Pipe fitter demographics and statistics in the US
Pipe fitter demographics research summary. Zippia estimates pipe fitter demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our pipe fitter estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about pipe fitters after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 89,141 pipe fitters currently employed in the United States.
- 3.8% of all pipe fitters are women, while 96.2% are men.
- The average pipe fitter age is 41 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of pipe fitters is White (63.4%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (20.1%), Black or African American (9.4%) and Unknown (4.2%).
- Pipe fitters are most in-demand in Moss Point, MS.
- The construction industry is the highest-paying for pipe fitters.
- 2% of all pipe fitters are LGBT.
On this page
Pipe fitter demographics by:
Pipe fitter gender statistics
3.8% of pipe fitters are women and 96.2% of pipe fitters are men.
- Male, 96.2%
- Female, 3.8%
Pipe fitter gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 96.2% |
| Female | 3.8% |
Pipe fitter gender pay gap
Women earn $1.01 for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$50,868
Female income
$51,171
Pipe fitter gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in pipe fitter positions over time. Currently, 3.8% of pipe fitters are female.
Pipe fitter gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 97.50% | 2.50% |
| 2011 | 97.84% | 2.16% |
| 2012 | 97.35% | 2.65% |
| 2013 | 96.62% | 3.38% |
| 2014 | 97.32% | 2.68% |
| 2015 | 97.60% | 2.40% |
| 2016 | 96.91% | 3.09% |
| 2017 | 97.97% | 2.03% |
| 2018 | 96.44% | 3.56% |
| 2019 | 96.73% | 3.27% |
| 2020 | 96.24% | 3.76% |
| 2021 | 96.20% | 3.80% |
Pipe fitter related jobs gender ratio
We compared pipe fitters with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, water softener installer and insulation worker have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Composition Floor Setter | 34% | 66% |
| Pipe Fitter | 96% | 4% |
| Gas Fitter | 97% | 3% |
| Insulation Worker | 97% | 2% |
| Water Softener Installer | 97% | 3% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Pipe fitter demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among pipe fitters is White, which makes up 63.4% of all pipe fitters. Comparatively, 20.1% of pipe fitters are Hispanic or Latino and 9.4% of pipe fitters are Black or African American.
- White, 63.4%
- Hispanic or Latino, 20.1%
- Black or African American, 9.4%
- Unknown, 4.2%
- Asian, 1.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
Pipe fitter race
| Pipe fitter race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 63.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 20.1% |
| Black or African American | 9.4% |
| Unknown | 4.2% |
| Asian | 1.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.0% |
Pipe fitter race and ethnicity over time
See how pipe fitter racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Pipe fitter race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 69.20% | 10.47% | 1.33% | 15.79% |
| 2011 | 68.17% | 10.51% | 1.68% | 16.60% |
| 2012 | 67.49% | 11.03% | 1.50% | 16.98% |
| 2013 | 68.89% | 10.36% | 1.30% | 16.36% |
| 2014 | 67.76% | 10.81% | 1.38% | 17.22% |
| 2015 | 67.71% | 10.59% | 1.50% | 17.49% |
| 2016 | 66.62% | 10.53% | 1.53% | 18.38% |
| 2017 | 67.08% | 10.62% | 1.55% | 17.90% |
| 2018 | 67.08% | 9.90% | 1.34% | 18.59% |
| 2019 | 68.32% | 9.55% | 1.87% | 17.33% |
| 2020 | 65.72% | 9.91% | 1.94% | 17.26% |
| 2021 | 63.40% | 9.39% | 1.87% | 20.08% |
Pipe fitter wage gap by race
According to our data, white pipe fitters have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Hispanic or latino pipe fitters have the lowest average salary at $50,066.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $51,328 |
| White | $52,258 |
| Black or African American | $50,219 |
| Asian | $50,500 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $50,066 |
Average pipe fitter age
See how the average age of pipe fitters varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Pipe fitter age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 45 | |
| Unknown | 39 | |
| Asian | 43 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 39 | |
| White | 41 | 44 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 42 |
Pipe fitter age breakdown
The average age of pipe fitters is 40+ years years old, representing 55% of the pipe fitter population.
