Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
What Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Do
Assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases. May install heating and cooling equipment and mechanical control systems. Includes sprinkler fitters.
See full salary breakdown & percentiles →
Career Outlook
National employment outlook, 2024–2034.
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Apprenticeship
- Self-employed
- 7.8%
Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.
How Much Preparation Does This Take?
Job Zone 3 of 5Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Job training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Source: O*NET Job Zones.
Key Knowledge Areas
Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.
- Building and Constructionimportance 4.3/5
- Mechanicalimportance 4.3/5
- Designimportance 3.8/5
- Mathematicsimportance 3.8/5
- Customer and Personal Serviceimportance 3.6/5
- Administration and Managementimportance 3.3/5
- Engineering and Technologyimportance 3.2/5
- Public Safety and Securityimportance 3.2/5
Work Environment
What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets4.9/5
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls4.8/5
- Spend Time Standing4.7/5
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.5/5
- Frequency of Decision Making4.5/5
- Exposed to Contaminants4.4/5
Careers With Similar Skills
Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators95% skill match
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers94% skill match
- Ship Engineers94% skill match
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators93% skill match
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers93% skill match
- Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers93% skill match
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians93% skill match
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators93% skill match
Transferable Skills
Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.
- Troubleshootingimportance 3.3/5
- Repairingimportance 3.3/5
- Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.3/5
- Coordinationimportance 3.0/5
- Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.0/5
- Operations Monitoringimportance 3.0/5
- Operation and Controlimportance 3.0/5
- Time Managementimportance 3.0/5
Software & Technologies
Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.
Hot Technologies
Other Software Used
- AEC Design Group CADPIPE
- Atlas Construction Business Forms
- Autodesk Building Systems
- Bentley Systems AutoPIPE
- Bookkeeping software
- COADE CAESAR II
- Database software
- Drawing and drafting software
Work Style
Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
- Perseverance
- Integrity
- Stress Tolerance
- Achievement Orientation
Career Interests
This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.
- RealisticHigh
- ConventionalMedium
- InvestigativeLow
- SocialLow
- ArtisticLow
- EnterprisingLow
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 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.
Where This Career Is Most Concentrated
Metro areas where plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).
- 1Kokomo, IN3.77× national avg
- 2Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA3.72× national avg
- 3St. Cloud, MN2.66× national avg
- 4Gulfport-Biloxi, MS2.61× national avg
- 5Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX2.55× national avg
Possible Career Moves
A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsCareer Change
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe CleanersLateral Move
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersCareer Change
- Solar Photovoltaic InstallersLateral Move
See the full career path from Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters →
Related Education Programs
Schools that offer related fields of study, based on the NCES CIP-SOC crosswalk — not a guarantee that graduates enter this specific career.