Jobs Similar to Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, Rail Car Repairers and Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers.
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters: $63,800 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
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. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | 81% | $61,010−4% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Rail Car Repairers | 81% | $67,530+6% | High school |
| 3 | Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | 80% | $95,320+49% | High school |
| 4 | Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers | 80% | $39,630−38% | High school |
| 5 | Solar Photovoltaic InstallersSame group | 79% | $53,140−17% | High school |
| 6 | Commercial Divers | 79% | $72,990+14% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Millwrights | 79% | $65,700+3% | High school |
| 8 | Helpers--Electricians | 79% | $42,670−33% | High school |
| 9 | PipelayersSame group | 78% | $49,000−23% | High school |
| 10 | Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | 78% | $109,910+72% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door | 78% | $74,340+17% | Training or associate |
| 12 | ElectriciansSame group | 78% | $63,190−1% | Training or associate |
| 13 | CarpentersSame group | 78% | $60,580−5% | High school |
| 14 | Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsSame group | 78% | $53,340−16% | High school |
| 15 | Riggers | 77% | $62,640−2% | High school |
| 16 | Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | 77% | $42,360−34% | High school |
| 17 | Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers | 77% | $56,210−12% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Sheet Metal WorkersSame group | 77% | $61,800−3% | High school |
| 19 | Mechanical Door Repairers | 76% | $55,720−13% | High school |
| 20 | Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians | 76% | $52,000−18% | High school |
- 1Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
81% similar · $61,010 (−4%) · Training or associate
- 2Rail Car Repairers
81% similar · $67,530 (+6%) · High school
- 3Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
80% similar · $95,320 (+49%) · High school
- 4Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
80% similar · $39,630 (−38%) · High school
- 5Solar Photovoltaic Installers
79% similar · $53,140 (−17%) · High school · Same group
- 6Commercial Divers
79% similar · $72,990 (+14%) · Training or associate
- 7Millwrights
79% similar · $65,700 (+3%) · High school
- 8Helpers--Electricians
79% similar · $42,670 (−33%) · High school
- 9Pipelayers
78% similar · $49,000 (−23%) · High school · Same group
- 10Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers
78% similar · $109,910 (+72%) · Training or associate
- 11Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
78% similar · $74,340 (+17%) · Training or associate
- 12Electricians
78% similar · $63,190 (−1%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 13Carpenters
78% similar · $60,580 (−5%) · High school · Same group
- 14Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
78% similar · $53,340 (−16%) · High school · Same group
- 15Riggers
77% similar · $62,640 (−2%) · High school
- 16Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
77% similar · $42,360 (−34%) · High school
- 17Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
77% similar · $56,210 (−12%) · Training or associate
- 18Sheet Metal Workers
77% similar · $61,800 (−3%) · High school · Same group
- 19Mechanical Door Repairers
76% similar · $55,720 (−13%) · High school
- 20Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians
76% similar · $52,000 (−18%) · High school
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 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters.
- Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers78% similar · $109,910 (+72%)
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers80% similar · $95,320 (+49%)
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door78% similar · $74,340 (+17%)
- Commercial Divers79% similar · $72,990 (+14%)
- Rail Car Repairers81% similar · $67,530 (+6%)
- Millwrights79% similar · $65,700 (+3%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Rail Car Repairers81% similar · High school
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers80% similar · High school
- Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers80% similar · High school
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers79% similar · High school
- Millwrights79% similar · High school
- Helpers--Electricians79% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (91)
- Commercial Divers (88)
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General (86)
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door (83)
- Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (82)
- Rail Car Repairers (80)
- Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers (79)
- Helpers--Electricians (78)
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (78)
- Machinists (76)
Questions about jobs like plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
What jobs are most similar to plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (81% similar), Rail Car Repairers (81% similar), Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers (80% similar), Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers (80% similar) and Solar Photovoltaic Installers (79% similar).
Which jobs like plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers ($109,910, +72%; usually training or an associate degree), Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers ($95,320, +49%; usually a high school diploma) and Control and Valve Installers and Repairers ($74,340, +17%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters ($63,800). Without more preparation than plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters usually need: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers, Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers and Control and Valve Installers and 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.