How to hire a pipe foreman

How to hire a pipe foreman, step by step

Here's a step-by-step pipe foreman hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a pipe foreman job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new pipe foreman
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the pipe foreman you need to hire. Certain pipe foreman roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect pipe foreman also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents pipe foreman salaries for various positions.

   Type of Pipe Foreman	Description	Hourly rate
   Pipe Foreman	Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters install and repair pipes that carry liquids or gases to, from, and within businesses, homes, and factories.	$18-30
   Mason	A mason is responsible for shaping artificial mineral products, concrete blocks, stone pieces, and bricks to create structures essential for construction or other building purposes using various machinery and equipment, following the highest safety standards and production procedures. Masons analyze schematics and blueprints, applying the clients' specifications and customization to their product expertise... Show more	$13-32
   Journeyman Carpenter	Journeyman carpenters perform carpentry work in buildings and repair structures and elements, primarily by using wood and metal. Journeyman carpenters work directly in a team while reporting to a foreman... Show more	$17-30

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Hand Tools
   • OSHA
   • Ladders
   • Construction Sites
   • Pipe Systems
   • Storm Sewer
   • Water Lines
   • Water Mains
   • Excavations
   • PVC
   • Isometric Drawings
   • Pipe Supports
   • Safety Standards
   • Underground Utilities

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Use hoists and cranes to lift work pieces to machines and manage work with little supervision.
   • Maintain a safe work environment ensuring that workers follow safety rules in accordance with client and OSHA.
   • Install HVAC systems, building control systems.
   • Form cast iron and PVC roof drains, sewer drains.
   • Set up equipment for welds with SMAW, TIG and brazing processes.
   • Work in full alkaline gear while doing demo and installation contaminate lines.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your pipe foreman job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A pipe foreman can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, pipe foremen' average salary in hawaii is 43% less than in minnesota.
   • Seniority. Entry-level pipe foremen 41% less than senior-level pipe foremen.
   • Certifications. A pipe foreman with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a pipe foreman's salary.

   Average pipe foreman salary

   $49,468yearly

   $23.78 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level pipe foreman salary

   $38,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

4. Writing a pipe foreman job description

   A job description for a pipe foreman role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a pipe foreman job description:

   Pipe foreman job description example

   Lehigh Valley Division, a part of H&K Group, Inc., is looking for a Pipe foreman to direct the activities of workers concerned with construction of highways, pipelines, or other construction projects. Why work for H&K Group, Inc.? Competitive salary commensurate with experience 100% Company-paid Health Benefits 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan Tuition reimbursement programs available to qualifying employees for approved programs Additional training programs including on the job, online through H&K Academy, manufacturer offered training, and more
   
   Responsibilities
   
   Essential Duties and Responsibilities Performs all work according to OSHA and H&K Safety policies Reads blueprints and job-related documents to properly plan work Records daily events in job diary Schedules materials, equipment, and work for the crew Develops crew SIP's and submits to site foreman Tracks daily quantities and submits to site foreman Conducts daily huddles with crew to establish daily production goals and ensures all members of crew know and buy into the plan for the day Communicates goals and purposes effectively Lead and demonstrate by example Influences and enforces company values Recognizes misalignments with company values and culture and rectifies Pro-actively trains and mentors crew members to enhance their skills and knowledge Communicates with customer representatives and inspectors in a courteously and professionally Performs all other duties of crew members as needed. Other duties as assigned
   
   Qualifications
   
   Required Skills, Education, and Experience Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university OR one year of related experience and/or training Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered Ability to read blueprints and job-related documents. Strong verbal and written communication skills Read, analyze, and interpret professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations Write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals Effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public Mathematical skills including probability and statistical inference, fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry Ability to apply concepts to practical situations Demonstrated leadership ability Problem solving Basic computer skills including Internet, email, and the use of digital cameras for work documentation Driver’s license and clean driving record Ability to fit test & utilize appropriate PPE as needed Ability to meet physical requirements (movement, lifting, as relevant to job) Preferred Skills, Education, and Experience Two years of related experience and/or training Supervisory experience OSHA or other relevant safety certifications Physical Demands Regularly required to stand, walk, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl Regularly use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms Regularly talk or hear Frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds Vision abilities include close, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception and ability to adjust focus Work Environment Regularly exposed to outside weather conditions Frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles Frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts Noise level is usually moderate H&K Group, Inc.’s (H&K’s) Lehigh Valley Division (formerly Lehigh Valley Site Contractors) has been a proud member of our heavy civil construction team since 1998. Strategically located just north of the City of Easton, PA, the Lehigh Valley Division provides complete heavy civil construction and contracting services to customers and clients throughout the Lehigh Valley, PA region, western NJ and beyond.
   
   H&K provides complete heavy civil contracting and construction materials solutions with safety, speed, quality, efficiency, and value. Beginning as a small family business a half century ago, we are now a dynamic group of vertically integrated companies that has been growing and prospering for 50 years. Thank you for your interest in employment with H&K Group, Inc. At H&K, we invest in our people, providing the essential training, instruction, and supervisory support that they need to develop and grow within our company. We acknowledge that our strength and success is directly related to our employees and the talents, dedication, and job performance they exemplify. We seek dynamic, motivated people who are driven to make a difference. H&K does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, veterans’ status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are always looking for the best, most qualified people to join our team. Pre-employment drug testing (EOE) Pre-employment Physical 100% Company-Paid Health Benefits!
   
   PI193993852

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right pipe foreman for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your pipe foreman job on Zippia to find and attract quality pipe foreman candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as constructionjobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting pipe foremen requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new pipe foreman

   Once you've decided on a perfect pipe foreman candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new pipe foreman. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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