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SOC 47-2152
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters assemble, install, and repair piping that carries water, steam, air, or gas according to drawings, working with pipe fittings, valves, equipment, and connection points, and checking and recording abnormalities. Pressurized, gas, hot work, and confined space tasks must be carried out according to local regulations, project authorization, and safety procedures; paper exercises do not constitute an operating qualification.
Model impact index for three equally weighted representative core tasks; not a measured share of working time or a job-loss probability. floor((0+0+25)/3+0.5)=8; fermatmind-ai-impact-v1; 2026-10-18.
This occupation installs and repairs piping that carries water, steam, air, or other media, including valves and fixtures; the typical US path is a high school diploma or equivalent plus apprenticeship training, and licenses are verified by state and role.
Review: ask a peer to check material numbers, unknown conditions, the recipient, and open items; paper work cannot prove on-site qualifications.
Only if you are willing to keep reading drawings, doing hands-on installation and repair, and checking materials and inspection records, and can acknowledge unknowns and report them promptly, is it worth continuing to explore; indoor and outdoor environments, physical demands, and on-call duty also need to be compared.
Definition: 47-2152 is US plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters, covering building and industrial piping, and is not the same as 47-2151 underground pipe layers.
The US occupation 47-2152 covers plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters: assembling, installing, modifying, and repairing piping that carries water, steam, air, and other fluids or gases, and they may also install heating, cooling, and control equipment.
First verify the medium, drawings, pipe material, site isolation, and authorization; install or repair according to the plan, and complete inspection and handover records.
Career direction comparison
O*NET 47-2152 is piping system installation and repair; underground pipe laying, boiler vessels, HVAC equipment, and general maintenance each have different objects and training.
| Career direction | Core work and output | Key differences | Best-fit choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | Installs and repairs building and industrial piping, valves, and fixtures. | 47-2152 covers water supply, drainage, steam, and similar piping systems. | Suited to reading drawings, hands-on installation, and troubleshooting. |
| Underground pipe layers | Lays underground lines such as storm and sanitary drains and water supply mains. | 47-2151 focuses on trench and underground main installation; 47-2152 also has underground system installation and connection tasks, so the two cannot be distinguished merely by whether the work is underground. |
AI impact on this career
Generative AI may assist with summarising recorded text and checking for missing items. Gauges, digital measurement, and image inspection are different technologies, and their capabilities must be verified for the specific system; no tool adoption or displacement rate for 47-2152 was verified on this page. The medium, isolation, connections, and site permits are verified by authorized personnel. AI Impact Score 8% is an editorial estimate. Model impact index for three equally weighted representative core tasks; not a measured share of working time or a job-loss probability. floor((0+0+25)/3+0.5)=8; fermatmind-ai-impact-v1; 2026-10-18.The three tasks, ratings and sources are listed in the FermatMind method source record on this page.
FermatMind AI Impact Score estimation method v1
FermatMind / 费马测试 · 2026-10-18
Chinese mainland salary reference
47-2152 is a US occupational code; Chinese qualifications are verified by project and local regulations.
The scope of US occupation 47-2152 and Chinese plumber, pipefitter, and steamfitter qualifications are not automatically mutually recognized.
No comparable occupation-specific value for 47-2152
Current written offers and hours must be verified
Cannot be converted into Chinese wages
US salary reference
The 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages for US 47-2152 are 44,150, 50,190, 63,800, 85,110, and 108,420 dollars; the corresponding hourly wages are 21.22, 24.13, 30.67, 40.92, and 52.13 dollars. These are statistical percentiles, not an individual growth path. BLS projects 47-2152 employment at about 510,600 in 2025 and about 545,200 in 2035, a change of +6.8%; annual openings of about 42,000 include replacements. The 2025 median wage for US 47-2152 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters is 63,800 dollars/year.
| Wage statistical position | Annual wage reference | Hourly wage from the same source | How to understand this position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile boundary value | 44,150 dollars/year | 21.22 dollars/hour | 44,150 dollars/year is the 10th percentile boundary value; about 10% of wages are below it, and it is not the lowest income or entry-level starting pay. |
| Median (50th percentile) | 63,800 dollars/year |
Career fit guide
Current O*NET Realistic R100 and Conventional C45, with Realistic dominant; used to discuss hands-on installation and repair and procedural checking preferences, without declaring the two highest scores to be the official RC code. Interests do not prove drawing reading, medium judgment, safety skills, or job qualifications.
