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 →Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
Occupation · SOC 47-3015.00
Help plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, or pipelayers by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
Also called: Plumber's Helper · Conduit Helper · Gas Main Fitter Helper · Hydraulic Plumber Helper · Industrial Gas Fitter Helper · Journeyman Plumber · Marine Pipefitter Helper · Marine Steam Fitter Helper · Pipe Coverer Helper · Pipe Fitter Helper · Plumber Apprentice · Plumber Assistant
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-47-3015-00/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.
- About average employment outlook (+4.9% by 2034)
- 4,900 openings/yr
- Low AI exposure
- Median pay $39,270/yr
- Work is mostly on-site (not teleworkable)
4th-percentile task overlap — yet about 4,900 openings a year (+4.9% 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 | 4th | -1.7 | |
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) Low | 3rd | 0.0 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) Low | 14th | 0.1 |
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 0.0). 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 · 49th 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 | About average · +4.9% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 4,900 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 45,300 → 47,500 |
“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.
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters sits at the 2nd 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.
9% mean task exposure (2025)
2nd percentile of 427 placed occupations
−1 pts shift 2023 → 2025
| International occupation (ISCO-08) | Task exposure (2025) | Most tasks fall in |
|---|---|---|
| Building Construction Labourers · 9313 | 9% | 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 15 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
- Measure, cut, thread and assemble new pipe, placing the assembled pipe in hangers or other supports. Core · importance 4.0
- Cut or drill holes in walls or floors to accommodate the passage of pipes. Core · importance 4.0
- Perform rough-ins, repair and replace fixtures and water heaters, and locate, repair, or remove leaking or broken pipes. Core · importance 4.0
- Assist pipe fitters in the layout, assembly, and installation of piping for air, ammonia, gas, and water systems. Core · importance 4.0
- Install gas burners to convert furnaces from wood, coal, or oil. Supplemental · importance 4.0
- Cut pipe and lift up to fitters. Core · importance 3.9
- Fit or assist in fitting valves, couplings, or assemblies to tanks, pumps, or systems, using hand tools. Core · importance 3.9
- Requisition tools and equipment, select type and size of pipe, and collect and transport materials and equipment to work site. Core · importance 3.8
- Mount brackets and hangers on walls and ceilings to hold pipes, and set sleeves or inserts to provide support for pipes. Core · importance 3.8
- Excavate and grade ditches, and lay and join pipe for water and sewer service. Core · importance 3.8
- Fill pipes with sand or resin to prevent distortion, and hold pipes during bending and installation. Supplemental · importance 3.7
- Disassemble and remove damaged or worn pipe. Core · importance 3.6
- Immerse pipe in chemical solution to remove dirt, oil, and scale. Supplemental · importance 3.5
- Clean shop, work area, and machines, using solvent and rags. Core · importance 3.3
- Clean and renew steam traps. Supplemental · importance 3.1
Work activities
- Maintain plumbing structures or fixtures.
- Cut openings in existing structures.
- Drill holes in construction materials.
- Measure materials or objects for installation or assembly.
- Cut metal components for installation.
- Install plumbing or piping.
- Select construction materials.
- Move construction or extraction materials to locations where they are needed.
- Order construction or extraction materials or equipment.
- Assist skilled construction or extraction personnel.
- Install building fixtures.
- Dig holes or trenches.
- Remove worn, damaged or outdated materials from work areas.
- Clean equipment or facilities.
- Assemble products or production equipment.
