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Date: 04/29/2025

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Help plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, or pipelayers by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.

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    Work Activities

    Work Activities

    • Cut or drill holes in walls or floors to accommodate the passage of pipes.
    • Cut or drill holes in walls or floors to accommodate the passage of pipes.
    • Excavate and grade ditches, and lay and join pipe for water and sewer service.
    • Fit or assist in fitting valves, couplings, or assemblies to tanks, pumps, or systems, using hand tools.
    • Immerse pipe in chemical solution to remove dirt, oil, and scale.
    • Cut pipe and lift up to fitters.
    • Assist pipe fitters in the layout, assembly, and installation of piping for air, ammonia, gas, and water systems.
    • Requisition tools and equipment, select type and size of pipe, and collect and transport materials and equipment to work site.
    • Disassemble and remove damaged or worn pipe.
    • Requisition tools and equipment, select type and size of pipe, and collect and transport materials and equipment to work site.
    • Requisition tools and equipment, select type and size of pipe, and collect and transport materials and equipment to work site.
    • Measure, cut, thread and assemble new pipe, placing the assembled pipe in hangers or other supports.
    • Install gas burners to convert furnaces from wood, coal, or oil.
    • Cut pipe and lift up to fitters.
    • Excavate and grade ditches, and lay and join pipe for water and sewer service.
    • Clean and renew steam traps.
    • Mount brackets and hangers on walls and ceilings to hold pipes, and set sleeves or inserts to provide support for pipes.
    • Measure, cut, thread and assemble new pipe, placing the assembled pipe in hangers or other supports.
    • Measure, cut, thread and assemble new pipe, placing the assembled pipe in hangers or other supports.
    • Fit or assist in fitting valves, couplings, or assemblies to tanks, pumps, or systems, using hand tools.
    • Perform rough-ins, repair and replace fixtures and water heaters, and locate, repair, or remove leaking or broken pipes.
    • Clean shop, work area, and machines, using solvent and rags.
    • Fill pipes with sand or resin to prevent distortion, and hold pipes during bending and installation.
    • Clean and renew steam traps.

    Skills

    • Systems Analysis

      Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.

    • Equipment Selection

      Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.

    • Social Perceptiveness

      Understanding people's reactions.

    • Negotiation

      Bringing people together to solve differences.

    • Instructing

      Teaching people how to do something.

    • Technology Design

      Making equipment and technology useful for customers.

    • Systems Evaluation

      Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.

    • Complex Problem Solving

      Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

    • Critical Thinking

      Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

    • Operation and Control

      Using equipment or systems.

    • Repairing

      Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.

    • Equipment Maintenance

      Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.

    • Science

      Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.

    • Operations Monitoring

      Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.

    • Quality Control Analysis

      Testing how well a product or service works.

    • Reading Comprehension

      Reading work-related information.

    • Active Listening

      Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

    • Monitoring

      Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.

    • Troubleshooting

      Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.

    • Mathematics

      Using math to solve problems.

    • Active Learning

      Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.

    • Management of Financial Resources

      Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.

    • Persuasion

      Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.

    • Installation

      Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.

    • Judgment and Decision Making

      Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.

    • Coordination

      Changing what is done based on other people's actions.

    • Management of Material Resources

      Managing equipment and materials.

    • Learning Strategies

      Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.

    • Speaking

      Talking to others.

    • Programming

      Writing computer programs.

    • Management of Personnel Resources

      Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.

    • Time Management

      Managing your time and the time of other people.

    • Writing

      Writing things for co-workers or customers.

    • Service Orientation

      Looking for ways to help people.

    • Operations Analysis

      Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.

    WorkKeys®

    Applied Math
    3
    Workplace Documents
    3
    Graphic Literacy
    4

    Abilities

    • Reaction Time

      Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.

    • Wrist-Finger Speed

      Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.

    • Visual Color Discrimination

      Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.

    • Static Strength

      Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.

