Construction Laborer
Prepare sites, move materials, pour concrete and support every trade on the job.
- $47,120
- Days to weeks (on the job)
Skilled Trades & Construction career
Pipelayer
Also called: Pipe Layer · Underground Utility Worker · Sewer Pipe Layer · Water Main Installer
What pipelayers do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a pipelayer do?
Pipelayers lay pipe for storm or sanitation sewers, drains and water mains, and grade trenches or culverts. The median pay is $49,000 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about A few weeks on the job, and employment is projected to grow -3.1% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$49,000$23.56/hour · May 2025
- Job growth-3.1%2025–35, a projected decline
- Openings per year2,100Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationNo formal educational credentialBLS classification
- Time to trainA few weeks on the jobTypical program length
- U.S. jobs33,200Employment, 2025
What pipelayers do
Pipelayers build underground systems. They grade trench bottoms, lay and join water, sewer and storm pipe, check grade with lasers, install fittings and backfill around pipe on construction and utility projects.
No formal education is required, and training is short. BLS projects slight decline.
Typical duties
- Grade trenches
- Lay pipe
- Join pipe sections
- Check grade
- Install fittings
- Backfill
- Follow trench safety
Work environment and schedule
Pipelayers work outdoors in trenches.
Schedule: Full time, seasonal in cold regions.
A day in the life
- Inspect the trench box.
- Set the pipe laser.
- Grade bedding.
- Lay sewer pipe.
See a full day in the life of a pipelayer →
Pipelayer salary
Half of pipelayers earned more than $49,000 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $37,730 for the lowest 10% to $80,170 for the top 10%.
Full pipelayer pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a pipelayer
- Join a utility crew
- Learn trench safety
- Learn pipe laying
- Earn competent person training
- Advance
No formal educational credential is required.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a pipelayer →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Pipe laying
- Grade checking
- Pipe joining
- Trench safety
- Backfill
People skills
- Teamwork
- Safety awareness
- Stamina
- Precision
All pipelayer skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- No degree needed
- Short training
- Infrastructure work
- Union jobs common
Cons
- Trench hazards
- Mud and weather
- Physical work
- Seasonal
Certifications and licenses
- Competent person trench training: Valued.
- OSHA 10: Safety.
- Laborers apprenticeship: Union.
- Flagger certification: Helpful.
Career path
- Laborer: Entry.
- Pipelayer: Lay pipe.
- Lead Pipelayer: Lead.
- Utility Foreman: Lead.
Learn the job before day one
Our Pipelayer training (6 hours, $59.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as lay sewer pipe to grade and work safely in a trench, safety and how to land your first job.
Related careers
Plumber
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Heavy Equipment Operator
Operate excavators, dozers, loaders and graders to move earth and build infrastructure.
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Highway Maintenance Worker
Keep highways safe by patching roads, plowing snow and maintaining signs.
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Compare: Pipelayer vs. Construction Laborer · Pipelayer vs. Plumber · Pipelayer vs. Heavy Equipment Operator · Pipelayer vs. Highway Maintenance Worker
Pipelayer FAQ
Do I need experience?
No.
Is the job dangerous?
Trenches are hazardous; protection is required.
Is the job growing?
BLS projects slight decline.
How much does a pipelayer make?
The median annual wage for pipelayers was $49,000 ($23.56 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $37,730 and the highest 10% earned more than $80,170.
How long does it take to become a pipelayer?
Most people need about A few weeks on the job of training. No formal educational credential is required.
Do you need a degree to be a pipelayer?
No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “no formal educational credential” as the typical entry-level education, plus short-term on-the-job training.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 47-2151 (Pipelayers).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Pipelayers (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.