SOC 47-3015.00

    Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

    Help plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, or pipelayers by performing duties requiring less skill.

    Median pay
    $42,360
    Growth
    +2.4%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    4,400
    Typical education
    High school diploma

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $33,590
    Median
    $42,360
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $57,780
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    44,330 people work in this occupation.

    What helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters do

    Job Zone 2: Some preparation

    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.

    Usually a high school diploma; some on-the-job training or experience.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    99 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    6 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    0 / 100
    Social (S)
    14 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    4 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    44 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RCS. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    82
    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    78
    Getting Information
    78
    Handling and Moving Objects
    76
    Thinking Creatively
    75
    Performing General Physical Activities
    75
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    73
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    70
    Controlling Machines and Processes
    69
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    66
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Active Listening
    • Critical Thinking
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Monitoring
    • Coordination
    • Active Learning
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Repairing
    • Social Perceptiveness
    • Speaking

    Knowledge

    • Building and Construction
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Mechanical
    • Mathematics
    • English Language
    • Administration and Management
    • Design
    • Engineering and Technology
    • Education and Training
    • Public Safety and Security

    Abilities

    • Manual Dexterity
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Extent Flexibility
    • Near Vision
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Trunk Strength
    • Visualization
    • Control Precision

    Work styles

    • Dependability
    • Attention to Detail
    • Cooperation
    • Cautiousness
    • Perseverance
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Integrity
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Adaptability
    • Self-Control

    Also called

    Conduit Helper · Gas Main Fitter Helper · Hydraulic Plumber Helper · Industrial Gas Fitter Helper · Marine Pipefitter Helper · Marine Steam Fitter Helper · Pipe Coverer Helper · Pipe Fitter Helper · Pipefitter Helper · Plumber Apprentice

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.