SOC 47-2152.00Bright outlook

    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

    Assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases.

    Median pay
    $63,800
    Growth
    +6.8%
    Faster than average
    Openings a year
    42,000
    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
    $44,150
    Median
    $63,800
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $108,420
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    465,840 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters install and repair pipe systems that carry liquids and gases, earning a median annual pay of $63,800. These professionals work with water, steam, and air systems in various settings.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters do

    Job Zone 3: Medium preparation

    Assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases. May install heating and cooling equipment and mechanical control systems. Includes sprinkler fitters.

    Usually vocational training, an associate degree or related experience.

    What the work is like

    Workers in this field focus on assembling, installing, and repairing pipelines and pipe systems. Day-to-day tasks involve inspecting equipment, handling physical objects, and operating mechanized devices. These professionals must solve complex problems, troubleshoot system failures, and make decisions to ensure public safety and security.

    Success in this role requires strong mechanical and building knowledge, alongside a solid understanding of design, mathematics, and physics. Individuals must be dependable, pay close attention to detail, and show caution when working with high-pressure systems. Strong communication skills are necessary for coordinating with supervisors and peers. This career strongly appeals to people with realistic interests who enjoy hands-on, practical work.

    How to get there

    To enter this career, individuals typically need a high school diploma. Most workers prepare through medium-level preparation, which commonly includes vocational training, an associate degree, or related on-the-job experience. Students often major in college programs such as Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services.

    Several professional certifications are available to demonstrate expertise, including the Commercial Plumbing Inspector credential from the International Code Council and the Journey Level Pipefitter-Steamfitter certification from the National Inspection, Testing and Certification Corporation. Other options include the Plumber Assessment and Plumbing certifications from the National Center for Construction Education and Research, as well as the UPC Journeyman Plumber credential. Some states also list a license for this work.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for these professionals is $63,800. Earnings vary based on experience and location, with the lowest 10% earning less than $44,150 and the highest 10% earning more than $108,420.

    There are 465,840 people employed in this field. Employment is projected to grow by 6.8% from 2025 to 2035, which is faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to result in 42,000 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    100 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    20 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    0 / 100
    Social (S)
    3 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    0 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    45 / 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 RCI. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Getting Information
    81
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    76
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    75
    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    74
    Performing General Physical Activities
    74
    Handling and Moving Objects
    73
    Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
    72
    Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
    71
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    70
    Controlling Machines and Processes
    70
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Critical Thinking
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Repairing
    • Troubleshooting
    • Monitoring
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Coordination
    • Operation and Control
    • Operations Monitoring
    • Speaking

    Knowledge

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

    Abilities

    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Finger Dexterity
    • Near Vision
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Far Vision
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Trunk Strength
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Category Flexibility

    Work styles

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

    Also called

    Aircraft Hydraulic Equipment Mechanic · Aircraft Hydraulic Mechanic · Aircraft Plumbing Mechanic · Commercial Plumber · Corrosion Control Fitter · Diesel Engine Pipefitter · Drain Cleaner · Drain Technician · Dry Docks Utility Systems Repair Operator · Equipment Service Associate (ESA)

    Career pathway

    From your interests to plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,800 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1
      Ivy Tech Community College

      Indianapolis, IN · Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services · Associate

      1 yr after
      $94,410
      4 yrs after
      $93,701
      Median debt
      Not reported
    2. 2New England Institute of Technology logo
      New England Institute of Technology

      East Greenwich, RI · Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services · Associate

      1 yr after
      $49,923
      4 yrs after
      $54,989
      Median debt
      $12,000

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What 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

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter
    • Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services, Other
    • Plumbing Technology/Plumber

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    46 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Federal

    Check license requirements 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

    Questions about plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for this career?

    People in this field are also called commercial plumbers, drain technicians, aircraft plumbing mechanics, and corrosion control fitters. Other titles include diesel engine pipefitters and dry docks utility systems repair operators.

    What are the main skills needed for this job?

    Key skills include repairing, troubleshooting, and operations monitoring to keep pipe systems functioning safely. Workers also rely on critical thinking, complex problem solving, and coordination to complete installations.

    Is a license required to work in this field?

    Some states list a license for this work, though requirements vary by location. Obtaining certifications from national organizations can also help demonstrate professional competency.

    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.