You may be better suited to： Willing to repeatedly verify piping locations, dimensions, and connection points against drawings and measurement records.
These situations require caution： If someone continues when the medium, isolation, or permits are unconfirmed, or is unwilling to report abnormalities, they should first build up safety training and site discipline.
Do an entry-level exercise： Use only fictional drawings to make a paper list of issues, without touching real systems.
Work stress, risks, and occupational boundaries
Pressurized, steam, or gas piping, hot work, confined spaces, and work at height all need to be controlled under local regulations and the project plan. Pause and hand over to qualified personnel when the medium, isolation, or permits are unclear.
O*NET supports the installation, repair, joining, and testing tasks, BLS supports cuts, burns, and falls; OSHA supports hazardous energy during maintenance, hot work exposure, and hazardous confined space conditions. Gas leaks and inspection errors are editorial scenarios, not accident rates; rules are verified separately by jurisdiction, industry, and site procedures.
Typical scenario：Touching piping before the medium or isolation status is confirmed.
Roles most affected：Plumbers, operations, and safety personnel
Possible consequence：Spray-out, burns, or personnel exposure.
Entry, qualifications, and career development
The BLS typical US education and apprenticeship are occupational statistical descriptions; specific isolation, hot work, and acceptance duties are verified under local regulations and employer authorization. First use paper exercises to judge whether you are willing to learn drawings, materials, and safety.
| Entry roles |
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Career outlook and related occupation transitions
BLS projects a +6.8% employment change for 47-2152 over 2025—2035, with about 42,000 annual openings; openings include replacements and cannot be used to infer project demand directly.
United States · 47-2152 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters independent row
About 510,600 people (2025) → about 545,200 people (2035)
US 47-2152 employment endpoints
510.6 thousand is the 2025 base period and 545.2 thousand is the 2035 projection, an official net gain of 34.5 thousand; the endpoints and the net change are rounded separately, and none is a current hiring figure.
Does not establish：Not the number of current job openings.
O*NET 47-2152 lists installing fittings, valves, and fixtures, inspecting and testing, repairing piping, and checking drawings and materials; the specific systems and methods vary by role.
47-2151 focuses on underground storm, sanitary, and water supply mains and trench installation; 47-2152 installs and repairs building and industrial piping and also includes underground system connections. The two are distinguished by task scope, not simply by above ground versus below ground.
Choose a real task from this page for a small practice project or a conversation with someone in the field. Use the planning guides to set a date, an output and feedback questions before deciding whether to continue.
RC interests, paper calculations, or statistical wages do not prove an operating qualification; real piping installation and repair is verified according to the medium, method, local license, and project authorization.
Read the fictional A1/A2/A3, compute a nominal length of 1.20+0.80=2.00 meters; list the three unknowns of isolation, drawing revision, and hot work permit, write a suspension handover note, and do not treat the result as a purchase quantity.
Quality judgment looks at whether materials, locations, connection points, and inspection records match the approved design; acceptance is the responsibility of authorized personnel.
Plumbers mainly install and repair water and gas piping and fixtures in buildings and factories; pipefitters and steamfitters focus on industrial and commercial media systems. Underground pipe layers are listed separately for trench-based main installation, with overlapping duties, so the boundary cannot be drawn simply by above ground versus below ground. HVAC equipment diagnostics and boiler and vessel work require separately verified training and authorization. The complete flow: from checking drawings, materials, and the medium, to authorized isolation, installation and repair, inspection, recording, and delivery.
| Dimension | Primary track | Comparison track |
|---|---|---|
| Core purpose | Install, repair, and inspect piping systems. | Purpose: to keep piping systems carrying water, steam, air, or other media operating according to the approved plan. |
| Main objects and basis | Materials and locations must match the drawings. | Based on approved drawings, measured dimensions, pipe material, and the site briefing. |
| Core process | Work is constrained by the piping medium, isolation status, permits, and site authorization. | Reading drawings, preparing materials, installing and joining, repairing, and inspecting. |
| Main outputs | Acceptance is completed by authorized personnel according to the project plan. | Reviewable piping locations, connection points, and inspection records. |
| Accountable party | Installation and repair personnel each work within authorized systems; operational isolation, hot work, testing, and final acceptance are the responsibility of project-designated authorized personnel, and a job title does not grant cross-system authority. | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters each handle their corresponding systems within the authorized scope. |
| Authority and approval | Do not touch real systems when the medium, isolation, or permits are unconfirmed. | The division of labor for isolation, hot work, confined spaces, and testing acceptance must be explicit. |
| Conclusion boundaries | Specific project safety, qualifications, and acceptance follow local regulations. | This page explains only the US 47-2152 occupation and public statistics. |
unclear conditions go to the person in charge.
do not start work under unclear conditions.
record materials and locations.
do not open pressurized or gas systems on your own.
record results and unfinished items.
hand over to the person in charge.
