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Occupation AtlasHelpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

O*NET · 47-3015.00

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

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 Conduit Helper · Gas Main Fitter Helper · Hydraulic Plumber Helper · Industrial Gas Fitter Helper · Marine Pipefitter Helper · Marine Steam Fitter Helper · Pipe Coverer Helper · Pipe Fitter Helper
18 more

Pipefitter Helper · Plumber Apprentice · Plumber Assistant · Plumber Cub · Plumber Helper · Plumbing Apprentice · Plumbing Assistant · Plumbing Helper · Plumbing Installation Helper · Plumbing Residential Apprentice · Plumbing Warehouse Helper · Service Sprinkler Helper · Sewer Pipe Layer Helper · Sprinkler Fitter Helper · Sprinkler Helper · Sprinkler Installer Assistant · Trench Pipe Layer Helper · Water Main Installer Helper

Job Zone 2 — Some Preparation NeededHolland code RCS35 skills on file

Compare with another occupationCompare with Helpers--Roofers

Job Zone

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed

Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma, some previous work-related skill or experience, and a few months to a year of training with experienced workers.

Job Zone is O*NET's rating of how much education, experience and training an occupation typically needs — a property of the work, not of anyone doing it.

Occupational interest profile

RCSRealistic · Conventional · Social — the three strongest interests, in order

  • R Realistic6.96
  • C Conventional3.66
  • S Social1.86
  • I Investigative1.37
  • E Enterprising1.25
  • A Artistic1.00

RIASEC (Holland) interests on O*NET's 0–7 scale: what the work draws on, not what any individual prefers. Hover a row for what each dimension means.

Education and experience

The education level respondents say the job requires, and the most common answer for experience and training.

  • Less than a High School Diploma6%
  • High School Diploma or the equivalent49%
  • Post-Secondary Certificate27%
  • Some College Courses9%
  • Master's Degree10%
Related work experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (38%)
On-site or in-plant training
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (22%)
On-the-job training
Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months (28%)

Typically associated skills

All 35 O*NET skills, most important first. Importance (1–5) says how much a skill matters here; level (0–7) says how much of it the work calls for, with O*NET's example of a nearby level. Neither is a proficiency rating of a person.

  • Active Listeningbasic2.92.4Level 2 looks like: Take a customer's order
  • Critical Thinkingbasic2.92.4Level 2 looks like: Determine whether a subordinate has a good excuse for being late
  • Monitoringbasic2.92.3Level 2 looks like: Proofread and correct a letter
  • Judgment and Decision Making2.92.1Level 2 looks like: Decide how scheduling a break will affect work flow
  • Coordination2.83.0Level 2 looks like: Schedule appointments for a medical clinic
  • Repairing2.62.6Level 2 looks like: Tighten a screw to get a door to close properly
  • Complex Problem Solving2.62.0Level 2 looks like: Lay out tools to complete a job
  • Active Learningbasic2.61.9Level 2 looks like: Think about the implications of a news article for job opportunities
  • Speakingbasic2.52.3Level 2 looks like: Greet tourists and explain tourist attractions
  • Social Perceptiveness2.52.1Level 2 looks like: Notice that customers are angry because they have been waiting too long
  • Time Management2.52.1Level 2 looks like: Keep a monthly calendar of appointments
  • Equipment Selection2.42.0Level 2 looks like: Select a tool to adjust a loose part on a bicycle
Show the other 23
  • Operation and Control2.42.0Level 2 looks like: Navigate the settings on an office printer to print on both sides of the paper
  • Reading Comprehensionbasic2.42.0Level 2 looks like: Read step-by-step instructions for completing a form
  • Troubleshooting2.42.0Level 2 looks like: Identify the source of a leak by looking under a machine
  • Service Orientation2.41.8Level 2 looks like: Ask customers if they would like a cup of coffee
  • Operations Monitoring2.31.9Level 2 looks like: Monitor completion times while running a computer program
  • Mathematicsbasic2.31.4Level 2 looks like: Count the amount of change to be given to a customer
  • Quality Control Analysis2.12.0Level 2 looks like: Inspect a draft email for errors (e.g., grammar, punctuation)
  • Equipment Maintenance2.11.8Level 2 looks like: Add oil to an engine as indicated by a warning light
  • Management of Material Resources2.11.3Level 2 looks like: Reserve a room for a management meeting
  • Instructing2.02.1Level 2 looks like: Instruct a new employee in the use of a timekeeping system
  • Learning Strategiesbasic2.01.9Level 2 looks like: Learn a different method of completing a task from a coworker
  • Negotiation2.01.6Level 2 looks like: Present justification to a manager for altering a work schedule
  • Persuasion2.01.6Level 2 looks like: Solicit donations for a charity
  • Installation2.01.5Level 2 looks like: Install a new air filter in an air conditioner
  • Writingbasic2.01.5Level 2 looks like: Write down a guest's order at a restaurant
  • Management of Personnel Resources1.91.4Level 2 looks like: Encourage a coworker who is having difficulty finishing a project
  • Systems Analysis1.91.0Level 2 looks like: Determine how loss of a team member will affect the completion of a job
  • Systems Evaluation1.80.9
  • Management of Financial Resources1.60.8
  • Technology Design1.60.6
  • Operations Analysis1.3—
  • Sciencebasic1.1—
  • Programming1.0—

