Pipefitter

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Work Tasks

• Install, maintain, and fix pipe systems
• Install automatic controls which run the systems
• Follow blueprints and instructions to lay out piping so material will not be wasted
• Measure and mark where the pipes will be put in place; connect the pipes and make sure there are no leaks
• Work for plumbing and mechanical contractors, heating and air-conditioning contractors, oil and chemical companies, food processing industries, public utilities, the government, and themselves
• Work with all types of pipe systems, elbows, T joints, couplings, blueprints, drawings, plans, written and oral instructions, welding, soldering, and brazing equipment, hydraulic benders, gas torches, hand and power tools, computers, and automatic controls

Salary, Size & Growth

• $52,000 average per year ($25.00 per hour)
• A large occupation (404,100 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (1.6% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: Military training in pipefitting
• Employers Prefer: A high school diploma, 18 years of age or older, and an apprenticeship in pipefitting
• Skills/Courses: Courses in applied math, drafting and blueprint reading, applied physics and chemistry, safety, and local plumbing codes
• Certification/Licensing: Pipefitters usually need a license. A license requires learning the plumbing codes and passing a test.