US BLS lists typical entry-level education as a high school diploma or equivalent, usually trained through apprenticeships; licensing requirements vary by state and role.
Work objects include building and industrial piping, valves, and fixtures, and may also include installing connections to underground storm, sanitary, and water supply systems; 47-2151 separately covers trench and underground main installation, so above ground and below ground cannot be used as an absolute boundary. O*NET lists tasks such as installing fittings, valves, and fixtures, inspecting and testing, repairing, and reading drawings; the specific method depends on the system and project.
The occupational flow revolves around drawings, materials, isolation, installation and repair, and inspection; qualifications cannot be inferred from a job title. O*NET supports the tasks and R/C interests, BLS supports US wages, employment, and the apprenticeship path; safety follows the regulations where the project is located.
| Suited to outdoor network construction. |
| Boilermakers | Assembles, installs, and repairs boilers and large closed vessels. | The vessel body is different from a piping system. | Suited to large equipment and metal work. |
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| HVAC equipment technicians | Installs and repairs heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration equipment. | Equipment diagnostics and refrigerant system duties are verified separately. | Suited to equipment maintenance and service. |
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| General maintenance workers | Maintains building equipment and facilities. | Cross-system maintenance differs from a specialist piping trade. | Suited to general facility maintenance. |
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| Plumber helpers | Prepares materials and tools and assists with installation under supervision. | Helper work does not automatically grant independent construction or acceptance authority. | Suited to supervised entry. |
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When comparing, first ask whether the work involves building or industrial piping, underground mains, boiler vessels, or HVAC equipment; then verify the installation, repair, and acceptance duties and the required training.
First choose a direction — building piping, underground mains, boilers, HVAC, or helper — then verify local qualifications and site safety.
Editorial ratings use the existing occupational responsibilities and AI task analysis on this page. They are not adoption rates, measured effects, job-disappearance or personal-unemployment probabilities, or official scores from Stanford or another external institution. No measured time weights or future robot deployment are assumed.
Text tasks may be assisted, which does not mean site adoption or the disappearance of the occupation.
Actual adoption requires verifying drawing revisions, medium and system data, interface permissions, missed detections and false alarms, on-site retesting, and responsibility for returning abnormalities; being able to generate a summary does not prove project adoption or that a connection is acceptable.
The BLS 47-2152 projection is formed by many factors and does not separately list AI's net effect on this occupation.
| Work area | Task | Current change | Human control point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Record organization | Piping inspection records | Can flag missing form items | The medium, isolation, permits, and connection inspection are verified by qualified personnel. |
| Text organization | Handover summary | Can draft unfinished items | Verify the original time, piping number, and recipient. |
| Sensor monitoring | Dimension anomaly alerts | A specific measurement system, once verified, may flag dimension deviations or recording anomalies; material identification still requires independent verification, and a text assistant cannot act as a measuring instrument. | Authorized personnel judge whether to pause and then review. |
| Information retrieval | Construction document search | Can search public standards, drawing revisions, and material descriptions | Verify the applicable revision and site plan. |
| Trainee learning | Training material drafts | Can generate fictional risk scenarios | Must be checked by experienced personnel and does not replace hands-on training. |
| Visual prompts | Image record assistance | A verified image tool may assist with marking visible materials, valves, or obstructions; photos cannot confirm isolation, pressurized status, or connection quality. | Does not replace on-site inspection and authorization. |
| Repair collaboration | Pipe material and connection records | Can organize material batches and connection inspections. | Connection review and delivery are decided by authorized personnel. |
O*NET supports the real tasks of 47-2152; the ILO study discusses occupational task exposure, NIST provides a generative AI risk governance framework; BLS employment projections do not separate the AI effect.
Organizing drawings and records, digital measurement prompts, and on-site inspection are different activities; generating a draft does not equal system acceptance.
