What does a pipe fitter helper do?
Pipe fitter helpers enjoy salaries of around $22 per hour. They must have skills in dexterity, stamina, physical strength, teamwork, and the ability to follow directions. Those who choose this career path assist plumbers and pipefitters in piping system assemblage and installation, clean their work areas and tools, and remove worn or damaged pipe, and cut new pipe lengths.
Pipe fitter helper responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real pipe fitter helper resumes:
- 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.
- Learned to properly fit PVC and do leak and repair techniques for all pipe systems and some hydraulic lines.
- Coordinate work of sales, production and shipping departments to implement procurement of products in accordance with refinery needs.
- Work with stainless steel, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chlorinate polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) and various other metals.
- Assemble numerous valves for refinery pipelines.
- Work in refineries all over the country performing duties involve in unit turnarounds and projects for expansion.
- Set up face block, jigs, and fixtures.
- Complete JHA and JSA for every job.
- Construct JSA's (job safety analysis) for everyday job tasks.
- Perform routine repairs on pumps, furnaces, distillation columns and tanks.
- Tack on legs and pad eyes as needed drive wedges to push steel in or out
- Align parts in relation to each other, using jacks, turn buckles, clips, wedges and mauls.
Pipe fitter helper skills and personality traits
We calculated that 32% of Pipe Fitter Helpers are proficient in Hand Tools, Safety Procedures, and Stainless Steel Pipe. They’re also known for soft skills such as Color vision, Math skills, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Pipe Fitter Helpers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Hand Tools, 32%
Scissor lift operations, install hangers in roof, set up pipe on hangers, insulate pipe, use of hand tools
- Safety Procedures, 9%
Performed fire watch duties for welders, utilizing knowledge of correct safety procedures and equipment.
- Stainless Steel Pipe, 6%
Assisted Pipe fitter with off loading carbon steel and stainless steel pipe from flat bed trucks to staging area.
- Carbon Steel, 4%
Bevel and clean carbon steel and stainless pipes* also read iso prints* Hang and test pipes for leaks* Forklift
- Pneumatic Drills, 3%
Perform cuts or drills holes in walls to permit passage of pipes using a pneumatic drill.
- Drill Holes, 3%
Cut and drill holes for branch connections, operate bevel machine to cut pipe for fit-up.
Common skills that a pipe fitter helper uses to do their job include "hand tools," "safety procedures," and "stainless steel pipe." You can find details on the most important pipe fitter helper responsibilities below.
Communication skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of pipe fitter helpers is communication skills. This skill is critical to many everyday pipe fitter helper duties, as "plumbers must be able to direct workers, bid on jobs, and plan work schedules." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "worked in close communication with clients during installation process, to ensure needs were met. "
Dexterity. pipe fitter helper responsibilities often require "dexterity." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "plumbers must be able to maneuver parts and tools precisely, often in tight spaces." This resume example shows what pipe fitter helpers do with dexterity on a typical day: "used gas torch, mig welders, backhoe, boom lift and lull fork lifts. "
Troubleshooting skills. Another crucial skill for a pipe fitter helper to carry out their responsibilities is "troubleshooting skills." A big part of what pipe fitter helpers relies on this skill, since "plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters find, diagnose, and repair problems." How this skill relates to pipe fitter helper duties can be seen in an example from a pipe fitter helper resume snippet: "specialized in troubleshooting building management, automation and mechanical systems. "
Mechanical skills. While "mechanical skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to pipe fitter helper responsibilities. Much of what a pipe fitter helper does relies on this skill, seeing as "plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters choose from a variety of tools to assemble, maintain, and repair pipe systems." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of pipe fitter helpers: "supervised installation of commercial hvac systems that included pipes, wiring, and electromechanical control devices. "
The three companies that hire the most pipe fitter helpers are:
- Kiewit1 pipe fitter helpers jobs
- TIC Holdings Inc
1 pipe fitter helpers jobs
- Zachry Construction1 pipe fitter helpers jobs
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Compare different pipe fitter helpers
Pipe fitter helper vs. Journeyman ironworker
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a pipe fitter helper are more likely to require skills like "hand tools," "safety procedures," "stainless steel pipe," and "carbon steel." On the other hand, a job as a journeyman ironworker requires skills like "cranes," "bars," "rebar," and "steel beams." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
The education levels that journeyman ironworkers earn slightly differ from pipe fitter helpers. In particular, journeyman ironworkers are 1.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a pipe fitter helper. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Pipe fitter helper vs. Journeyman pipe welder
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that pipe fitter helper responsibilities requires skills like "pneumatic drills," "drill holes," "pipe welders," and "install valves." But a journeyman pipe welder might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "pipe systems," "tig welding," "grinders," and "aluminum."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Journeyman pipe welders tend to reach similar levels of education than pipe fitter helpers. In fact, they're 3.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Pipe fitter helper vs. Sprinkling system installer
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, pipe fitter helpers are more likely to have skills like "hand tools," "safety procedures," "stainless steel pipe," and "carbon steel." But a sprinkling system installer is more likely to have skills like "sprinkler systems," "fire protection," "nfpa," and "alarm systems."
Sprinkling system installers make a very good living in the health care industry with an average annual salary of $30,775. On the other hand, pipe fitter helpers are paid the highest salary in the construction industry, with average annual pay of $41,443.sprinkling system installers typically earn similar educational levels compared to pipe fitter helpers. Specifically, they're 1.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Pipe fitter helper vs. Sprinkler installer
Types of pipe fitter helper
Updated January 8, 2025
