How To Become A Pipe Fitter Helper: What It Is and Career Path

What is a pipe fitter helper and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Assistants or helpers usually have to perform various duties and the same is the case for pipe fitter helpers. These helpers assist pipefitters and plumbers in assembling and installing piping systems. They are also responsible for cleaning and maintaining tools, materials, and work areas. The other duties of these helpers are measuring, cutting, and removing damaged or worn pipe, mounting pipe supports, and drilling holes.

Only a small percentage of pipe fitter helpers have a bachelor's degree. Most enter this profession with a high school degree. Pipe fitter helpers have knowledge of hand tools, layout, safety procedures, stainless steel, or pipe systems. These helpers possess great communication skills and show proficiency in mathematics. Apart from that, they can easily differentiate between colors.

Pipe fitter helpers earn about $11 an hour and they make somewhere around $23,000 per annum. The career is expected to grow steadily. So, there will be more job openings for pipe fitter helpers in the coming years.

ScorePipe Fitter HelperUS Average

Salary

3.0

Avg. Salary $38,643

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.8

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.86%

Asian 1.83%

Black or African American 8.34%

Hispanic or Latino 24.87%

Unknown 4.05%

White 60.05%

Gender

female 11.69%

male 88.31%

Age - 41

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41

Stress level

7.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.5

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.4

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a pipe fitter helper

Explore pipe fitter helper education requirements

Most common pipe fitter helper degrees

High School Diploma

53.5 %

Associate

17.8 %

Diploma

13.4 %

Start to develop specific pipe fitter helper skills

Skills	Percentages
Hand Tools	31.89%
Safety Procedures	8.94%
Stainless Steel Pipe	6.06%
Carbon Steel	4.22%
Pneumatic Drills	3.17%

Complete relevant pipe fitter helper training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 4-10 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New pipe fitter helpers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a pipe fitter helper based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real pipe fitter helper resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed pipe fitter helper usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed pipe fitter helper in most of states. 26 states require pipe fitter helpers to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License url
Alabama	-	-	Certified Master Gas Fitter
Maryland	Specific course required	State exam required	GAS FITTER
Arkansas	Degree required	Both state and third-party exams required	Gas Fitter
Colorado	-	State exam required	Master Plumber
Connecticut	-	State exam required	Plumbing & Piping Unlimited Contractor

Research pipe fitter helper duties and responsibilities

Used industry tools such as cutting torches, pipe benders, levels, power grinders, screwdrivers.
Blind off towers to pull exchangers to be replace or repair.
Replace and reassemble gratings, ladders, handrails, and other disassemble structures after repairs are complete.
Maintain and repair pumps, compressors, heat exchangers, towers, tanks and many other plant components.

Prepare your pipe fitter helper resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your pipe fitter helper resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a pipe fitter helper resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable pipe fitter helper resume templates

Build a professional pipe fitter helper resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your pipe fitter helper resume.