AI primarily changesCan organize recorded items, missing items, and handover drafts
Human responsibility remainsWorkers verify the original observations, the medium, isolation and connection status, and the recipient.
AI primarily changesDigital measurement can help record locations and dimensions; it differs from generative text automation.
Human responsibility remainsThe crew confirms piping locations, the medium, isolation, and stop conditions according to the plan.
AI primarily changesAlgorithms cannot approve pressurized system work, hot work, or confined space entry.
Human responsibility remainsAuthorized personnel retain site control and escalation responsibility.
First restrict to public or authorized materials, then have site personnel verify the original inspection, equipment, and safety conditions.
Enter only public or organizationally authorized materials.
Keep the text assistant separate from sensor alerts and on-site inspection.
Review the original records, the medium, isolation, personnel, and connection status.
Keep tool drafts, manual edits, and handover records.
When conditions are unclear, pause under site procedures and hand over to authorized personnel.
May miss isolation, valve, or connection abnormalities.
Control: Check item by item against the original observations, and do not sign off using model text.
Drawings, facility locations, and personnel data may leak.
Control: Use only approved systems and data.
May bypass medium isolation and permit procedures.
Control: Authorized personnel verify and decide on a pause.
May mislead piping repair or material selection.
Control: Verify approved drawings, material descriptions, and applicable revisions.
The incoming shift may be unable to review the cause of the abnormality.
Control: Record the time, system number, observations, and recipient.
First learn piping media, drawings, and site safety, then practice record tools with fictional materials.
A mentor confirms that tool output matches the original inspection evidence.
Keep records of isolation, inspection, data authorization, and handover review.
Limit tool access rights so erroneous output is traceable and corrected promptly.
No reliable job displacement rate for 47-2152 was verified this round; text assistance differs from on-site installation and repair, and BLS employment projections are not attributed to AI.
Source: ILO task exposure study (not actual adoption or net employment in piping roles)Original source ↗
No. Drawings, the medium, isolation, and working conditions are confirmed by project-authorized personnel under applicable regulations; AI prompts do not substitute for construction, hot work, or system start-up authorization.
Source: O*NET piping tasks and editorial authority boundariesOriginal source ↗
Use only public or fictional materials to practice material lists, inspection sheets, and handover summaries.
Source: O*NET record tasks and editorial trial suggestionsOriginal source ↗
No. The projected change for 47-2152 is +6.8%, and BLS does not attribute the change to AI.
Source: BLS independent projectionOriginal source ↗
No. The medium, isolation, personnel, and connection point status must be verified on site.
Source: O*NET and editorial boundariesOriginal source ↗
First verify organizational authorization, confidentiality scope, and data governance; do not upload unauthorized drawings or personnel data.
Source: NIST risk profileOriginal source ↗
First learn drawings, media, safety, isolation, and stop-work rules, then learn record tools and output review.
Source: O*NET piping installation and repair tasksOriginal source ↗
First learn drawings, media, joining, and safety rules, then use tools to assist with low-risk records; abnormalities are verified by authorized personnel.
Evidence is insufficient: no nationwide occupation-specific median wage for mainland China directly comparable to US 47-2152 was verified.
| Educational background | Common job directions | Notes and verification suggestions |
|---|---|---|
| Verify project and local requirements | Chinese plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters | No nationwide unified qualification was verified on this page; confirm per project and local requirements. |
| High school diploma or equivalent | US plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters | BLS lists typical entry-level education as a high school diploma or equivalent, usually trained through apprenticeships; specific positions and US state licensing requirements are verified separately. |
| Verify on-site helper duties | On-site helper roles | Material and tool assistance does not automatically grant independent piping, rigging, or acceptance authority. |
| Verify training and qualifications for new equipment | Other piping occupations | Experience with one method does not equal authorization for another. |
Urban non-private construction units were 92,036 yuan/year and private units 66,275 yuan/year; manufacturing and related personnel in construction above designated size were 69,081 yuan/year. All are 2025 pre-tax annual average wages covering broad industries or broad occupations, not a plumber-specific wage, median, entry-level pay, or take-home income.
Check against the project location, equipment, and qualifications.
Verify the site work plan, hours, and safety requirements.
Verify the medium, isolation, equipment, and work environment risks.
