Plumbing and Pipefitting Helpers
Overview
Plumbing and pipefitting helpers work alongside skilled tradespeople to install, repair, and maintain water, gas, and sewer systems in buildings and infrastructure. You'll dig trenches, measure and cut pipes, assist with installations, and help repair everything from water heaters to complex piping systems using both traditional hand tools and modern equipment like pipe threading machines. This hands-on job requires physical strength and attention to detail, and many helpers use this role as a stepping stone to become licensed plumbers or pipefitters through apprenticeship programs. The work often involves collaborating with construction teams on job sites ranging from residential homes to large commercial projects.
Did you know?
This role requires significant physical stamina as workers frequently lift heavy materials, work in cramped spaces, and endure exposure to various weather conditions on construction sites.
At a Glance
Median Wage
$41,659.58 Avg/yr
Growth
Fast Growing
Top Skill
Complex Problem Solving
Key Responsibilities
- Requisition tools and equipment, select type and size of pipe, and collect and transport materials and equipment to work site.
- Excavate and grade ditches, and lay and join pipe for water and sewer service.
- Clean shop, work area, and machines, using solvent and rags.
- Perform rough-ins, repair and replace fixtures and water heaters, and locate, repair, or remove leaking or broken pipes.
- Disassemble and remove damaged or worn pipe.
- Install gas burners to convert furnaces from wood, coal, or oil.
- Mount brackets and hangers on walls and ceilings to hold pipes, and set sleeves or inserts to provide support for pipes.
- Assist pipe fitters in the layout, assembly, and installation of piping for air, ammonia, gas, and water systems.
- Clean and renew steam traps.
- 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.
- Cut or drill holes in walls or floors to accommodate the passage of pipes.
- Fill pipes with sand or resin to prevent distortion, and hold pipes during bending and installation.
- Measure, cut, thread and assemble new pipe, placing the assembled pipe in hangers or other supports.
Career Considerations
Physical Demands and Working Conditions
This role requires significant physical stamina as workers frequently lift heavy materials, work in cramped spaces, and endure exposure to various weather conditions on construction sites.
Apprenticeship and Career Advancement
Helper positions serve as entry points to formal apprenticeship programs that can lead to well-paying journeyman roles in plumbing, pipefitting, or steamfitting trades.
Job Security and Market Demand
The American construction and infrastructure maintenance sectors provide steady employment opportunities with strong job security due to ongoing demand for skilled trades workers.