Pipelayers vs Boilermakers
Side-by-side · O*NET · BLS · AI-exposure research · Anthropic Economic Index
A factual, source-backed comparison of Pipelayers and Boilermakers on the dimensions both occupations carry. Every figure is a position within an independent published dataset — not a verdict on which job is better, safer, or more “future-proof.”
At a glance
| Dimension | Pipelayers | Boilermakers |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $48,710 | $73,340 |
| Employment | 33,580 | 10,170 |
| Employment outlook (2024–34) · BLS projection | Declining (-4.1%) | Declining (-2.4%) |
| Annual openings · BLS projection | 2,400 | 800 |
| Typical education · O*NET | Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. | Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. |
| AI exposure · published exposure studies | Low · 8th pct | Low · 7th pct |
| Global GenAI gradient · ILO ISCO-08 · via crosswalk | 18th pct · 15% of tasks | 35th pct · 21% of tasks |
| Observed AI use · Anthropic Economic Index | — | — |
| Mostly remote-capable · Dingel–Neiman | No | No |
Pay and employment are BLS OEWS estimates; outlook and openings are BLS 2024–2034 projections; AI exposure and observed-use figures come from separate research and reflect exposure and usage, not predictions that either job will disappear. Compare like with like.
Skills
Shared: Arm-Hand Steadiness, Control Precision, Oral Comprehension, Operation and Control, Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Oral Expression, Problem Sensitivity, Information Ordering, Visualization, Selective Attention, Manual Dexterity, Finger Dexterity, Multilimb Coordination, Reaction Time, Near Vision, Mechanical, Reading Comprehension, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Written Comprehension, Deductive Reasoning, Category Flexibility.
Specific to Pipelayers
- Building and Construction
- Static Strength
- Public Safety and Security
- Coordination
- Rate Control
- Trunk Strength
- Stamina
- Extent Flexibility
Specific to Boilermakers
- Inductive Reasoning
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Equipment Maintenance
- Troubleshooting
- Repairing
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
Knowledge, skills & abilities O*NET rates as important for each occupation. “Shared” are common to both; the columns list what is distinctive to each (top by the order O*NET surfaces).
Tools & technology
Shared: Spreadsheet software , Office suite software .
Specific to Pipelayers
Full profiles
This page is a summary. See the complete source-backed profile for Pipelayers or Boilermakers — tasks, the full skill graph, tools, work context, preparation, wages by percentile, industries, AI exposure and the AI work map.
More comparisons
Related occupations you can place side by side on the same sourced scale.
- Pipelayers vs Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Pipelayers vs Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Pipelayers vs Construction Laborers
- Pipelayers vs Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
- Pipelayers vs Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
- Pipelayers vs Insulation Workers, Mechanical
- Pipelayers vs Sheet Metal Workers
- Pipelayers vs Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
Sources for this page
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
- O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
- “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic
- AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans academic
- ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025 International Labour Organization
- IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022 Institute for Structural Research (IBS)
- Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation academic
- Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome academic
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Cite this page
Singulariki. "Pipelayers vs Boilermakers." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/compare/pipelayers-vs-boilermakers
Singulariki. (2026). Pipelayers vs Boilermakers. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/compare/pipelayers-vs-boilermakers
@misc{singulariki-pipelayers-vs-boilermakers,
title = {Pipelayers vs Boilermakers},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/compare/pipelayers-vs-boilermakers}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.