    • Speed of Closure

      Quickly knowing what you are looking at.

    • Hearing Sensitivity

      Telling the difference between sounds.

    • Gross Body Coordination

      Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.

    • Peripheral Vision

      Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.

    • Trunk Strength

      Using your lower back and stomach.

    • Far Vision

      Seeing details that are far away.

    • Gross Body Equilibrium

      Keeping your balance or staying upright.

    • Speech Clarity

      Speaking clearly.

    • Written Comprehension

      Reading and understanding what is written.

    • Oral Comprehension

      Listening and understanding what people say.

    • Number Facility

      Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.

    • Spatial Orientation

      Knowing where things are around you.

    • Response Orientation

      Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.

    • Time Sharing

      Doing two or more things at the same time.

    • Sound Localization

      Noticing the direction that a sound came from.

    • Information Ordering

      Ordering or arranging things.

    • Inductive Reasoning

      Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.

    • Manual Dexterity

      Holding or moving items with your hands.

    • Multilimb Coordination

      Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.

    • Control Precision

      Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.

    • Speech Recognition

      Recognizing spoken words.

    • Extent Flexibility

      Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.

    • Speed of Limb Movement

      Quickly moving your arms and legs.

    • Dynamic Strength

      Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.

    • Written Expression

      Communicating by writing.

    • Oral Expression

      Communicating by speaking.

    • Problem Sensitivity

      Noticing when problems happen.

    • Deductive Reasoning

      Using rules to solve problems.

    • Selective Attention

      Paying attention to something without being distracted.

    • Arm-Hand Steadiness

      Keeping your arm or hand steady.

    • Depth Perception

      Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.

    • Glare Sensitivity

      Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.

    • Auditory Attention

      Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.

    • Visualization

      Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.

    • Near Vision

      Seeing details up close.

    • Originality

      Creating new and original ideas.

    • Fluency of Ideas

      Coming up with lots of ideas.

    • Finger Dexterity

      Putting together small parts with your fingers.

    • Mathematical Reasoning

      Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.

    • Category Flexibility

      Grouping things in different ways.

    • Dynamic Flexibility

      Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.

    • Explosive Strength

      Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.

    • Perceptual Speed

      Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.

    • Rate Control

      Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.

    • Stamina

      Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.

    • Memorization

      Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.

    • Flexibility of Closure

      Seeing hidden patterns.

    • Night Vision

      Seeing at night or under low light.

    Knowledge

    • Philosophy and Theology

      Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.

    • Public Safety and Security

      Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

    • Biology

      Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

    • Administrative

      Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

    • Psychology

      Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

    • Physics

      Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.

    • History and Archeology

      Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.

    • Economics and Accounting

      Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

    • Mechanical

      Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

    • Computers and Electronics

      Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

    • Building and Construction

      Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

    • Geography

      Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.

    • Law and Government

      Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

    • Customer and Personal Service

      Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

    • Engineering and Technology

      Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

    • Sociology and Anthropology

      Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.

    • Communications and Media

      Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

    • Transportation

      Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

    • Production and Processing

      Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

    • Food Production

      Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.

    • Personnel and Human Resources

      Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

    • Mathematics

      Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

    • English Language

      Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

    • Foreign Language

      Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.

    • Medicine and Dentistry

      Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

    • Design

      Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

    • Chemistry

      Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

    • Telecommunications

      Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

    • Administration and Management

      Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

    • Fine Arts

      Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.

