Pipelayers vs Plumbers & Pipefitters
Median pay is about $15k higher for Plumbers & Pipefitters. The usual entry education is no formal credential for Pipelayers and apprenticeship plus license for Plumbers & Pipefitters.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Pipelayers | Plumbers & Pipefitters |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $49,000 | $63,800, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $43,980 | $50,190, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $61,400 | $85,110, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | -3.1% Declining | +6.8% Growing fast, higher |
| Openings a year | 2,100 | 42,000 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | No formal credential | Apprenticeship plus license |
| Difficulty modeled | 1.8 / 5 | 2.4 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Low | Low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 11th pct | 24th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Pipelayers
- Learning Strategies
Only Plumbers & Pipefitters
- Writing
Both lean on active listening, speaking, critical thinking, reading comprehension, monitoring.
More comparisons
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Compare Plumbers & Pipefitters with
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.