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Pipelayers

Lay pipe for storm or sanitation sewers, drains, and water mains. Perform any combination of the following tasks: grade trenches or culverts, position pipe, or seal joints.

What you’d do

  • Grade or level trench bases, using tamping machines or hand tools.
  • Dig trenches to desired or required depths, by hand or using trenching tools.
  • Cut pipes to required lengths.
  • Install or use instruments such as lasers, grade rods, or transit levels.
  • Cover pipes with earth or other materials.
  • Connect pipe pieces and seal joints, using welding equipment, cement, or glue.
  • Install or repair sanitary or stormwater sewer structures or pipe systems.
  • Check slopes for conformance to requirements, using levels or lasers.

Skills that matter

  • Operation and Control
  • Active Listening
  • Coordination
  • Critical Thinking
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Quality Control Analysis

How to get there

Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

Also called

  • Pipelayer
  • Tailman

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