    • Sales and Marketing

      Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

    • Education and Training

      Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

    • Therapy and Counseling

      Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

    Career Video

    Video not available
    Additional videos and more information available on CareerOneStop

    Pay

    • Ohio Annual Salary 34690/yr
    • Typical Salary
    • Ohio Hourly Wage 16.68/hr
    • Typical Hourly Wage

    Ohio Employment Trends

    • Currently Employed 560
    • Yearly Projected Openings 60

    Typical Education

    Personality

    Realistic: People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.They do well at jobs that need:
    • Attention to Detail
    • Cooperation
    • Persistence
    • Integrity
    • Initiative
    • Adaptability/Flexibility

    Tools

    • Adjustable widemouth pliers
    • Adjustable wrenches
    • Air compressors
    • Alternating current AC arc welder
    • Augers
    • Backhoes
    • Ball peen hammer
    • Bandsaw wheel
    • Bench vises
    • Blocks or pulleys
    • Blow torch
    • Bolt cutters
    • Boring or sinking machinery
    • Box end wrenches
    • Calipers
    • Caulking guns
    • Circuit tracers
    • Compactors
    • Deburring tool
    • Detection apparatus for non metallic objects
    • Dewatering pumps
    • Diagonal cut pliers
    • Diaphragm pumps
    • Digital camcorders or video cameras
    • Direct current DC arc welder
    • Drain or pipe cleaning equipment
    • Drain or toilet plunger
    • Dredgers
    • Drill press or radial drill
    • Dump trucks
    • Explosimeters
    • Flat hand file
    • Flow sensors
    • Fluid regulators
    • Forklifts
    • Gas detectors
    • Gas generators
    • Gas welding or brazing or cutting apparatus
    • Graders
    • Hacksaw
    • Hammer drills
    • Hand reamer
    • Hex keys
    • Hoists
    • Hole saws
    • Hose cutter
    • Hydraulic truck cranes
    • Impact hammers
    • Impact wrenches
    • Industrial threading die
    • Inspection mirror
    • Integrated tool carriers
    • Jacks
    • Ladders
    • Laser measuring systems
    • Leak testing equipment
    • Level sensors or transmitters
    • Levels
    • Light trucks or sport utility vehicles
    • Liquid leak detectors
    • Locking pliers
    • Manlift or personnel lift
    • Metal band sawing machine
    • Metal detectors
    • Metal inert gas welding machine
    • Metal markers or holders
    • Moisture meters
    • Mud pumps
    • Nut drivers
    • Offset socket wrenches
    • Ohmmeters
    • Oil gun
    • Open end wrenches
    • Pipe bending mandrel
    • Pipe bending tools
    • Pipe extractors
    • Pipe layer
    • Pipe or tube cutter
    • Pipe reamer
    • Pipe vises
    • Pipe wrenches
    • Pneumatic drill
    • Pneumatic grinders
    • Pneumatic hammer
    • Pneumatic sanding machines
    • Power drills
    • Power flaring tool
    • Power grinders
    • Power saws
    • Power screwguns
    • Pressure indicators
    • Pressure or steam cleaners
    • Pry bars
    • Pullers
    • Ratchets
    • Round file
    • Safety harnesses or belts
    • Scaffolding
    • Screwdrivers
    • Sewage pumps
    • Sheet metal grooving machine
    • Shielded metal arc welding or stick welding machine
    • Shovels
    • Sledge hammer
    • Slings
    • Slip or groove joint pliers
    • Soldering iron
    • Specialty wrenches
    • Spot welding machine
    • Square file
    • Staple guns
    • Strap wrenches
    • Sump pumps
    • Swaging tools
    • Tachometers
    • Tampers
    • Tape measures
    • Tapping machine attachment
    • Thermographs
    • Threading die hand tool
    • Threading machine
    • Tinners snips
    • Tongs
    • Torx keys
    • Tracer or duplicating or contouring lathe
    • Track excavators
    • Track loaders
    • Trenching machines
    • Tube end finisher
    • Tungsten inert gas welding machine
    • Two way radios
    • Vacuum gauges
    • Vibration testers
    • Voltage or current meters
    • Water pumps
    • Water samplers
    • Welder torch
    • Welding masks
    • Wheel bulldozers
    • Wheel loaders
    • Winches
    • Wire brushes
    • Wire or cable cutter

    Technology

    • Office suite software
    • Spreadsheet software
    • Word processing software
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