A pipelayer (or pipe-layer or drain layer) is a

skilled tradesman A tradesman, tradeswoman, or tradesperson is a skilled worker that specializes in a particular trade (occupation or field of work). Tradesmen usually have work experience, on-the-job training, and often formal vocational education in contrast to ...

who lays pipe, such as for

storm sewer A storm drain, storm sewer (United Kingdom, U.S. and Canada), surface water drain/sewer (United Kingdom), or stormwater drain ( Australia and New Zealand) is infrastructure designed to drain excess rain and ground water from impervious surface ...

s, sanitary sewers, drains, and water mains.47-2151 Pipelayers: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2014

Bureau of Labor Statistics The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a unit of the United States Department of Labor. It is the principal fact-finding agency for the U.S. government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics and serves as a principal agency of t ...

, United States Department of Labor. Pipelayers may grade (i.e., level) trenches and

culvert A culvert is a structure that channels water past an obstacle or to a subterranean waterway. Typically embedded so as to be surrounded by soil, a culvert may be made from a pipe, reinforced concrete or other material. In the United Kingdom ...

s, position pipe, or seal joints. The Standard Occupational Classification System code for pipelayers is 47-2151. The

of the United States Department of Labor estimated that there were 41,080 pipelayers in the United States in May 2014, earning a median hourly wage of $17.38 and a median annual wage of $37,000. (The BLS definition of pipelayer excludes welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers). Pipelayers most commonly work in the utility system construction, building construction, and highway, street, and bridge construction sectors. Among U.S. states, Alabama and North Dakota have the highest concentration of pipelaying jobs. Pipelayers should not be confused with pipefitters. Both trades involve pipe and valves and both use some of the same tools.Will Charpentier
Pipe Layers vs. Pipe Fitters
Demand Media. However, ''pipelayers'' usually work outside, laying pipe underground or on the seabed, while ''pipefitters'' typically work inside, installing piping in buildings or ships. One author summarizes the different tasks this way:

References

{{reflist Construction trades workers Industrial occupations

See also

References