There is no verifiable quantified value for AI's effect on the wages of Chinese plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters, and pay cannot be inferred from digital inspections.
| 30.67 dollars/hour |
| Units: the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages are 44,150, 50,190, 63,800, 85,110, and 108,420 dollars, with corresponding hourly wages of 21.22, 24.13, 30.67, 40.92, and 52.13 dollars. These are 2025 wage statistics for employed US 47-2152 workers, excluding the self-employed; the annual values are not derived from individual hours and are not Chinese offers. |
| 90th percentile boundary value | 108,420 dollars/year | 52.13 dollars/hour | 108,420 dollars/year is the 90th percentile boundary value; about 10% of wages are above it, and it is not the highest income or the wage ten years from now. |
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Wage · 10th percentile：44,150 dollars/year；2025 US 47-2152 national wage 10th percentile: annual wage 44,150 dollars, hourly wage 21.22 dollars；O*NET citing BLS, not years of service or entry-level starting pay.
Wage · 25th percentile：50,190 dollars/year；2025 US 47-2152 national wage 25th percentile: annual wage 50,190 dollars, hourly wage 24.13 dollars；O*NET citing BLS, not years of service or entry-level starting pay.
Wage · median：63,800 dollars/year；2025 US 47-2152 national wage 50th percentile: annual wage 63,800 dollars, hourly wage 30.67 dollars；O*NET citing BLS, not years of service or entry-level starting pay.
Wage · 75th percentile：85,110 dollars/year；2025 US 47-2152 national wage 75th percentile: annual wage 85,110 dollars, hourly wage 40.92 dollars；O*NET citing BLS, not years of service or entry-level starting pay.
Wage · 90th percentile：108,420 dollars/year；2025 US 47-2152 national wage 90th percentile: annual wage 108,420 dollars, hourly wage 52.13 dollars；O*NET citing BLS, not years of service or entry-level starting pay.
No. The 63,800 dollars is the 2025 national median wage for occupation 47-2152, not entry-level starting pay.
It cannot be used to calculate an individual after-tax monthly salary or a Chinese construction site wage; look at hours, region, and the written contract.
The five reported wage percentiles and corresponding hourly wages come from the O*NET US 47-2152 national page citing BLS 2025 data; the medians for the four main employer industries come from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for this occupation, and employment and openings come from the 2025—2035 detailed projection independent row.
Verify hours, overtime, pipe material and project, local qualifications, and the written pay structure.
| Industry | Annual median wage / statistical status | How to understand this value |
|---|---|---|
| Government (excluding state and local education and hospitals) | 71,660 dollars/year | Industry median; does not represent a specific government role offer. |
| Manufacturing | 65,770 dollars/year | Industrial piping tasks and hours must be verified by role. |
| Heavy and civil engineering construction | 63,270 dollars/year | Individual projects and locations change the actual wage. |
| Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors | 63,010 dollars/year | A national industry median, not individual pay. |
Wages vary with project location, construction season, hours, and employer; the national median is not an individual offer.
Residential fixtures, industrial media, and steam systems differ in materials, joining methods, repair on-call duty, and licensing duties; verify the target role's scope and written pay, and do not convert differences in duties directly into a wage increase.
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent and apprenticeship training; experience and qualifications do not map directly to national wage percentiles.
BLS 47-2152 employment base period in 2025, with the table expressed in thousands.；BLS
BLS projects 47-2152 to rise from about 510,600 in 2025 to about 545,200 in 2035, a 6.8% increase and a net gain of about 34,500 people；BLS rounds the table values.
BLS projects about 42,000 annual openings for 47-2152, including growth and replacement needs.；BLS
O*NET occupational interest baseline
R dominant · installation and repairObserve sustained interest in piping, measurement, joining, installation, and repair; the work can be indoors and outdoors.
Occupational group interests do not prove media isolation, safety skills, or role authorization.
How do you verify that Holland interests fit piping installation and repair?
Current O*NET Realistic R100, Conventional C45, supporting discussion of installation and repair and procedural preferences, not equivalent to a qualification or a preference only for outdoor work.
Do not use it this way: Interest cannot replace training.
Test my Holland career interestsHow can Big Five personality be used to explore work styles in piping installation and repair?
Observe whether conscientiousness and reliability show up in recording, reviewing, and stopping incorrect actions.
Do not use it this way: Personality scores are not safety ability.
View my Big Five personality traitsCan MBTI judge piping installation ability?
Can discuss collaboration and information-processing preferences; do not judge drawing reading, joining, repair, or hiring by type. Use fictional drawings to check the medium, materials, valves, connection points, and unknown permits.
