Will “Pipelayers” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

Job Description

Lay pipe for storm or sanitation sewers, drains, and water mains. Perform any combination of the following tasks: grade trenches or culverts, position pipe, or seal joints.

Job Details

• The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 47-2151.00
• The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 42,860.00
• The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 20.00
• Currently, there are 39,620 people on this job

Also Known As…

• Waste Water Worker
• Tailman
• Skilled Laborer
• Pipelayer
• Pipe Foreman
• Pipe Crew Foreman
• Machine Operator
• Heavy Equipment Operator
• Equipment Operator
• Construction Laborer
• Water Main Pipe Layer
• Utility Pipe Layer
• Trench Pipe Layer
• Tile Conduit Layer
• Sewer Pipe Layer
• Sewer Connector
• Plumbing Technician
• Piper Installer
• Piper
• Pipeman
• Pipelaying Fitter
• Pipe Wrapping Machine Operator
• Pipe Setter
• Pipe Liner
• Pipe Layer
• Pipe Installer
• Pipe Fitter
• Pipe Cutter
• Pipe Connector
• Pipe Caulker
• Pipe Assembly Worker
• Irrigation Technician
• Irrigation System Installer
• Fitter
• Drain Tiler
• Drain Layer
• Construction Worker
• Cast-Iron Drain Pipe Layer

Tasks for “Pipelayers”

• Install or use instruments such as lasers, grade rods, or transit levels.
• Cover pipes with earth or other materials.
• Cut pipes to required lengths.
• Connect pipe pieces and seal joints, using welding equipment, cement, or glue.
• Train or supervise others in laying pipe.
• Locate existing pipes needing repair or replacement, using magnetic or radio indicators.
• Align and position pipes to prepare them for welding or sealing.
• Install or repair sanitary or stormwater sewer structures or pipe systems.
• Dig trenches to desired or required depths, by hand or using trenching tools.
• Tap and drill holes into pipes to introduce auxiliary lines or devices.
• Lay out pipe routes, following written instructions or blueprints and coordinating layouts with supervisors.
• Operate mechanized equipment, such as pickup trucks, rollers, tandem dump trucks, front-end loaders, or backhoes.
• Grade or level trench bases, using tamping machines or hand tools.
• Check slopes for conformance to requirements, using levels or lasers.

Related Technology & Tools

• Pipe threaders
• Air hammers
• Optical levels
• Manual screw jacks
• Reciprocating pipe saws
• Powered tampers
• Water removal pumps
• Test pumps
• Explosimeters
• Bulldozers
• Fill pumps
• Voltmeters
• Offset socket wrench sets
• Belting slings
• Air compressors
• Winches
• Tractors with loader attachments
• Drill presses
• Snakes
• Shielded arc welding tools
• Narrow mouth shovels
• Pipeline jacks
• Welding hoods
• Pipe lasers
• Framing squares
• Combination squares
• Trenchers
• Pipelayers
• Wheel loaders
• Motor-driven grinders
• Ladders
• Stationary grinders
• Manlifts
• Round point shovels
• Laser printers
• Backhoes
• Leak detection equipment
• Null locators
• Motor-driven brushes
• Generators
• Aligning clamps
• Portable grinders
• Personal computers
• Facing machines
• Tapping machines
• Hydraulic cranes
• Track loaders
• Manual benders
• Concrete saws
• Notebook computers
• Pry bars
• Hand tampers
• Dredges
• Tractors with backhoe attachments
• Ohmmeters
• Desktop computers
• Forklifts
• Cable plows
• Pressure testers
• Power drills
• Ditch pumps
• Metal inert gas MIG welders
• Transit levels
• Boring machines
• Portable welding machines
• Scaffolding
• Caulking guns
• Single-cut mill saw files
• Block and tackle equipment
• Bevel grinding machines
• Horizontal boring machines
• Sand pumps
• Wire tracers
• Tungsten inert gas TIG welding equipment
• Graders
• Tractor pipe carrier attachments
• Sandblasters
• Pipe bending mandrels
• Sledgehammers
• Cutting torches
• Excavators
• Hammers
• Roll groovers
• Pipe beveling machines
• Pigs
• Compactors
• Pipe cutting machines
• Power saws

• Spreadsheet software
• Word processing software