Skills it runs on
The capabilities O*NET rates most important for this occupation — the human ground the work is built on.
See all skills →Pipelayers
Occupation · SOC 47-2151.00
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.
Also called: Pipelayer · Tailman · Cast Iron Drain Pipe Layer · Drain Layer · Drain Tiler · Pipe Assembly Worker · Pipe Caulker · Pipe Connector · Pipe Cutter · Pipe Fitter · Pipe Installer · Pipe Layer
Job family: Construction and Extraction Occupations
Take this to your AI
A source-stamped Markdown brief of this occupation — paste it into an agent, or fetch
/roles/role-47-2151-00/context.md directly.
AI work map
A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.
Market signal
Independent published positions, read together — not a forecast.
- Declining employment outlook (-4.1% by 2034)
- 2,400 openings/yr
- Low AI exposure
- Median pay $48,710/yr
- Work is mostly on-site (not teleworkable)
- 2013 flagged this for computerization (53rd); today's AI task-overlap is comparatively low (5th)
5th-percentile task overlap — yet about 2,400 openings a year (-4.1% projected, BLS) . What exposure means →
AI & job outlook
What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.
Exposure to current AI
Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.
| Measure | Rank vs all occupations | Percentile | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) Low | 10th | -1.2 | |
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) Low | 10th | 0.1 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) Low | 8th | 0.0 |
OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.0), with simple added tooling (β 0.0), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.1). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.
This job mostly cannot be done remotely (Dingel–Neiman) — its hands-on tasks sit outside what software-based AI reaches.
Historical automation estimate (2013)
A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
Frey–Osborne probability 0.6 · 53rd percentile among occupations · Moderate
Job outlook
Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.
| Outlook | Declining · -4.1% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 2,400 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 34,400 → 32,900 |
“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.
Where this work sits on the global GenAI gradient
The ILO's 2025 global study scores generative-AI exposure on the international ISCO-08 occupation system, not US SOC. Bridged through the published (and approximate, many-to-many) IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 crosswalk, this US occupation corresponds to the international occupation below. Exposure here means how much of the work's tasks today's AI can attempt — task overlap, not automation, adoption, or jobs lost.
Pipelayers sits at the 18th percentile of 427
occupations on the global GenAI task-exposure gradient
— exposure eased from 2023 to 2025. Each dot is one occupation; the
ringed one is this work. Exposure is task overlap, not automation or jobs lost.
15% mean task exposure (2025)
18th percentile of 427 placed occupations
−1 pts shift 2023 → 2025
| International occupation (ISCO-08) | Task exposure (2025) | Most tasks fall in |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbers and Pipe Fitters · 7126 | 15% | Not exposed |
Read the whole six-band gradient on the GenAI exposure gradient page. The crosswalk is approximate: a US occupation can map to several international ones, and the ILO scores describe the international occupation, not this exact US role.
Tasks
All 14 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
- Grade or level trench bases, using tamping machines or hand tools. Core · importance 4.4
- Dig trenches to desired or required depths, by hand or using trenching tools. Core · importance 4.3
- Cut pipes to required lengths. Core · importance 4.3
- Install or use instruments such as lasers, grade rods, or transit levels. Core · importance 4.2
- Cover pipes with earth or other materials. Core · importance 4.1
- Connect pipe pieces and seal joints, using welding equipment, cement, or glue. Core · importance 4.1
- Check slopes for conformance to requirements, using levels or lasers. Core · importance 4.1
- Install or repair sanitary or stormwater sewer structures or pipe systems. Core · importance 4.1
- Align and position pipes to prepare them for welding or sealing. Core · importance 4.1
- Lay out pipe routes, following written instructions or blueprints and coordinating layouts with supervisors. Core · importance 4.0
- Tap and drill holes into pipes to introduce auxiliary lines or devices. Core · importance 4.0
- Operate mechanized equipment, such as pickup trucks, rollers, tandem dump trucks, front-end loaders, or backhoes. Core · importance 3.9
- Train or supervise others in laying pipe. Core · importance 3.9
- Locate existing pipes needing repair or replacement, using magnetic or radio indicators. Core · importance 3.9
Work activities
- Evaluate projects to determine compliance with technical specifications.
- Spread sand, dirt or other loose materials onto surfaces.
- Apply adhesives to construction materials.
- Weld metal components.
- Cut metal components for installation.
- Install plumbing or piping.
- Maintain plumbing structures or fixtures.
- Position hand tools.
- Compact materials to create level bases.
- Mark reference points on construction materials.
- Communicate with other construction or extraction personnel to discuss project details.
- Dig holes or trenches.
- Operate equipment or vehicles to clear construction sites or move materials.
- Drive trucks or truck-mounted equipment.
- Train construction or extraction personnel.
- Direct construction or extraction personnel.
- Drill holes in construction materials.
- Locate equipment or materials in need of repair or replacement.