Do not use it this way: Paper self-assessment is not hands-on practice.
Understand my MBTI preferencesHow can the Enneagram help explore repair stress?
Can reflect on reactions during on-call duty, emergencies, and stop-work reporting; type does not prove safety ability or licensing qualifications. Compare whether indoor and outdoor environments, physical load, on-call duty, and teamwork are sustainable.
Do not use it this way: Preferences do not predict hiring.
Explore my Enneagram patternsCan IQ replace apprenticeship and method training?
Do not set unverified IQ thresholds; observe unit handling, drawing comprehension, and supervisory feedback, and do not substitute scores for hands-on practice. Learn pipe materials, measurement, and joining methods under supervision.
Do not use it this way: One practice session cannot prove proficiency.
Understand my intelligence and reasoning performanceHow is emotional intelligence observed in piping handovers?
See whether the person can report unknown media, accept review, and escalate to the responsible person; EQ does not grant isolation or acceptance authority. Verify the target role's piping system, hours, apprenticeship training, and jurisdictional license.
Do not use it this way: Assessments do not replace job requirements.
Understand my emotional intelligence abilitiesFits better when: Prefers underground mains and outdoor work
Watch for: Trench safety verified separately
Explore related career: Underground pipe layersFits better when: Prefers large vessels
Watch for: Vessel qualification verified separately
Explore related career: BoilermakersFits better when: Prefers equipment diagnostics
Watch for: Refrigeration training verified separately
Explore related career: HVAC equipment techniciansFits better when: Prefers general facility maintenance
Watch for: Specialist piping skills verified separately
Explore related career: General maintenance workersFits better when: Willing to start with material and tool preparation
Watch for: Supervised assistance only
Explore related career: Plumber helpersFits better when: Willing to learn on a multi-trade site
Watch for: Does not grant independent piping duties
Explore related career: Construction laborersCurrent O*NET Realistic R100 and Conventional C45, with Realistic dominant; not directly equivalent to the official RC code or a qualification.
You must also accept drawing reading, physical demands, on-call duty, piping media, and site safety requirements.
You may not operate without training and authorization; start with fictional drawing exercises.
O*NET lists installing fittings, valves, and fixtures, inspecting and testing systems, repairing, and reading drawings.
No. Skills, apprenticeship training, and licenses must be verified separately.
47-2151 focuses on underground mains; 47-2152 covers building and industrial piping systems.
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, usually trained through apprenticeships.
No. The 63,800 dollars is the 2025 national occupational median.
Interest shows whether someone is willing to do hands-on installation and repair; ability shows in evidence of drawings, materials, inspection, and safety.
Use fictional drawings to do length calculations, isolation unknowns, and handover judgments.
How to reduce risk：Pause and hand over to qualified personnel to confirm isolation under procedures.
Evidence：O*NET 47-2152 tasks · OSHA hazardous energy control
Typical scenario：The status of hot piping or the steam system is unclear.
Roles most affected：Pipefitters, operations, and maintenance teams
Possible consequence：Burns and equipment damage.
How to reduce risk：First check the medium and temperature status; do not touch without authorization.
Evidence：BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook · OSHA hazardous energy control
Typical scenario：Leak points or permits on gas piping are unclear.
Roles most affected：Plumbers, facility management, and site personnel
Possible consequence：When combustible gas, a hazardous atmosphere, or hot work conditions are unconfirmed, fire, explosion, or asphyxiation may occur; this card is an editorial risk scenario, not the accident rate for this occupation.
How to reduce risk：Hand over to authorized personnel under local permit and emergency procedures.
Evidence：O*NET 47-2152 tasks · OSHA confined space overview
Typical scenario：Conditions around welding or brazing are unconfirmed.
Roles most affected：Workers and nearby personnel
Possible consequence：Burns, fume, and arc exposure; surrounding combustible conditions also need on-site verification.
How to reduce risk：Controlled by permitted personnel under site procedures.
Evidence：O*NET 47-2152 tasks · OSHA welding, cutting, and brazing hazards
Typical scenario：Installation is needed on ladders, at height, or in narrow areas.
Roles most affected：Construction and site safety personnel
Possible consequence：Falls, entrapment, or collisions.
How to reduce risk：The site responsible person first verifies the space classification and applicable rules; a cramped area does not automatically equal a permit-required space. Pause when fall protection and entry conditions are unclear.
