How to hire a piping designer

How to hire a piping designer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step piping designer hiring guide:

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

What does a piping designer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The piping designer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A piping designer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, piping designers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of piping designers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Piping Designer	Description	Hourly rate
   Piping Designer	Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and machines.	$17-44
   Mechanical Engineering Internship	One of the primary responsibilities in a mechanical engineering internship is to follow directives from engineers and managers while gaining practical experience. There are instances when an intern must take part in crafting various materials under the supervision of a more experienced colleague, produce reports and paperwork, operate tools and devices, and provide assistance should anyone need... Show more	$15-25
   Mechanical Engineer	Mechanical Engineers oversee the development of various mechanical devices in different industries. Most of the responsibilities will revolve around crafting, improving, or designing technologies by utilizing extensive expertise in the subject; they identify and detect errors, provide in-depth analysis, and resolve issues... Show more	$27-46

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Autocad
   • P Id
   • Equipment Layout
   • IDS
   • Refinery
   • Isometric Drawings
   • ISO
   • Navisworks
   • Petrochemicals
   • Pipe Supports
   • PDMS
   • Aided Design
   • Design Drawings
   • Flow Diagrams

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Communicate ownership responsibilities across department platforms to achieve 3D modeling of HVAC, steel & other equipment for project success.
   • Manage documentation of existing projects, perform ECN resolutions.
   • Develop detailed 2-D engineering drawings using AutoCad, PDMS,77494 and NavisWorks.
   • Create piping and instrumentation diagrams using AutoCAD.
   • General knowledge and use of NavisWorks program.
   • Used PDS to design and fix model.

   More piping designer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, piping designers' average salary in kansas is 57% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level piping designers 61% less than senior-level piping designers.
   • Certifications. A piping designer 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 piping designer's salary.

   Average piping designer salary

   $57,853yearly

   $27.81 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level piping designer salary

   $36,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

   Average piping designer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$115,604	$56
   2	Texas	$83,873	$40
   3	Oregon	$79,662	$38
   4	Arizona	$78,424	$38
   5	Pennsylvania	$72,769	$35
   6	West Virginia	$70,329	$34
   7	Virginia	$68,668	$33
   8	Utah	$67,870	$33
   9	Louisiana	$65,974	$32
   10	Colorado	$65,414	$31
   11	Michigan	$65,156	$31
   12	Rhode Island	$61,257	$29
   13	Florida	$60,166	$29
   14	Ohio	$59,539	$29
   15	Alabama	$58,612	$28
   16	Wisconsin	$57,490	$28
   17	Georgia	$57,291	$28
   18	North Carolina	$55,956	$27
   19	South Carolina	$53,829	$26
   20	Oklahoma	$53,325	$26

   Average piping designer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	e-Tech Solutions	$122,792	$59.03	2
   2	Hargrove Engineers + Constructors	$113,612	$54.62	17
   3	Technip USA Corporation	$109,440	$52.62
   4	Woods Services	$107,928	$51.89
   5	Burns & McDonnell	$107,537	$51.70	42
   6	Sargent & Lundy	$104,789	$50.38	353
   7	Orbital Engineering	$103,348	$49.69	50
   8	PEAK Technical Staffing USA	$99,926	$48.04
   9	The Dow Chemical Company	$99,835	$48.00
   10	CDI	$99,400	$47.79	5
   11	Fishbeck	$98,414	$47.31
   12	SSOE Group	$95,791	$46.05	7
   13	Farnsworth Group	$95,550	$45.94	12
   14	Nucor	$93,136	$44.78	4
   15	3M Company	$92,695	$44.56	2
   16	ENGlobal	$91,829	$44.15
   17	Merrick & Co	$91,270	$43.88	15
   18	Air Products	$90,426	$43.47	1
   19	KBR	$89,500	$43.03	13
   20	Stantec	$89,120	$42.85	219

4. Writing a piping designer job description

   A piping designer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a piping designer job description:

   Piping designer job description example

   Job DescriptionJob Description

   We have many excellent opportunities for Piping Designers with a minimum of 2 years’ experience to be a part of dynamic engineering and design teams on many diverse and challenging projects. Applicants are expected to have a good understanding of the fundamental principles of piping design and equipment layout and be proficient in AutoCAD and 3D piping design software. We are seeking applicants to apply their creativity and skills to a wide variety of projects in the exploration and production, transportation and storage, and refinery sectors of the oil and gas industry. There will be opportunities to lead your own small to medium sized projects as well as support larger efforts under the direction of more senior piping designers.

   Our workflow generally involves accurately capturing and documenting site conditions utilizing a variety of technologies including land surveying, 3D color laser scanning, UAV drone photogrammetry, GIS mapping, and record drawings. It then progresses to the engineering and design phases utilizing 3D piping and modeling software such as AutoCAD Plant 3D, Aveva, and CADWorx. Next is the client presentation and approval process involving the use of AutoCAD, Navisworks, ReCap, BloomCE, Revit, and Inventor to communicate the design intent. The final stages involve the development of construction and permitting drawings primarily utilizing AutoCAD and MicroStation to develop plans, sections, details, and piping isometrics. There are many exceptional opportunities to learn, grow, and sharpen your skills to advance into a more experienced designer and team leader.

   Job Requirements

   • 2+ years of experience in 3D plant design of industrial piping systems is required. Refinery and chemical design experience is preferred.
   • A strong proficiency with AutoCAD is required.
   • Proficiency with additional design software, including Civil 3D, Plant 3D, CADWorx, AVEVA E3D and Microstation is preferred.
   • Candidate must be able to communicate effectively with team members in both verbal and written form.
   • Drone experience and licensure is a benefit.
   • Formal training in piping design is preferred. Trade school or associates degree is preferred, or equivalent experience.
   • The ability to control small project budgets and schedules, while prioritizing multiple assignments, is required.
   • Valid driver’s license and clean driving record is required.
     
     

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find piping designers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any piping designers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level piping designers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your piping designer job on Zippia to find and recruit piping designer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with piping designer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 piping designer

   Once you've decided on a perfect piping designer 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.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new piping designer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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