Pipelayers vs Paving & Surfacing Operators
Median pay is about $4k higher for Paving & Surfacing Operators. The usual entry education is no formal credential for Pipelayers and high school for Paving & Surfacing Operators.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Pipelayers | Paving & Surfacing Operators |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $49,000 | $53,340, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $43,980 | $45,610, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $61,400 | $64,720, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | -3.1% Declining | -0.9% Declining, higher |
| Openings a year | 2,100 | 3,100 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | No formal credential | High school |
| Difficulty modeled | 1.8 / 5 | 2 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Low | Moderate |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 11th pct | 40th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Pipelayers
- Learning Strategies
Only Paving & Surfacing Operators
- Active Learning
Both lean on active listening, speaking, critical thinking, reading comprehension, monitoring.
More comparisons
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.