Evidence：BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook · OSHA confined space overview
Typical scenario：Materials, locations, or test records are missed in review.
Roles most affected：Installation, inspection, and the responsible person
Possible consequence：Leaks, rework, or system failure.
How to reduce risk：Reviewed against the approved plan, recorded, and accepted by authorized personnel.
Evidence：O*NET 47-2152 tasks · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
| What you mainly do early in the job |
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| What employers usually look for |
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| How to demonstrate ability without experience |
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| Differences from other directions |
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| Piping construction helper | Prepares pipe materials, tools, and records under supervision. | Can identify media and isolation unknowns from the briefing. | Fictional material list and abnormality cards. | Helper work does not equal independent operation. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice plumber | Learns drawing reading, materials, joining, and inspection. | Mentor feedback and US apprenticeship training records. | Fictional piping drawing checklist. | Real work must be supervised. |
| Plumber / pipefitter | Installs or repairs building and industrial piping as authorized. | Verify the specific system, method, safety, and local license. | Lawful project and inspection records. | Isolation, testing, and acceptance authority are verified separately. |
| Underground pipe layers | Lays underground lines such as storm, sanitary, and water supply mains. | Verify the adjacent 47-2151 tasks and training. | Relevant site experience. | Focuses on underground mains and trench work; plumbers may also install underground connections, so distinguish by actual tasks. |
| HVAC equipment repair worker | Maintains heating, cooling, and ventilation equipment. | Verify equipment repair training and qualifications. | Equipment repair records. | Not the same as piping installation. |
BLS 47-2152 lists a high school diploma or equivalent and apprenticeship training; most US states require a plumber license.
Actual state, role, and employer requirements must be verified.
Media, isolation, hot work, and confined spaces are confirmed by qualified personnel under project procedures.
Paper work does not prove operating or permit qualifications.
47-2152 lists fitting, valve, and fixture installation, repair, inspection and testing, and drawing reading.
Compare job duties item by item with the task list.
Use fictional drawings to demonstrate length calculation, unknowns, and stop-and-escalate.
Do not present it as real piping experience.
A1: fictional material number P-01; the drawing gives two straight pipe runs of 1.20 meters and 0.80 meters, so sum only the two nominal lengths and do not infer actual purchase quantities or cut sizes.
A2: the medium column says steam, but the isolation confirmation column is blank; the drawing revision is unconfirmed and the hot work permit status is unconfirmed.
A3: when any condition is unconfirmed, pause real operations and hand over to the site responsible person; this item is a paper judgment only.
Compute the sum of the two nominal lengths in A1, and write the equation, units, and purchasing limits.
Create the A2/A3 start-condition table and handover note, listing unknowns, material numbers, the recipient, and open items.
A1: 1.20+0.80=2.00 meters, which is only the sum of the two nominal lengths given in the problem; joints, waste, and design allowance are not included, so it cannot be the basis for actual cutting or purchasing.
For A2, isolation, drawing revision, and hot work permit are all unconfirmed; pause per A3 and hand over to a qualified responsible person for verification, without judging the pressurized status yourself. The handover records fictional material P-01, the receiving role is the site responsible person, and both the name and the response status are pending verification.
Four points: 2.00 meters computed correctly with the right unit, actual material limits written out, all three unknowns complete, and a clear pause-and-escalate without pretending to accept the work; one point each. Use paper materials only and do not touch real steam, gas, or pressurized systems; a full score does not prove an occupational qualification.
Write 1.20+0.80=2.00 meters and mark it as a fictional premise.
A peer can recompute it, but it must not be mistaken for a cutting list.
List isolation, drawing revision, and hot work permit status.
Match A2/A3 evidence item by item.
Write the unknowns, material numbers, the responsible person, and pending replies.
Write the draft errors, revision reasons, and training needs.
| Stage | Possible assessment | Observable evidence | Usage boundaries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interview follow-up on nominal length | Can explain the 2.00 meters calculation and its limits | Lists the equation and excluded items | Cannot be treated as an actual purchase quantity |
| Medium isolation unclear | What to do when the isolation column is blank | Pause and hand over to the responsible person for verification | Follow local regulations |
| Drawing revision not verified | Can detect revision conflicts | Record the revision and pending replies | Being trained does not grant authority to approve drawings |
| Hot work permit unclear | Can work start first? | Do not operate; hand over to qualified personnel | