Trade Career Comparison

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Pipefitter / Steamfitter

Install and maintain high-pressure piping systems for steam, chemicals, and gases in industrial settings.

$61,550/yr median

$36,700$102,530

Faster Than AvgHeavyUnion: HighEntry: Moderate

Training Path

4-5 year apprenticeship

Environment

Indoor/Outdoor

Outlook

Faster Than Avg (+6%)

BLS Code

47-2152

Pros

✓Excellent pay and benefits — pipefitters earn strong wages, especially in industrial settings like refineries, power plants, and pharmaceutical facilities.
✓Strong UA (United Association) union representation with outstanding pension and healthcare benefits.
✓Intellectually demanding work involving blueprint reading, precision measurement, hydraulic calculations, and complex system design.
✓Industrial pipefitting skills are in demand globally — opportunities exist in energy, chemical processing, shipbuilding, and more.
✓Less direct customer interaction than residential trades — you work on systems, not on individual homeowner complaints.

Cons

✗Industrial work environments can be harsh — refineries, power plants, and chemical facilities have strict safety protocols for good reason.
✗Shutdown and turnaround work (maintaining industrial facilities during planned outages) means intense periods of long hours and travel.
✗The apprenticeship is long (4-5 years) and the technical demands are high — pipefitting math and blueprint reading are not easy.
✗Exposure to hazardous materials in industrial settings — asbestos, chemical residues, and confined space hazards are part of the work.
✗Physical demands include working in confined spaces, at height, and handling heavy pipe sections.
✗Travel to job sites — especially for shutdown work — can mean weeks away from home.

What the Life Is Like

Pipefitters install and maintain the high-pressure piping systems that carry steam, chemicals, gases, and other substances in industrial facilities. The work requires precision — pipe runs must be measured and cut to exact specifications, and joints (welded, brazed, or threaded) must hold under extreme pressure and temperature. A pipefitter's day might involve reading isometric drawings, cutting and threading pipe, fitting and aligning pipe runs, and testing systems for leaks.

Schedules vary by sector. Pipefitters working in new industrial construction often work 50+ hour weeks to meet project timelines. Maintenance pipefitters at operating facilities may have more regular schedules. Shutdown/turnaround work — when an entire plant shuts down for maintenance — involves 10-12 hour days, 6-7 days a week for several weeks, but the pay is substantial. The culture is safety-conscious and technically oriented, with a strong emphasis on quality and precision.

Physically, pipefitting is heavy work. You lift and position pipe, work with wrenches that require significant force, and operate threading machines, pipe benders, and other equipment. The work environment in industrial facilities adds complexity — you may work in confined spaces, at height on scaffolding, or next to operating equipment. Despite the challenges, pipefitters take pride in building the hidden systems that make modern industry function.

How to Get Started

Apply to a UA (United Association) apprenticeship

The UA runs joint apprenticeship programs for pipefitters and steamfitters across the country. These are considered the premier training pathway and provide the best combination of education, wages, and benefits during training.

Prepare for the aptitude test and interview

UA apprenticeship applications include a math aptitude test (algebra, geometry, and spatial reasoning) and an interview. Study math fundamentals and practice spatial reasoning puzzles. Good scores make a significant difference in acceptance.

Complete the 4-5 year apprenticeship

Training combines 8,000-10,000 hours of on-the-job work with classroom instruction in piping systems, blueprint reading, welding, hydraulics, and safety. You will learn to work with various pipe materials (steel, copper, PVC, stainless) and joining methods.

Earn welding certifications

Most pipefitter programs include welding training. Earning pipe welding certifications (TIG and stick) significantly increases your value and earning potential. Industrial pipe welding is a highly compensated skill.

Specialize and advance

Experienced pipefitters can specialize in areas like medical gas systems, instrumentation, or high-purity piping for pharmaceutical and semiconductor facilities. Advancement into foreman, general foreman, or project management roles is common for those with leadership ability.

Felony Record & Licensing

Varies by State

Similar to plumbing — state licensing varies. Union apprenticeships may be more accessible than independent licensing.

Check your state's licensing board before enrolling in a program. Rules vary significantly.

Training Funding & Support

Pell Grants Are Available Again

As of July 2023, the FAFSA no longer asks about drug convictions. The FAFSA Simplification Act restored Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students. If a past drug conviction kept you from financial aid before, you can apply again.

WIOA Workforce Funding

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds free job training, career counseling, and supportive services (transportation, work clothes, childcare) for people reentering the workforce. Contact your local American Job Center (careeronestop.org) to see what's available in your area.

Ban-the-Box & Fair Chance Hiring

Over 37 states and 150+ cities have "ban-the-box" or fair chance hiring laws that prevent employers from asking about criminal history on job applications. Many require waiting until after an interview or conditional job offer. These laws are expanding rapidly — check your state's specific rules.

Licensing laws vary by state and change frequently. This is general guidance, not legal advice. Always verify with your state's licensing board before enrolling in a training program.

Data last verified March 2026 · View sources

We verify our data against official sources. Verification dates show when we last checked — they do not guarantee the information is still current. Laws, rates, and thresholds can change at any time. Always confirm critical information at the official source or with a qualified professional.

National Employment Law Project (NELP) — Fair Chance Hiring

General trade accessibility levels for people with felony convictions — categorized as generally-accessible, varies-by-state, often-restricted, or highly-restricted

https://www.nelp.org/policy-issue/criminal-records-and-employment/

Verified March 2026

trade-schools.net — Jobs for Felons

Trade accessibility and reentry employment guidance for specific trades

https://www.trade-schools.net/articles/jobs-for-felons

Verified March 2026

Hire Felons — Reentry Employment Guide

Employer reentry hiring policies and trade accessibility for people with felony convictions

https://www.hirefelons.org/

Verified March 2026

ASE — About ASE Testing

ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.ase.com/certification-series/

Verified March 2026

OSHA — Powered Industrial Trucks

OSHA forklift certification — employer-provided, no criminal history screening

https://www.osha.gov/powered-industrial-trucks

Verified March 2026

EPA — Section 608 Technician Certification

EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.epa.gov/section608

Verified March 2026

Federal Student Aid — FAFSA Simplification Act

Pell Grant eligibility restored for people with drug convictions and incarcerated individuals, effective July 1, 2023; PELL_GRANT_RESTORED_DATE: "July 2023"

FAFSA Simplification Act, Pub. L. 117-103 (2021); 20 U.S.C. § 1070a

https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/fafsa-simplification

Verified March 2026

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) — Ban the Box Legislation

Ban-the-box and fair chance hiring laws — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities as of 2026; BAN_THE_BOX_STATE_COUNT: 37; BAN_THE_BOX_CITY_COUNT: 150

https://www.ncsl.org/labor-and-employment/ban-the-box-legislation

Verified March 2026

NELP — Ban the Box: U.S. Cities, Counties, and States

Fair chance hiring law coverage — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities; BAN_THE_BOX_PRIVATE_EMPLOYER_STATES: ["California", "Illinois", "New Jersey", "Washington"]

https://www.nelp.org/publication/ban-the-box-fair-chance-hiring-state-and-local-guide/

Verified March 2026

U.S. Department of Labor — Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO)

WIOA Section 169 workforce funding for reentry — job training, career counseling, and supportive services

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. § 3224; WIOA Sec. 169

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/reentry

Verified March 2026

Legal Information Institute — 18 U.S.C. § 922

18 U.S.C. § 922(g) — federal prohibition on felons possessing firearms, effectively barring law enforcement careers

18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/922

Verified March 2026