CAREER OVERVIEW  

A pipelayer lays glazed or unglazed clay, concrete, plastic, or cast-iron pipe for storm or sanitation sewers, drains, water mains, and oil or gas lines.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

A pipelayer would often handle loads up to 50 lbs., sometimes up to 100 lbs. and needs a lot of strength for this position. Work in this occupation involves bending or twisting your body more than one-third of the time. Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time and involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time. Tasks and responsibilities include: Aligning and positioning pipes to prepare them for welding or sealing; checking slope for conformance to requirements, using levels or lasers; covering pipes with earth or other materials; Cutting pipes, connecting pieces and sealing  joints using welding equipment, cement, or glue; Digging trenches to the desired or required depth by hand or using a trenching tool; grading and leveling the bottom of trenches, using a tamping machine and hand tools; Laying out the route of pipe by following written instructions or blueprints; tapping and drilling holes into pipe to introduce auxiliary lines or devices.

AVERAGE SALARY

• $45,340 (annually)
• $21.80 (hourly)

SALARY RANGES 

• $36,510 – $62,300 (annually)
• $17.55 – $29.95 (hourly)

*SOURCE: Occupational Employment Statistics Program, US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for Colorado, from May 2020. https://www.bls.gov/oes/

 * Low range wage rates based on the 25^th percentile wage level. High range wage rates based on the 90^th percentile wage level.

VIDEO SOURCE: Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration on careeronestop.org