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Pipelayers in North Carolina

Want to work as a Pipelayers in North Carolina? 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 North Carolina?

For pipelayers working in North Carolina, wages run about $45,350 per year (or roughly $21.80/hour).Pay can range from $36,440 at the 10th percentile to $57,160 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$36,440	$17.52
25th percentile	$39,630	$19.05
Median (50th)	$45,350	$21.80
75th percentile	$49,130	$23.62
90th percentile	$57,160	$27.48

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in North Carolina nationwide is 2.92, indicating that pipelayers are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

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

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 490,711 pipelayers across the United States. In North Carolina alone, about 3,120 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 310 pipelayers.

Top North Carolina Metros for Pipelayers

The largest metro-area employers of pipelayers in North Carolina.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	1,050	$46,780
Raleigh-Cary, NC	500	$47,810
Asheville, NC	150	$43,820
Wilmington, NC	130	$45,760
Fayetteville, NC	120	$45,250
Winston-Salem, NC	120	$42,800
Jacksonville, NC	110	$39,100
Greensboro-High Point, NC	100	$43,700
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	90	$41,100
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	80	$45,850
Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC	40	$37,480
Rocky Mount, NC	30	$42,080

Top States for Pipelayers Employment

These states have the highest employment of 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

The highest-paying states 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

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

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, 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

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

Related Careers

Related occupations to 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