Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters: Career Profile
Assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases. May install heating and cooling equipment and mechanical control systems. Includes sprinkler fitters.
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What Tasks Do Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Perform?
The core tasks performed by plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters include:
- Shut off steam, water, or other gases or liquids from pipe sections, using valve keys or wrenches.
- Install underground storm, sanitary, or water piping systems, extending piping as needed to connect fixtures and plumbing.
- Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment.
- Locate and mark the position of pipe installations, connections, passage holes, or fixtures in structures, using measuring instruments such as rulers or levels.
- Cut, thread, or hammer pipes to specifications, using tools such as saws, cutting torches, pipe threaders, or pipe benders.
- Lay out full scale drawings of pipe systems, supports, or related equipment, according to blueprints.
- Plan pipe system layout, installation, or repair, according to specifications.
- Review blueprints, building codes, or specifications to determine work details or procedures.
What Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Need to Know
Top plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Aircraft Hydraulic Equipment Mechanic
- Aircraft Hydraulic Mechanic
- Aircraft Plumbing Mechanic
- Commercial Plumber
- Corrosion Control Fitter
- Diesel Engine Pipefitter
- Drain Cleaner
- Drain Technician
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 611,912 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +7.9% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $78,994 |
| Hourly median | $37.98 |
| 10th percentile | $52,168 |
| 25th percentile | $65,581 |
| 75th percentile | $92,407 |
| 90th percentile | $105,820 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Illinois | $96,200 |
| Oregon | $93,110 |
| Minnesota | $83,280 |
| Massachusetts | $83,260 |
| Alaska | $83,090 |
| District of Columbia | $81,950 |
| Washington | $79,070 |
| Hawaii | $78,540 |
| Wisconsin | $78,510 |
| New York | $78,460 |
| Montana | $77,930 |
| New Jersey | $77,160 |
| Michigan | $77,030 |
| Connecticut | $73,080 |
| California | $68,390 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,650 |
| Louisiana | $64,720 |
| Rhode Island | $64,630 |
| Indiana | $64,560 |
| Delaware | $64,300 |
| Colorado | $63,610 |
| Maryland | $63,270 |
| Nebraska | $62,880 |
| Kansas | $62,820 |
| North Dakota | $62,670 |
| Ohio | $62,530 |
| Kentucky | $62,370 |
| Missouri | $62,090 |
| New Hampshire | $62,030 |
| Arizona | $61,940 |
| Maine | $61,890 |
| Utah | $61,680 |
| Wyoming | $61,480 |
| Iowa | $61,230 |
| Vermont | $60,550 |
| Nevada | $60,120 |
| New Mexico | $59,660 |
| Virginia | $59,560 |
| Texas | $58,560 |
| Mississippi | $57,960 |
| Tennessee | $57,730 |
| Idaho | $57,380 |
| Georgia | $56,290 |
| South Carolina | $54,840 |
| Oklahoma | $54,840 |
| Alabama | $53,840 |
| North Carolina | $50,990 |
| South Dakota | $50,790 |
| Florida | $50,540 |
| Arkansas | $49,700 |
| West Virginia | $49,630 |
| Virgin Islands | $48,910 |
| Guam | $37,920 |
| Puerto Rico | $27,690 |
Where Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Earn the Most
Compensation for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes | $77,292 | 14.6% | 1.03 |
| New England | $75,856 | 6.0% | 1.30 |
| Middle Atlantic | $72,267 | 13.2% | 0.92 |
| Far Western US | $72,195 | 15.9% | 0.97 |
| Plains States | $66,779 | 7.6% | 1.13 |
| Rocky Mountains | $63,067 | 5.1% | 1.28 |
| Southwest | $58,844 | 14.1% | 1.13 |
| Southeast | $55,173 | 23.3% | 1.00 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | WA | $100,980 | 880 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $100,110 | 4,920 |
| Madison, WI | WI | $99,450 | 1,380 |
| Rochester, MN | MN | $99,400 | 460 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $98,890 | 14,230 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $97,020 | 5,070 |
| Springfield, MA | MA | $92,750 | 820 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | IL | $92,470 | 390 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 374,640 | $62,820 |
| Manufacturing | 16,330 | $61,620 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 14,610 | $55,560 |
| Utilities | 9,140 | $79,090 |
| Educational Services | 6,750 | $64,050 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3,290 | $63,300 |
| Wholesale Trade | 3,220 | $48,270 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 2,760 | $74,990 |
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Accounting software: Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Spend Time Standing
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Frequency of Decision Making
Getting Started in This Career
Typical plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters positions require some college, no degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Boilermakers (Primary-Short)
- Carpenters (Supplemental)
- Construction Laborers (Primary-Long)
- Electricians (Supplemental)
- Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall (Supplemental)
- Pipelayers (Primary-Short)
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Sheet Metal Workers (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters often complete programs in:
Construction Trades
3 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-2152.00 (Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters).
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