Knowledge, skills & abilities
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
Knowledge
| Building and Construction | 3.7 | |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.0 | |
| Engineering and Technology | 3.0 | |
| Mechanical | 3.0 | |
| Administration and Management | 2.9 |
Abilities
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.5 | |
| Control Precision | 3.5 | |
| Oral Comprehension | 3.3 | |
| Static Strength | 3.3 | |
| Oral Expression | 3.0 | |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.0 | |
| Information Ordering | 3.0 | |
| Visualization | 3.0 | |
| Selective Attention | 3.0 | |
| Manual Dexterity | 3.0 | |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.0 | |
| Multilimb Coordination | 3.0 | |
| Rate Control | 3.0 | |
| Reaction Time | 3.0 | |
| Trunk Strength | 3.0 | |
| Stamina | 3.0 | |
| Extent Flexibility | 3.0 | |
| Near Vision | 3.0 | |
| Depth Perception | 3.0 | |
| Speech Recognition | 3.0 | |
| Speech Clarity | 3.0 | |
| Written Comprehension | 2.9 | |
| Deductive Reasoning | 2.9 | |
| Category Flexibility | 2.9 | |
| Far Vision | 2.9 |
Transferable skills
| Operation and Control | 3.1 | |
| Coordination | 3.0 | |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.0 | |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.0 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 | |
| Time Management | 2.9 |
Essential skills
| Active Listening | 3.0 | |
| Speaking | 3.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.9 |
Skills in demand
Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.
Tools & technology
| Example | Category | |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | Hot technology |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | Hot technology |
Work context
How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.
How to get in
- Job zone
- Zone 2 — Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Typical entry-level education
- No formal educational credential · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement
- Related experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Preparation level
- SVP (Below 6.0) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.
Education of current workers
Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.
| Less than a High School Diploma | 65.4% | |
| High School Diploma | 32.9% | |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 1.7% |
Interests & work styles
The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.
Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)
| Realistic | 7.0 | |
| Conventional | 3.5 | |
| Investigative | 2.4 | |
| Social | 1.3 |
Interest areas
Work styles
| Dependability | 2.3 | |
| Attention to Detail | 1.9 | |
| Cautiousness | 1.5 | |
| Perseverance | 1.4 |
Wages & employment
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $36,840 |
| 25th percentile | $42,320 |
| Median (50th) | $48,710 |
| 75th percentile | $60,980 |
| 90th percentile | $80,710 |
| People employed | 33,580 |
Industries that employ this occupation
Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.
| Industry | Workers | National median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Construction · Sector | 26,610 | $48,620 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors · National industry | 2,720 | $52,360 |
| Utilities · Sector | 580 | $51,710 |
| Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction · National industry | 280 | $49,640 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | 150 | $61,030 |
| Other Building Equipment Contractors · National industry | 130 | $65,340 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 130 | $41,870 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 120 | $41,490 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors · National industry | 110 | $61,590 |
| Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors · National industry | 70 | $69,440 |
| Educational Services · Sector | 60 | $62,890 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | 50 | $79,240 |
Where this work is most concentrated
Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).
| Industry | Concentration | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Construction · Sector | 15.04× | 26,610 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors · National industry | 9.86× | 2,720 |
| Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction · National industry | 5.49× | 280 |
| Utilities · Sector | 4.6× | 580 |
| Other Building Equipment Contractors · National industry | 3.89× | 130 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors · National industry | 0.47× | 110 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 0.21× | 120 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | 0.11× | 150 |
Related occupations
Part of the Construction career cluster.
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters · 47-2152.00 Compare →
- Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters · 47-3015.00 Compare →
- Construction Laborers · 47-2061.00 Compare →
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners · 47-4071.00 Compare →
- Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall · 47-2131.00 Compare →
- Insulation Workers, Mechanical · 47-2132.00 Compare →
- Sheet Metal Workers · 47-2211.00 Compare →
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators · 47-2071.00 Compare →
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers · 47-2221.00 Compare →
- Boilermakers · 47-2011.00 Compare →
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers · 49-9051.00 Compare →
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers · 47-2051.00 Compare →
Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.
What you can do with this
Options the data surfaces for Pipelayers — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.
Skills that travel
Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.
Adjacent roles
Occupations O*NET rates as related — the nearby moves on the map.
Paths in
How people typically prepare for this work.
- No formal educational credential · typical entry level
- Job zone 2 — Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed · preparation tier
Zoom out
On the global GenAI exposure gradient this work sits around the 18th percentile of 427 international occupations.
Write a report on thisheadline · factoids · citation
Pipelayers show 5th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 2,400 annual U.S. openings
- Pipelayers rank in the 5th percentile (Low band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated.Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE
- The occupation is projected to see about 2,400 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- BLS projects employment to be declining (-4.1%) from 2024 to 2034.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- Median annual pay is $48,710, across about 33,580 U.S. workers.BLS OEWS (May 2024)
Copy the whole kit
Pipelayers show 5th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 2,400 annual U.S. openings • Pipelayers rank in the 5th percentile (Low band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE) • The occupation is projected to see about 2,400 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • BLS projects employment to be declining (-4.1%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $48,710, across about 33,580 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) Source: Singulariki — "Pipelayers". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-47-2151-00 Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
AssetsShare imageMethodology & sourcesPress & newsroomThe newsroom
Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
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
Plain
Singulariki. "Pipelayers." 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/roles/role-47-2151-00
APA
Singulariki. (2026). Pipelayers. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-47-2151-00
BibTeX
@misc{singulariki-role-47-2151-00,
title = {Pipelayers},
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/roles/role-47-2151-00}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.