Construction and Extraction Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages Peer-group outlier SOC 47-3015

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Median pay sits 42% below the mid peer in Construction and Extraction Occupations (neighbors include Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers, Electricians, Pile Driver Operators, Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining).

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers ($110K) , Electricians ($63K) , Pile Driver Operators ($73K) , Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining ($75K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 47-3015 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Measure, cut, thread and assemble new pipe, placing the assembled pipe in hangers or other supports
  2. 2. Cut or drill holes in walls or floors to accommodate the passage of pipes
  3. 3. Perform rough-ins, repair and replace fixtures and water heaters, and locate, repair, or remove leaking or broken pipes
  4. 4. Assist pipe fitters in the layout, assembly, and installation of piping for air, ammonia, gas, and water systems
  5. 5. Install gas burners to convert furnaces from wood, coal, or oil
  6. 6. Cut pipe and lift up to fitters
  7. 7. Fit or assist in fitting valves, couplings, or assemblies to tanks, pumps, or systems, using hand tools
  8. 8. Requisition tools and equipment, select type and size of pipe, and collect and transport materials and equipment to work site
  9. 9. Mount brackets and hangers on walls and ceilings to hold pipes, and set sleeves or inserts to provide support for pipes
  10. 10. Excavate and grade ditches, and lay and join pipe for water and sewer service
  11. 11. Fill pipes with sand or resin to prevent distortion, and hold pipes during bending and installation
  12. 12. Disassemble and remove damaged or worn pipe

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters: O*NET ranks Active Listening first

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 47-3015 - lead skill Active Listening at 2.9 ; lead knowledge Building and Construction. Sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Active Listening 2.9
  2. 2. Critical Thinking 2.9
  3. 3. Monitoring 2.9
  4. 4. Judgment and Decision Making 2.9
  5. 5. Coordination 2.8
  6. 6. Active Learning 2.6
  7. 7. Complex Problem Solving 2.6
  8. 8. Repairing 2.6

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Building and Construction 4.5
  2. 2. Customer and Personal Service 3.7
  3. 3. Mechanical 3.6
  4. 4. Mathematics 3.5
  5. 5. English Language 3.3
  6. 6. Administration and Management 3.1
Pay vs Construction and Extraction Occupations peers
-42%
vs mid peer median $73,300
This role $42,360/yr
$42K
National median
↑ +5%
Growth 2024-2034
4,900
Annual openings
44,330
Estimated US jobs
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers
Highest-pay peer · $110K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education High school diploma or equivalent

Top Paying States for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

1. Arizona $47,990
2. Alaska $47,290
3. Hawaii $52,000
4. New Hampshire $46,030
5. New York $52,000
6. Maine $48,410
7. Washington $56,140
8. California $47,130
9. Maryland $46,170
10. Ohio $45,760

Other Construction and Extraction Occupations titles

  1. 1. Pile Driver Operators $73,300
  2. 2. Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers $109,910
  3. 3. Electricians $63,190
  4. 4. Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining $74,500
  5. 5. Boilermakers $76,410
  6. 6. Roof Bolters, Mining $78,540

Among Construction and Extraction Occupations peers on this card, Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters sits 42% below the mid peer median ($73,300). Its own median is $42,360.

Employment Projections expect +5% change between 2024 and 2034 (about as fast as average vs baseline 3.1%). About 4,900 annual openings are projected. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal requirements. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: Arizona at $47,990. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers at $109,910. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay-rank #59 in Construction and Extraction Occupations

On the Construction and Extraction Occupations median table (60 detailed occupations with OEWS medians), Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters lands at #59, in the lower third. That rank is a table position, not a statement about individual workers.

Other lower-third titles · closest medians

Full Salary Details Compare this role

Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024-2034.

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pays 42% below its major-group peer median. See the state map and the peers closest to (and furthest from) this line.

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary map

State, metro, and percentile for SOC 47-3015

Arizona · top state for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

$48K published median

Alaska · #2 state pay

$47K · behind Arizona

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers

Highest-pay peer vs Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters · $110K

Electricians

Lower-pay peer beside Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters · $63K

Compare Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Head-to-head OEWS medians with another SOC
Compare Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters with another occupation →

Peer-comparison next reads

Compare Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Against another occupation

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers card

Top peer in this major group

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters land on the Construction and Extraction Occupations median table? ▼
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters is pay-rank #59 of 60 in this major group, lower third of the median table. Closest lower-third titles: Helpers, Construction Trades, All Other ($43K), Helpers--Electricians ($43K), Helpers--Carpenters ($44K), Helpers--Roofers ($44K). That position is a table rank, not a worker percentile.
What do helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters. Leading ones include: Measure, cut, thread and assemble new pipe, placing the assembled pipe in hangers or other supports; Cut or drill holes in walls or floors to accommodate the passage of pipes; Perform rough-ins, repair and replace fixtures and water heaters, and locate, repair, or remove leaking or broken pipes; Assist pipe fitters in the layout, assembly, and installation of piping for air, ammonia, gas, and water systems. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters? ▼
For SOC 47-3015, O*NET importance scores lead with Active Listening (2.9), Critical Thinking (2.9), Monitoring (2.9), Judgment and Decision Making (2.9). Knowledge areas emphasize Building and Construction, Customer and Personal Service, Mechanical. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
What is the OEWS national median for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters? ▼
May 2025 OEWS reports $42,360 as the national median for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters. The published 10th-90th range is $33,590 to $57,780. Beside Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers ($109,910), this is the occupation-level national figure, not a local offer.
What employment change does BLS publish for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters? ▼
The 2024-2034 projection for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters is +5%. Projected annual openings: about 4,900. Relative to the current all-occupations baseline of 3.1%: about as fast as average.
What typical entry education does BLS assign to Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters? ▼
BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as the typical-education-needed-for-entry category for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters. These are occupation-level labels, not every employer's hiring rule.
Which three states show the highest OEWS medians for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters? ▼
Arizona ($47,990), Alaska ($47,290), Hawaii ($52,000) lead this ranking. The table does not identify why those state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024-2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

Federal sources on this Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters card
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - national median and percentiles for SOC 47-3015. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - task and skill statements for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters. onetcenter.org
  • BLS Employment Projections - 2024-2034 change and openings for this occupation. bls.gov/emp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for state and metro geography. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context for wage comparisons. irs.gov/statistics