Tasks

11 core · 4 supplemental

What people in this occupation do, as O*NET records it, core tasks first by importance (1–5).

  1. Mount brackets and hangers on walls and ceilings to hold pipes, and set sleeves or inserts to provide support for pipes.4.4
  2. Fit or assist in fitting valves, couplings, or assemblies to tanks, pumps, or systems, using hand tools.4.4
  3. Perform rough-ins, repair and replace fixtures and water heaters, and locate, repair, or remove leaking or broken pipes.4.3
  4. Measure, cut, thread and assemble new pipe, placing the assembled pipe in hangers or other supports.4.2
  5. Assist pipe fitters in the layout, assembly, and installation of piping for air, ammonia, gas, and water systems.4.2
  6. Cut pipe and lift up to fitters.4.2
  7. Requisition tools and equipment, select type and size of pipe, and collect and transport materials and equipment to work site.4.1
  8. Cut or drill holes in walls or floors to accommodate the passage of pipes.4.0
  9. Disassemble and remove damaged or worn pipe.4.0
  10. Clean shop, work area, and machines, using solvent and rags.3.8
  11. Excavate and grade ditches, and lay and join pipe for water and sewer service.3.6
Show the other 4
  1. Immerse pipe in chemical solution to remove dirt, oil, and scale.4.0
  2. Clean and renew steam traps.3.2
  3. Fill pipes with sand or resin to prevent distortion, and hold pipes during bending and installation.3.2
  4. Install gas burners to convert furnaces from wood, coal, or oil.2.7

Knowledge

Bodies of knowledge the work draws on.

  • Building and Construction4.54.6Level 4 looks like: Fix a plumbing leak in the ceiling
  • Customer and Personal Service3.74.1Level 4 looks like: Be responsible for 10 children at daycare
  • Mechanical3.64.4Level 4 looks like: Replace a valve on a steam pipe
  • Mathematics3.53.5Level 4 looks like: Analyze data to determine areas with the highest sales
  • English Language3.32.7
  • Administration and Management3.12.7
  • Design2.93.1Level 4 looks like: Design plans for remodeling a kitchen
  • Engineering and Technology2.92.6
Show all 33
  • Education and Training2.83.0Level 4 looks like: Lead a quality improvement seminar
  • Public Safety and Security2.82.3Level 1 looks like: Use a seatbelt
  • Transportation2.72.5Level 1 looks like: Ride a train to work
  • Production and Processing2.42.2Level 1 looks like: Put a computer back into its packing materials
  • Administrative2.32.1Level 1 looks like: Direct phone calls to the appropriate staff member
  • Law and Government2.31.7Level 1 looks like: Describe the length of a U.S. presidential term
  • Personnel and Human Resources2.21.8Level 1 looks like: Fill out a medical claim form
  • Economics and Accounting2.11.2Level 1 looks like: Answer billing questions from credit card customers
  • Foreign Language2.11.1Level 1 looks like: Say "please" and "thank you" in a foreign language
  • Sales and Marketing2.01.8Level 1 looks like: Sell cakes at a bake sale
  • Physics1.91.9Level 1 looks like: Use a crowbar to pry open a box
  • Chemistry1.81.5Level 1 looks like: Use a common household bug spray
  • Computers and Electronics1.81.3Level 1 looks like: Operate a media player to watch a training video
  • Geography1.60.8Level 1 looks like: Know the capital of the United States
  • Telecommunications1.60.5Level 1 looks like: Send an email
  • Biology1.3—
  • Communications and Media1.30.6Level 1 looks like: Write a thank you note
  • Psychology1.3—
  • Therapy and Counseling1.2—
  • History and Archeology1.1—
  • Medicine and Dentistry1.1—
  • Sociology and Anthropology1.1—
  • Fine Arts1.0—
  • Food Production1.0—
  • Philosophy and Theology1.0—

Abilities

Enduring capacities the work calls for.

