential skill | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Active Learning | Essential skill | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Instructing | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Mathematics | Essential skill | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Persuasion | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Systems Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Writing | Essential skill | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Negotiation | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Service Orientation | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Systems Evaluation | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.75 |
| Technology Design | Transferable skill | 1.62 | 0.62 |
| Management of Financial Resources | Transferable skill | 1.50 | 0.62 |
| Management of Material Resources | Transferable skill | 1.50 | 0.50 |
| Operations Analysis | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Programming | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Science | Essential skill | 1.00 | not rated |
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Building and Construction | 3.70 | 4.54 |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.01 | 3.12 |
| Mechanical | 2.98 | 3.50 |
| Engineering and Technology | 2.98 | 2.90 |
| Administration and Management | 2.92 | 2.69 |
| Production and Processing | 2.84 | 2.90 |
| English Language | 2.84 | 2.35 |
| Design | 2.79 | 2.93 |
| Education and Training | 2.75 | 3.26 |
| Mathematics | 2.71 | 2.47 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 2.51 | 2.55 |
| Chemistry | 2.50 | 2.45 |
| Transportation | 2.50 | 2.22 |
| Computers and Electronics | 2.50 | 2.21 |
| Physics | 2.37 | 2.55 |
| Psychology | 2.35 | 2.82 |
| Law and Government | 2.28 | 1.63 |
| Personnel and Human Resources | 2.25 | 2.17 |
| Geography | 2.19 | 1.83 |
| Administrative | 2.06 | 1.65 |
| Telecommunications | 2.04 | 1.23 |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 2.00 | 1.61 |
| Foreign Language | 1.86 | not rated |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 1.78 | 1.63 |
| Biology | 1.77 | 1.48 |
| Food Production | 1.76 | not rated |
| Communications and Media | 1.70 | 1.17 |
| Therapy and Counseling | 1.67 | 1.11 |
| Economics and Accounting | 1.64 | 0.97 |
| Sales and Marketing | 1.61 | not rated |
| History and Archeology | 1.60 | 0.96 |
| Philosophy and Theology | 1.23 | not rated |
| Fine Arts | 1.12 | not rated |
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Control Precision | 3.50 | 3.12 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.50 | 3.00 |
| Oral Comprehension | 3.25 | 3.62 |
| Static Strength | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Trunk Strength | 3.00 | 3.25 |
| Depth Perception | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Extent Flexibility | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Information Ordering | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Manual Dexterity | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Multilimb Coordination | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Near Vision | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Oral Expression | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Reaction Time | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Selective Attention | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Stamina | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Visualization | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Rate Control | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Speech Clarity | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Speech Recognition | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Category Flexibility | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Deductive Reasoning | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Far Vision | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Written Comprehension | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Perceptual Speed | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Inductive Reasoning | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Written Expression | 2.62 | 2.12 |
| Gross Body Coordination | 2.38 | 2.25 |
| Flexibility of Closure | 2.25 | 3.00 |
| Spatial Orientation | 2.25 | 2.38 |
| Dynamic Strength | 2.25 | 2.25 |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | 2.25 | 2.25 |
| Explosive Strength | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Auditory Attention | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Fluency of Ideas | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Originality | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Peripheral Vision | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Response Orientation | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Speed of Closure | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Time Sharing | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Glare Sensitivity | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Memorization | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Night Vision | 2.00 | 1.75 |
| Sound Localization | 2.00 | 1.62 |
| Number Facility | 2.00 | 1.50 |
| Speed of Limb Movement | 1.75 | 1.38 |
| Wrist-Finger Speed | 1.62 | 0.75 |
| Dynamic Flexibility | 1.25 | not rated |
Software used
Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.
- Microsoft Excel hot
- Microsoft Office software hot
Where it concentrates
Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.
| Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Median annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | 160 | 4.07 | $46,840 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 1,170 | 4.06 | $48,980 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 640 | 4.03 | $48,390 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 110 | 4.02 | $46,410 |
| Wilmington, NC | 160 | 4.01 | $46,130 |
| Midland, TX | 100 | 3.88 | $45,440 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | 100 | 3.74 | $42,990 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | 260 | 3.63 | $47,330 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | 130 | 3.46 | $48,220 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 210 | 3.28 | $46,630 |