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Pipelayers in Michigan

Thinking about a career as a Pipelayers in Michigan? Here’s what the data says. Lay pipe for storm or sanitation sewers, drains, and water mains. Perform any combination of the following tasks: grade trenches or culverts, position pipe, or seal joints. Excludes “Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers” (51-4121).

What do Pipelayers Make in Michigan?

For pipelayers working in Michigan, wages run about $64,340 per year (or about $30.93/hour).Earnings range from $49,790 at the 10th percentile to $90,960 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$49,790	$23.94
25th percentile	$52,220	$25.11
Median (50th)	$64,340	$30.93
75th percentile	$82,540	$39.68
90th percentile	$90,960	$43.73

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Michigan relative to the national average — is 0.28, indicating fewer pipelayers per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, pipelayers earn a median of $78,700 per year ($37.84/hour), below the Michigan median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 490,711 pipelayers across the United States. In Michigan alone, approximately 270 people work in this role. That’s below the typical state, which employs around 310 pipelayers.

Top Michigan Metros for Pipelayers

These are the Michigan metros with the most pipelayers in Michigan.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	90	$61,980

Top States for Pipelayers Employment

The table below shows the states where the most pipelayers work.

State	Number Employed
Texas	6,200
Florida	4,240
North Carolina	3,120
Georgia	1,860
California	1,720
Washington	1,360
Virginia	1,200
Indiana	1,160
Ohio	900
Alabama	720
Utah	710
Tennessee	710
Arizona	700
Colorado	680
Maryland	620
New Jersey	610
Oregon	590
South Carolina	530
Nebraska	500
Pennsylvania	450

Highest-Paying States for Pipelayers

These states pay the most for pipelayers.

State	Annual Median Salary
Alaska	$93,500
Minnesota	$84,880
Wisconsin	$81,300
Washington	$80,280
California	$78,090
New York	$76,490
Indiana	$75,320
New Jersey	$70,780
Michigan	$64,340
Oregon	$64,110

Skills

Top pipelayers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Top abilities for pipelayers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Pipelayers typically:

• Grade or level trench bases, using tamping machines or hand tools.
• Dig trenches to desired or required depths, by hand or using trenching tools.
• Cut pipes to required lengths.
• Install or use instruments such as lasers, grade rods, or transit levels.
• Cover pipes with earth or other materials.
• Connect pipe pieces and seal joints, using welding equipment, cement, or glue.
• Install or repair sanitary or stormwater sewer structures or pipe systems.
• Check slopes for conformance to requirements, using levels or lasers.
• Align and position pipes to prepare them for welding or sealing.
• Lay out pipe routes, following written instructions or blueprints and coordinating layouts with supervisors.
• Tap and drill holes into pipes to introduce auxiliary lines or devices.
• Operate mechanized equipment, such as pickup trucks, rollers, tandem dump trucks, front-end loaders, or backhoes.

Work Activities

• Getting Information
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Coaching and Developing Others
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

Related Careers

Other careers like pipelayers include:

• Boilermakers
• Brickmasons and Blockmasons
• Carpenters
• Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
• Construction Laborers
• Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators

Also Known As

Cast Iron Drain Pipe Layer, Drain Layer, Drain Tiler, Pipe Assembly Worker, Pipe Caulker, Pipe Connector, Pipe Cutter, Pipe Fitter, Pipe Installer, Pipe Layer, Pipe Liner, Pipe Setter, Pipe Wrapping Machine Operator, Pipelayer, Pipelaying Fitter.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 47-2151.00