Will “Piper” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

Job Description

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.

Job Details

• The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 47-2151.00
• The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 42,860.00
• The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 20.00
• Currently, there are 39,620 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Pipelayers”.

Also Known As…

• Pipelayers
• Waste Water Worker
• Tailman
• Skilled Laborer
• Pipelayer
• Pipe Foreman
• Pipe Crew Foreman
• Machine Operator
• Heavy Equipment Operator
• Equipment Operator
• Construction Laborer
• Water Main Pipe Layer
• Utility Pipe Layer
• Trench Pipe Layer
• Tile Conduit Layer
• Sewer Pipe Layer
• Sewer Connector
• Plumbing Technician
• Piper Installer
• Pipeman
• Pipelaying Fitter
• Pipe Wrapping Machine Operator
• Pipe Setter
• Pipe Liner
• Pipe Layer
• Pipe Installer
• Pipe Fitter
• Pipe Cutter
• Pipe Connector
• Pipe Caulker
• Pipe Assembly Worker
• Irrigation Technician
• Irrigation System Installer
• Fitter
• Drain Tiler
• Drain Layer
• Construction Worker
• Cast-Iron Drain Pipe Layer

Tasks for “Piper”

• Dig trenches to desired or required depths, by hand or using trenching tools.
• Install or repair sanitary or stormwater sewer structures or pipe systems.
• Cover pipes with earth or other materials.
• Connect pipe pieces and seal joints, using welding equipment, cement, or glue.
• Lay out pipe routes, following written instructions or blueprints and coordinating layouts with supervisors.
• Grade or level trench bases, using tamping machines or hand tools.
• Operate mechanized equipment, such as pickup trucks, rollers, tandem dump trucks, front-end loaders, or backhoes.
• Train or supervise others in laying pipe.
• Align and position pipes to prepare them for welding or sealing.
• Cut pipes to required lengths.
• Check slopes for conformance to requirements, using levels or lasers.
• Install or use instruments such as lasers, grade rods, or transit levels.
• Tap and drill holes into pipes to introduce auxiliary lines or devices.
• Locate existing pipes needing repair or replacement, using magnetic or radio indicators.

Related Technology & Tools

• Sand pumps
• Scaffolding
• Horizontal boring machines
• Voltmeters
• Laser printers
• Single-cut mill saw files
• Drill presses
• Tractors with backhoe attachments
• Round point shovels
• Wheel loaders
• Winches
• Excavators
• Graders
• Caulking guns
• Reciprocating pipe saws
• Pipeline jacks
• Manual screw jacks
• Wire tracers
• Pipe beveling machines
• Generators
• Aligning clamps
• Explosimeters
• Stationary grinders
• Roll groovers
• Water removal pumps
• Dredges
• Compactors
• Tungsten inert gas TIG welding equipment
• Shielded arc welding tools
• Ditch pumps
• Manual benders
• Block and tackle equipment
• Facing machines
• Null locators
• Air hammers
• Concrete saws
• Ladders
• Tapping machines
• Hand tampers
• Desktop computers
• Sledgehammers
• Offset socket wrench sets
• Notebook computers
• Forklifts
• Bevel grinding machines
• Power drills
• Framing squares
• Narrow mouth shovels
• Pipe bending mandrels
• Sandblasters
• Belting slings
• Pigs
• Cable plows
• Motor-driven grinders
• Personal computers
• Bulldozers
• Pressure testers
• Snakes
• Tractor pipe carrier attachments
• Track loaders
• Leak detection equipment
• Boring machines
• Combination squares
• Test pumps
• Hammers
• Pipe cutting machines
• Pry bars
• Metal inert gas MIG welders
• Ohmmeters
• Power saws
• Backhoes
• Cutting torches
• Portable welding machines
• Manlifts
• Pipe lasers
• Pipelayers
• Portable grinders
• Hydraulic cranes
• Fill pumps
• Pipe threaders
• Transit levels
• Trenchers
• Tractors with loader attachments
• Air compressors
• Powered tampers
• Motor-driven brushes
• Welding hoods
• Optical levels

• Word processing software
• Spreadsheet software