Pipe fitter age breakdown
| Pipe Fitter Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 55% |
| 30-40 years | 27% |
| 20-30 years | 18% |
Pipe fitter educational attainment
The most common degree for pipe fitters is high school diploma, with 51% of pipe fitters earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 17% and associate degree degree at 13%.
- High School Diploma, 51%
- Associate, 17%
- Bachelor's, 13%
- Diploma, 11%
- Other Degrees, 8%
Pipe fitters by degree level
| Pipe fitter degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 51% |
| Associate | 17% |
| Bachelor's | 13% |
| Diploma | 11% |
| Other Degrees | 8% |
Pipe fitter jobs you might like
Pipe fitter wage gap by degree level
According to the data, pipe fitters with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $53,372 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, pipe fitters earn a median annual income of $51,465 compared to $50,633 for pipe fitters with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $50,633 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $51,465 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $53,372 |
Pipe fitter employment statistics
Most pipe fitters work for a private in the construction industry.
Company size where pipe fitters work
Below, you can see the size of companies where pipe fitters work.
Pipe fitter jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 7% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 15% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 24% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 15% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 25% |
| > 10,000 employees | 13% |
Pipe fitter jobs by company type
Employees with the pipe fitter job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most pipe fitters prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Pipe fitter jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 0% |
| Public | 12% |
| Private | 86% |
| Government | 2% |
Pipe fitter jobs by industry
The most common industries for pipe fitters are construction, manufacturing and energy.
Pipe fitter industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Construction | 37% |
| Manufacturing | 9% |
| Professional | 9% |
| Energy | 9% |
| Fortune 500 | 7% |
| Technology | 5% |
| Retail | 4% |
| Media | 2% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Government | 2% |
| Automotive | 2% |
| Utilities | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Insurance | 2% |
| Health Care | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
Pipe fitter turnover and employment statistics
Pipe fitter unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for pipe fitters between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Pipe fitter unemployment rate by year
| Year | Pipe fitter unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 16.79% |
| 2011 | 15.00% |
| 2012 | 11.39% |
| 2013 | 9.55% |
| 2014 | 7.35% |
| 2015 | 5.14% |
| 2016 | 5.26% |
| 2017 | 4.56% |
| 2018 | 3.84% |
| 2019 | 3.70% |
| 2020 | 5.64% |
| 2021 | 6.78% |
Average pipe fitter tenure
The average pipe fitter stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 11,454 pipe fitters resumes in Zippia's database.
Pipe fitter tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 41% |
| 1-2 years | 31% |
| 3-4 years | 10% |
| 5-7 years | 9% |
| 8-10 years | 3% |
| 11+ years | 6% |
Pipe fitter LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of pipe fitters that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Chimney Builder | 1.40% | 2,863 |
| Sheet Rocker | 1.75% | 2,173 |
| Pipe Fitter | 2.08% | - |
| Connection Worker | 2.24% | 22,982 |
| Inside Wireman | 2.76% | 25,856 |
| Granite Installer | 3.39% | 15,088 |
| Sheet Metal Supervisor | 4.07% | 3,908 |
Similar pipe fitter jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Chimney Builder | 1.40% | 2,863 |
| Sheet Rocker | 1.75% | 2,173 |
| Connection Worker | 2.24% | 22,982 |
| Inside Wireman | 2.76% | 25,856 |
| Granite Installer | 3.39% | 15,088 |
| Sheet Metal Supervisor | 4.07% | 3,908 |
Foreign languages spoken by pipe fitters
The most common foreign language among pipe fitters is Spanish at 82.4%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Carrier at 5.4% and Portuguese is the third-most popular at 2.7%.
- Spanish, 82.4%
- Carrier, 5.4%
- Portuguese, 2.7%
- French, 2.7%
- Dakota, 2.7%
- Other, 4.1%
Pipe fitter languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 82.4% |
| Carrier | 5.4% |
| Portuguese | 2.7% |
| French | 2.7% |
| Dakota | 2.7% |
| Other | 4.1% |
