How to hire a Pipe Fitter

Pipe fitter hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring pipe fitters in the United States:

There are currently 89,141 pipe fitters in the US, as well as 12,846 job openings.
Pipe fitters are in the highest demand in Moss Point, MS, with 8 current job openings.
The median cost to hire a pipe fitter is $1,633.
It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new pipe fitter to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a pipe fitter, step by step

To hire a pipe fitter, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a pipe fitter:

Here's a step-by-step pipe fitter 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 fitter job description
Step 5: Post your job
Step 6: Interview candidates
Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new pipe fitter
Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a Pipe Fitter do?

A pipefitter specializes in pipe systems. They are mostly responsible for cutting, assembling, installing, and maintaining the pipes' condition within homes or establishments. There are also instances when a pipe fitter has to visit sites, investigate problems, and conduct tests and repairs when necessary. Most pipefitters work in a group setting and are required to communicate and coordinate with co-workers, all while adhering to a company's standards and safety policies.

Learn more about the specifics of what a pipe fitter does

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Identify your hiring needs

Before you start hiring a pipe fitter, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

Determine Employee vs Contractor Status

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

Hiring the perfect pipe fitter 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 shows salaries for various types of pipe fitters.

Type Of Pipe Fitter	Description	Hourly Rate
Pipe Fitter	Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters install and repair pipes that carry liquids or gases to, from, and within businesses, homes, and factories.	$19-30
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	A journeyman is an experienced worker whose role will vary on the line of industry where one is involved. They work without supervision from a master craftsman... Show More	$18-39

Create an ideal candidate profile
Common Skills:
- Carbon Steel
- Hand Tools
- Safety Procedures
- Isometric Drawings
- Hot Water
- Pipe Supports
- Pneumatic Equipment
- Brazing
- Processing Systems
- Torches
- PVC
- Hydraulic Cylinders
- Install Pipe
- System Operation
Check All Skills
Responsibilities:
- Certify GTAW & SMAW in various alloys on pipe and pipeline within various refineries.
- Join piping by threading, caulking, wiping, soldering, brazing, fuse, or cement joints.
- Cut, thread, or hammer pipes to specifications, using tools such as saws, cutting torches, pipe theaters.
- Read blue prints and ISO metric drawings.
- Set up face blocks, jigs, and fixtures.
- Collaborate with journeymen of many trades to complete tasks.
More Pipe Fitter duties

Make a budget

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

Location. For example, pipe fitters' average salary in hawaii is 46% less than in minnesota.
Seniority. Entry-level pipe fitters 35% less than senior-level pipe fitters.
Certifications. A pipe fitter 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 fitter's salary.

Average pipe fitter salary

$51,055yearly

$24.55 hourly rate

Entry-level pipe fitter salary

$41,000 yearly salary

Updated March 28, 2025

Average pipe fitter salary by state

Rank	State	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
1	New York	$61,630	$30
2	Illinois	$61,293	$29
3	Wisconsin	$58,940	$28
4	Michigan	$57,946	$28
5	Nebraska	$57,896	$28
6	Indiana	$57,066	$27
7	Maryland	$56,227	$27
8	Missouri	$55,824	$27
9	Pennsylvania	$55,680	$27
10	Ohio	$54,218	$26
11	California	$53,156	$26
12	Maine	$50,845	$24
13	Virginia	$50,827	$24
14	Colorado	$50,604	$24
15	Tennessee	$49,872	$24
16	Oregon	$49,132	$24
17	Louisiana	$45,995	$22
18	South Dakota	$44,977	$22
19	Iowa	$44,577	$21
20	North Carolina	$44,381	$21

Average pipe fitter salary by company

Rank	Company	Average Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
1	Spangler Candy	$62,967	$30.27
2	Eaton	$60,798	$29.23	1
3	Johnson Controls	$59,411	$28.56	17
4	Cenergy International Services	$58,840	$28.29
5	Crowder	$57,812	$27.79	2
6	Performance Contracting	$57,522	$27.65	1
7	Kiewit	$56,971	$27.39	12
8	MasTec	$56,651	$27.24	8
9	NPL Construction Co.	$56,364	$27.10
10	Bell Incorporated	$56,207	$27.02	1
11	American Crystal Sugar	$55,214	$26.55
12	danos	$54,781	$26.34
13	The Hiller Companies	$54,486	$26.20	32
14	3M Company	$54,399	$26.15	3
15	Solar.com	$54,316	$26.11	1
16	EMCOR Group	$54,284	$26.10	141
17	North American Corporation	$54,166	$26.04
18	Atlantic Constructors	$53,972	$25.95	17
19	Sodexo Management, Inc.	$53,756	$25.84	32
20	Vectrus	$53,750	$25.84

Writing a Pipe Fitter Job Description

A job description for a pipe fitter 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 fitter job description:

Pipe Fitter job description example

Apply today – Start ASAP $22-$30/hr - $50 Referral Bonus!

Skills

Reading Prints & Preform Layouts

Properly measure and cut pipe

Operate a threader

Familiar with Stainless Steel, Carbon, etc…

Qualifications

Minimum 5 years of Experience

Have all tools and PPE

Reliable transportation

Work Safely and follow OSHA guidelines

Perks

-Long Term Work - $500 Sign-on Bonus - Paycheck Advances - Weekly Direct Deposit

-Unlimited $250 Referral Bonuses - $50 first day referral bonus

- 40 hrs a week + Overtime - Paid Holidays - 401K & Health Benefits

- Free OSHA training and Lift Certifications - Milestone Rewards Program!

CCS is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

Some of our positions are subject to a background check for any convictions directly related to its duties and responsibilities. Only job-related convictions will be considered and will not automatically disqualify candidates.

Post your job
To find pipe fitters 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 pipe fitters they would recommend.
- Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level pipe fitters 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 pipe fitter job on Zippia to find and recruit pipe fitter candidates who meet your exact specifications.
- Use field-specific websites.
- Post a job on free websites.
Interview candidates
To successfully recruit pipe fitters, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up 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.
Send a job offer and onboard your new pipe fitter
Once you've found the pipe fitter candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.
It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.
To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.
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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How much does it cost to hire a pipe fitter?

Before you start to hire pipe fitters, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire pipe fitters pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $51,055 per year for a pipe fitter, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for pipe fitters in the US typically range between $19 and $30 an hour.

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Updated March 28, 2025

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How to hire a Pipe Fitter