  • Manual Dexterity3.82.9
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness3.43.0Level 2 looks like: Light a candle
  • Multilimb Coordination3.43.0Level 2 looks like: Row a boat
  • Extent Flexibility3.33.8Level 4 looks like: Reach for a box on a high warehouse shelf
  • Near Vision3.33.0Level 2 looks like: Read indicators on the dashboard of a car
  • Oral Comprehension3.33.3Level 4 looks like: Understand a coach's oral instructions for a sport
  • Problem Sensitivity3.32.6Level 2 looks like: Recognize that an unplugged lamp won't work
  • Trunk Strength3.33.3Level 4 looks like: Shovel snow for half an hour
Show all 52
  • Visualization3.13.1Level 4 looks like: Follow a diagram to assemble a metal storage cabinet
  • Control Precision3.03.1Level 4 looks like: Adjust farm tractor controls
  • Finger Dexterity3.02.9Level 2 looks like: Put coins in a parking meter
  • Information Ordering3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Follow the correct steps to make change
  • Oral Expression3.02.9Level 2 looks like: Place an order at a restaurant drive-thru
  • Speech Recognition3.02.5Level 2 looks like: Recognize the voice of a coworker
  • Static Strength3.03.4Level 4 looks like: Pull a 40-pound sack of fertilizer across the lawn
  • Category Flexibility2.92.8Level 3 looks like: Classify flowers according to size, color, and smell
  • Deductive Reasoning2.92.8Level 2 looks like: Know that a stalled car can coast downhill
  • Speech Clarity2.92.4Level 1 looks like: Call numbers in a bingo game
  • Depth Perception2.82.3Level 2 looks like: Merge a car into traffic on a city street
  • Inductive Reasoning2.82.5Level 2 looks like: Decide what to wear based on the weather report
  • Selective Attention2.82.4Level 2 looks like: Answer a business call with coworkers talking nearby
  • Stamina2.82.1Level 1 looks like: Walk 1/4 mile
  • Dynamic Strength2.62.6Level 2 looks like: Use pruning shears to trim a bush
  • Gross Body Coordination2.62.4Level 2 looks like: Get in and out of a truck
  • Gross Body Equilibrium2.62.4Level 2 looks like: Stand on a ladder
  • Far Vision2.52.1Level 2 looks like: Read a roadside billboard
  • Mathematical Reasoning2.31.5Level 1 looks like: Determine how much 20 oranges will cost when they are priced at 5 for 4 dollars
  • Reaction Time2.32.4Level 2 looks like: Start to slow down the car when a traffic light turns yellow
  • Flexibility of Closure2.12.0Level 2 looks like: Detect that your phone is ringing while at a concert
  • Fluency of Ideas2.12.0Level 2 looks like: Name four different uses for a screwdriver
  • Hearing Sensitivity2.11.4Level 2 looks like: Notice a doorbell ringing
  • Number Facility2.11.4Level 1 looks like: Add 2 and 7
  • Originality2.12.0Level 2 looks like: Use a credit card to open a locked door
  • Response Orientation2.11.9Level 2 looks like: When a doorbell and phone ring at the same time, quickly select which to answer first
  • Speed of Limb Movement2.12.1Level 2 looks like: Saw through a thin piece of wood
  • Time Sharing2.12.0Level 2 looks like: Listen to music while entering numbers into a spreadsheet
  • Written Comprehension2.12.1Level 2 looks like: Understand signs on the highway
  • Auditory Attention2.02.1Level 2 looks like: Listen to a lecture while people nearby are talking
  • Memorization2.01.1Level 1 looks like: Remember the number on your bus to be sure you get back on the right one
  • Perceptual Speed2.01.9Level 2 looks like: Sort mail according to ZIP codes with no time pressure
  • Rate Control2.01.3Level 1 looks like: Ride a bicycle alongside a jogger
  • Spatial Orientation2.01.9Level 2 looks like: Use the floor plan to locate a store in a mall
  • Speed of Closure2.01.4
  • Visual Color Discrimination2.01.8Level 1 looks like: Separate laundry into colors and whites
  • Wrist-Finger Speed2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Use a screwdriver to twist in a screw
  • Written Expression2.01.1Level 1 looks like: Write a note to remind someone to take food out of the freezer
  • Glare Sensitivity1.91.6Level 2 looks like: Drive on a familiar road on a cloudy day
  • Peripheral Vision1.90.9
  • Night Vision1.80.9
  • Sound Localization1.80.8
  • Dynamic Flexibility1.60.8
  • Explosive Strength1.60.9

Work activities

Kinds of activity the work is made of.

