Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
SOC 47-3015BLS OEWS May 2025
Help plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, or pipelayers by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment. Construction laborers who do not primarily assist plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, or pipelayers are classified under “Construction Laborers” (47-2061). Apprentice workers are classified with the appropriate skilled construction trade occupation (47-2011 through 47-2231).
National median · BLS
$42,360
▲ +7.87%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$43,730
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
44,330
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$33,590
25th
$36,940
Median (50th)
$42,360
75th
$47,720
90th — top pay
$57,780
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
BLS projects employment of helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters to grow 2.4% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 4,400 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
45,300 → 46,400
+1,100 jobs
Projected change
+2.4%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
4,400
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
1.7% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Active Listening2.9
Critical Thinking2.9
Judgment and Decision Making2.9
Monitoring2.9
Coordination2.8
Active Learning2.6
Complex Problem Solving2.6
Repairing2.6
Social Perceptiveness2.5
Speaking2.5
Top knowledge areas
Building and Construction4.5
Customer and Personal Service3.7
Mechanical3.6
Mathematics3.5
English Language3.3
Administration and Management3.1
Design2.9
Engineering and Technology2.9
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft Word
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: 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. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters do
Fit or assist in fitting valves, couplings, or assemblies to tanks, pumps, or systems, using hand tools.
Mount brackets and hangers on walls and ceilings to hold pipes, and set sleeves or inserts to provide support for pipes.
Perform rough-ins, repair and replace fixtures and water heaters, and locate, repair, or remove leaking or broken pipes.
Cut pipe and lift up to fitters.
Measure, cut, thread and assemble new pipe, placing the assembled pipe in hangers or other supports.
Assist pipe fitters in the layout, assembly, and installation of piping for air, ammonia, gas, and water systems.
Requisition tools and equipment, select type and size of pipe, and collect and transport materials and equipment to work site.
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $42,360.
