Pipelayers build operation and control, operations monitoring and quality control analysis skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (86%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | 86% | $49,880 | +2% | None |
| 2 | Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | 83% | $95,320 | +95% | None |
| 3 | Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | 83% | $42,360 | −14% | None |
| 4 | Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | 80% | $57,430 | +17% | None |
| 5 | Millwrights | 77% | $65,700 | +34% | None |
| 6 | Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers | 77% | $65,380 | +33% | None |
| 7 | Riggers | 76% | $62,640 | +28% | None |
| 8 | Rail Car Repairers | 76% | $67,530 | +38% | None |
| 9 | Helpers--Roofers | 76% | $44,160 | −10% | None |
| 10 | Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door | 76% | $74,340 | +52% | Certificate or associate |
Compared with Pipelayers, median $49,000. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as pipelayers (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
86% skill match · $49,880 · +2% pay
Operation and Control · Service Orientation · Operations Monitoring
83% skill match · $95,320 · +95% pay
Systems Analysis · Systems Evaluation · Management of Personnel Resources
83% skill match · $42,360 · −14% pay
Management of Material Resources · Service Orientation · Operations Analysis
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (86% skill match, median $49,880), Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers (83% skill match, median $95,320) and Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (83% skill match, median $42,360), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 17 pay more than pipelayers at the median. The biggest increases: Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers (+95%, $95,320), Roof Bolters, Mining (+60%, $78,540) and Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door (+52%, $74,340).
23 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.