Knowledge, skills & abilities
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
Knowledge
| Building and Construction | 4.5 | |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.7 | |
| Mechanical | 3.6 | |
| Mathematics | 3.5 | |
| English Language | 3.3 | |
| Administration and Management | 3.1 | |
| Design | 2.9 | |
| Engineering and Technology | 2.9 | |
| Education and Training | 2.8 | |
| Public Safety and Security | 2.8 | |
| Transportation | 2.7 |
Abilities
| Manual Dexterity | 3.8 | |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.4 | |
| Multilimb Coordination | 3.4 | |
| Oral Comprehension | 3.3 | |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.3 | |
| Trunk Strength | 3.3 | |
| Extent Flexibility | 3.3 | |
| Near Vision | 3.3 | |
| Visualization | 3.1 | |
| Oral Expression | 3.0 | |
| Information Ordering | 3.0 | |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.0 | |
| Control Precision | 3.0 | |
| Static Strength | 3.0 | |
| Speech Recognition | 3.0 | |
| Deductive Reasoning | 2.9 | |
| Category Flexibility | 2.9 | |
| Speech Clarity | 2.9 | |
| Inductive Reasoning | 2.8 | |
| Selective Attention | 2.8 | |
| Stamina | 2.8 | |
| Depth Perception | 2.8 |
Essential skills
| Active Listening | 2.9 | |
| Critical Thinking | 2.9 | |
| Monitoring | 2.9 | |
| Active Learning | 2.6 |
Transferable skills
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 | |
| Coordination | 2.8 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.6 |
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 |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing 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
- High school diploma or equivalent · 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.
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 26.8% | |
| Master's Degree | 9.7% | |
| Some College Courses | 9.2% | |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 5.6% |
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 | 3.7 | |
| Social | 1.9 | |
| Investigative | 1.4 | |
| Enterprising | 1.3 |
Interest areas
| Physical/Manual Labor | 6.2 | |
| Mechanics/Electronics | 3.1 | |
| Construction/Woodwork | 2.5 | |
| Engineering | 2.5 | |
| Transportation/Machine Operation | 1.8 | |
| Mathematics/Statistics | 1.5 | |
| Nature/Outdoors | 1.2 |
Work styles
| Dependability | 2.1 | |
| Attention to Detail | 1.9 | |
| Cooperation | 1.7 | |
| Cautiousness | 1.4 |
Wages & employment
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $31,050 |
| 25th percentile | $35,750 |
| Median (50th) | $39,270 |
| 75th percentile | $46,550 |
| 90th percentile | $54,860 |
| People employed | 43,640 |
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 | 41,970 | $39,130 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors · National industry | 37,340 | $39,090 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 600 | $42,750 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 280 | $46,930 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors · National industry | 260 | $39,690 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | 210 | $39,130 |
| Utilities · Sector | 140 | $46,250 |
| Other Building Equipment Contractors · National industry | 70 | $47,020 |
| Educational Services · Sector | 60 | $41,190 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction · Sector | — | $43,500 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | — | $44,040 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing · Sector | — | $39,560 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors · National industry | 104.17× | 37,340 |
| Construction · Sector | 18.26× | 41,970 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors · National industry | 0.86× | 260 |
| Utilities · Sector | 0.85× | 140 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 0.37× | 280 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 0.23× | 600 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | 0.06× | 210 |
Related occupations
Part of the Construction career cluster.
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters · 47-2152.00 Compare →
- Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers · 49-9098.00 Compare →
- Helpers--Electricians · 47-3013.00 Compare →
- Helpers--Carpenters · 47-3012.00 Compare →
- Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons · 47-3014.00 Compare →
- Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters · 47-3011.00 Compare →
- Boilermakers · 47-2011.00 Compare →
- Pipelayers · 47-2151.00 Compare →
- Helpers--Extraction Workers · 47-5081.00 Compare →
- Helpers--Roofers · 47-3016.00 Compare →
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners · 47-4071.00 Compare →
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General · 49-9071.00 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 Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — 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.
- High school diploma or equivalent · 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 2nd percentile of 427 international occupations.
Write a report on thisheadline · factoids · citation
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters show 4th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 4,900 annual U.S. openings
- Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters rank in the 4th 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 4,900 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 about average (+4.9%) from 2024 to 2034.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- Median annual pay is $39,270, across about 43,640 U.S. workers.BLS OEWS (May 2024)
Copy the whole kit
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters show 4th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 4,900 annual U.S. openings • Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters rank in the 4th 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 4,900 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 about average (+4.9%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $39,270, across about 43,640 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) Source: Singulariki — "Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-47-3015-00 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. "Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters." 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-47-3015-00
APA
Singulariki. (2026). Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-47-3015-00
BibTeX
@misc{singulariki-role-47-3015-00,
title = {Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters},
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-47-3015-00}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.