What do they do?

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.

Also known as:

Pipelayer, Tailman, Waste Water Worker

Typical Wages

Projected Growth Rate

Employment of Pipelayers is projected to show little or no change from 2022 to 2032.

Projected Employment in OH

No Data Available
  • 1.4%

    Change

    Ranks #26 in job growth rate
    60

    Job Openings

    Ranks #20 in net job growth

Best colleges for Pipelayers

Search

Colleges with the most graduates that become Pipelayers

Search

Looking for colleges that offer a specific major? Use the College Match Tool to find your best-matched schools and discover your estimated Net Price!

Education Level

Percent of workers in this field with these degrees:

  • High school diploma equivalent  (46%)
  • Less than high school diploma  (27%)
  • Some college, no degree  (19%)
  • Associate's degree  (4%)
  • Bachelor's degree  (3%)
  • Master's degree  (1%)
  • Doctorate or Professional Degree  (<1%)

Typical College Majors

Most Popular Majors that prepare Pipelayers

Select Type of Degree:

People in this career often know a lot about:

  • Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
  • Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

People in this career often have talent in:

  • Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

People in this career often do these activities:

  • Position hand tools.
  • Cut metal components for installation.
  • Apply adhesives to construction materials.
  • Weld metal components.
  • Spread sand, dirt or other loose materials onto surfaces.
  • Install plumbing or piping.
  • Maintain plumbing structures or fixtures.
  • Evaluate projects to determine compliance with technical specifications.
  • Mark reference points on construction materials.
  • Communicate with other construction or extraction personnel to discuss project details.
  • Operate equipment or vehicles to clear construction sites or move materials.
  • Drive trucks or truck-mounted equipment.
  • Compact materials to create level bases.
  • Dig holes or trenches.
  • Drill holes in construction materials.
  • Locate equipment or materials in need of repair or replacement.
  • Train construction or extraction personnel.
  • Direct construction or extraction personnel.

This page includes data from:

O*NET OnLine Career data: O*NET 28.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (“USDOL/ETA”). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Logo Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics

careeronestop logo Videos: CareerOneStop, USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Join thousands of students and parents learning about finding the right college, admissions secrets, scholarships, financial aid, and more.

College Raptor Loading Screen College Raptor Loading Screen