Jobs Similar to Pipelayers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to pipelayers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters and Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers.
Pipelayers: $49,000 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Pipelayers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | 79% | $95,320+95% | High school |
| 2 | Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersSame group | 78% | $63,800+30% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers | 78% | $39,630−19% | High school |
| 4 | Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsSame group | 78% | $53,340+9% | High school |
| 5 | Commercial Divers | 78% | $72,990+49% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Millwrights | 77% | $65,700+34% | High school |
| 7 | Helpers--Electricians | 77% | $42,670−13% | High school |
| 8 | Solar Photovoltaic InstallersSame group | 77% | $53,140+8% | High school |
| 9 | Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door | 77% | $74,340+52% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Pile Driver OperatorsSame group | 76% | $73,300+50% | High school |
| 11 | Riggers | 76% | $62,640+28% | High school |
| 12 | Rail Car Repairers | 76% | $67,530+38% | High school |
| 13 | Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | 76% | $49,880+2% | High school |
| 14 | Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | 76% | $57,430+17% | High school |
| 15 | Helpers--Roofers | 76% | $44,160−10% | High school |
| 16 | RoofersSame group | 76% | $55,440+13% | High school |
| 17 | CarpentersSame group | 75% | $60,580+24% | High school |
| 18 | Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | 75% | $53,710+10% | High school |
| 19 | GlaziersSame group | 75% | $57,080+16% | High school |
| 20 | Sheet Metal WorkersSame group | 75% | $61,800+26% | High school |
- 1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
79% similar · $95,320 (+95%) · High school
- 2Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
78% similar · $63,800 (+30%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 3Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
78% similar · $39,630 (−19%) · High school
- 4Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
78% similar · $53,340 (+9%) · High school · Same group
- 5Commercial Divers
78% similar · $72,990 (+49%) · Training or associate
- 6Millwrights
77% similar · $65,700 (+34%) · High school
- 7Helpers--Electricians
77% similar · $42,670 (−13%) · High school
- 8Solar Photovoltaic Installers
77% similar · $53,140 (+8%) · High school · Same group
- 9Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
77% similar · $74,340 (+52%) · Training or associate
- 10Pile Driver Operators
76% similar · $73,300 (+50%) · High school · Same group
- 11Riggers
76% similar · $62,640 (+28%) · High school
- 12Rail Car Repairers
76% similar · $67,530 (+38%) · High school
- 13Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
76% similar · $49,880 (+2%) · High school
- 14Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
76% similar · $57,430 (+17%) · High school
- 15Helpers--Roofers
76% similar · $44,160 (−10%) · High school
- 16Roofers
76% similar · $55,440 (+13%) · High school · Same group
- 17Carpenters
75% similar · $60,580 (+24%) · High school · Same group
- 18Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
75% similar · $53,710 (+10%) · High school
- 19Glaziers
75% similar · $57,080 (+16%) · High school · Same group
- 20Sheet Metal Workers
75% similar · $61,800 (+26%) · High school · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than pipelayers.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for pipelayers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where pipelayers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (86)
- Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (82)
- Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers (78)
- Helpers--Electricians (77)
- Helpers--Roofers (76)
- Helpers--Carpenters (75)
- Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installers (73)
- Mechanical Door Repairers (73)
- Highway Maintenance Workers (72)
Questions about jobs like pipelayers
What jobs are most similar to pipelayers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers (79% similar), Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (78% similar), Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers (78% similar), Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators (78% similar) and Commercial Divers (78% similar).
Which jobs like pipelayers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers ($95,320, +95%; usually a high school diploma), Control and Valve Installers and Repairers ($74,340, +52%; usually training or an associate degree) and Pile Driver Operators ($73,300, +50%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with pipelayers ($49,000). Without more preparation than pipelayers usually need: Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers, Pile Driver Operators and Rail Car Repairers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.