← Back to all jobs
Pipelayer
Skilled TradesYou install underground pipes for water, sewer, storm drains, and gas lines — the infrastructure that civilization runs on and nobody thinks about until it stops working. You'll work in trenches, connect heavy pipe sections, and ensure proper grade and alignment so gravity does its job. The work is physically brutal, weather-dependent, and thankless. But every time someone flushes a toilet, that's you making it possible.
Salary Range
Low
$32k
Median
$46k
High
$68k
10-Year Growth
average
US Workers
47K
Education
On-the-job training or apprenticeship + OSHA certifications for trench safety
Environment
outdoor
Tools & Technical Skills
- ▸Pipe laying and alignment (sewer, water, gas)
- ▸Laser level and grade stake reading
- ▸Trench safety and shoring systems (OSHA competent person)
- ▸Pipe joining methods (bell-and-spigot, fusion, mechanical)
- ▸Pressure testing and leak detection
- ▸Heavy equipment awareness and signaling
People & Mindset Skills
- ▸Physical strength and stamina
- ▸Safety awareness in hazardous trenches
- ▸Teamwork with excavation crews
- ▸Attention to grade and alignment precision
- ▸Weather resilience
What you'll actually do
- 01Lay pipe in trenches using laser levels and grade stakes because gravity doesn't care about your feelings
- 02Connect pipe sections with mechanical joints, fusion welds, or bell-and-spigot connections depending on material
- 03Work in trenches that require shoring and safety protocols because cave-ins are not theoretical
- 04Operate heavy equipment or work alongside operators moving tons of dirt around you
- 05Test installed pipe for leaks using air or water pressure before the trench gets backfilled and your work disappears forever
- 06Endure weather extremes because underground utilities need to be installed regardless of what the sky is doing
Related Shifts
Think this could be you?
Take the Career DNA Quiz to see if this role fits your personality.
Take the Quiz