  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials4.34.8Level 4 looks like: Inspect equipment in a chemical processing plant
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards4.14.1Level 4 looks like: Evaluate a complicated insurance claim for compliance with policy terms
  • Getting Information4.13.5Level 4 looks like: Review a budget
  • Handling and Moving Objects4.15.6
  • Performing General Physical Activities4.04.6Level 4 looks like: Paint the outside of a house
  • Thinking Creatively4.04.8Level 4 looks like: Adapt popular music for a high school marching band
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events3.94.4Level 4 looks like: Judge the suitability of food products for an event
  • Controlling Machines and Processes3.83.8Level 4 looks like: Operate a drilling rig
Show all 41
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems3.84.8Level 4 looks like: Select the location for a major retail store
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge3.64.2Level 4 looks like: Keep current on changes in maintenance procedures for repairing sports cars
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates3.53.6Level 4 looks like: Report the results of a sales meeting to a supervisor
  • Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People3.54.2Level 4 looks like: Determine the value of property lost in a fire
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment3.53.7Level 4 looks like: Change the oil on a tractor
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships3.43.4Level 4 looks like: Maintain good working relationships with almost all coworkers and clients
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work3.43.6Level 4 looks like: Plan and adjust a personal to-do list according to changing demands
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information3.33.2Level 4 looks like: Estimate the time required to evacuate a city in the event of a major disaster
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings3.34.6Level 4 looks like: Test electrical circuits
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment3.32.8
  • Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others3.23.5Level 4 looks like: Organize the cleanup crew after a major sporting event
  • Developing Objectives and Strategies3.24.0Level 4 looks like: Develop the plan to complete the merger of two organizations over a 3-year period
  • Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates3.23.6Level 4 looks like: Manage a small team of employees in a dynamic workplace
  • Assisting and Caring for Others3.13.8Level 4 looks like: Help a medical patient find in-home assistance or healthcare
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public3.13.9Level 4 looks like: Sell shoes in a crowded shoe store
  • Processing Information3.13.1Level 4 looks like: Calculate the adjustments for insurance claims
  • Scheduling Work and Activities3.13.4Level 4 looks like: Prepare the work schedule for salesclerks in a large retail store
  • Providing Consultation and Advice to Others3.02.4Level 1 looks like: Work in a position that requires little advising of others
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others2.82.3Level 1 looks like: Interpret a blood pressure reading
  • Monitoring and Controlling Resources2.83.0Level 4 looks like: Work as a chef responsible for ordering food for the menu
  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment2.72.3Level 1 looks like: Specify the lighting for a work area
  • Training and Teaching Others2.71.7Level 1 looks like: Give coworkers brief instructions on a simple procedural change
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization2.62.2Level 1 looks like: Have little contact with people outside the organization
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others2.62.4Level 1 looks like: Apologize to a customer who complains about waiting too long
  • Developing and Building Teams2.51.9Level 1 looks like: Encourage two coworkers to stick with a tough assignment
  • Analyzing Data or Information2.41.4Level 1 looks like: Skim a short article to gather the main point
  • Coaching and Developing Others2.41.7Level 1 looks like: Show a coworker how to operate a piece of equipment
  • Performing Administrative Activities2.41.8Level 1 looks like: Complete routine paperwork
  • Documenting/Recording Information2.32.1Level 1 looks like: Record the weight of a patient during a routine health exam
  • Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment2.31.7Level 1 looks like: Use display settings to adjust a television picture
  • Selling or Influencing Others2.31.9Level 1 looks like: Convince a coworker to assist with an assignment
  • Working with Computers2.11.6Level 1 looks like: Enter employee information into a database
  • Staffing Organizational Units1.91.6Level 1 looks like: Work in a position that has minimal staffing requirements

Work context

The conditions most characteristic of the work, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale.

  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets5.0
  • Contact With Others4.6
  • Exposed to Contaminants4.6
  • Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable4.6
  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.6
  • Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls4.6
  • Exposed to Hazardous Equipment4.5
  • Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team4.4
  • Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures4.2
  • Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results4.2

Technology

3 tools

Software used in this work. In demand: among the tools job postings for this occupation name most. Hot: often named in job postings across the economy.

Hot (3)

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Word

Related occupations

O*NET's own list of the occupations most related to this one, closest first.

  1. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
  2. Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
  3. Helpers--Electricians
  4. Helpers--Carpenters
  5. Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons
  6. Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
  7. Boilermakers
  8. Pipelayers
  9. Helpers--Extraction Workers
  10. Helpers--Roofers

ESCO equivalents

From the official ESCO–O*NET crosswalk, strongest match first. A broader occupation takes in this one; a narrower one is a part of it.

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. ESCO occupations and skills are from the European Commission's ESCO classification, and the occupation crosswalk is the official ESCO–O*NET mapping by the ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA. This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission. BlissPoint Analytics has modified all or some of this information: skill, task and descriptor ratings are rounded to one decimal, and ESCO occupations show Job Zone and interests copied from a crosswalked O*NET occupation. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.