GraduateSmart
GraduateSmart
No 4-year degree required — and that's a feature, not a fallback
Skilled trades typically start earning $45-75K straight out of high school with little or no debt. Many trades earn more than the median college grad by age 30. Look for paid apprenticeships (IBEW for electricians, UA for plumbers/pipefitters, local trade unions) — you earn while you learn instead of paying tuition.
$79K/yr
Average Salary
1 years
Years of Education
+4%
Job Growth
410K+
Total Jobs
Install and repair high-pressure pipes used in manufacturing and other industries.
$52K
Starting
$79K
Average
$105K
Senior
High School Diploma or GED
Foundation requirement for all pathways
Trade / Vocational Program
6–18 months of hands-on technical training
Apprenticeship or License
State licensing exam required for most trade careers
Start your career
Entry-level positions and internships
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ASME Section IX Welding Certification
Required to practiceAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Medical Gas Installer Certification (ASSE 6010)
Required to practiceAmerican Society of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE International)
UA Registered Apprenticeship Program
Required to practiceUnited Association of Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry (UA)
OSHA 10-Hour Construction
OSHA Outreach Training Program
Field
Trades & Skilled Labor
Required Degree
Trade / Vocational
Time in School
1 years
Job Demand
10-Year Job Growth
+4%
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Create free account →Federal labor-market data for Pipefitter
Pay range
$52K–$105K
10th–90th percentile
Job growth
+4%
projected 2024–2034
Number of jobs
410K
in 2024
Slower than average
Below-average demand growth expected. Projected to grow from 410K to 426K jobs by 2034.
Typical duties
Read the full duties, work environment, and education requirements on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Open BLS page →
Same SOC as Plumber (id 41): 47-2152. Pipefitters often industrial/commercial (LNG, refineries, data centers); upper end.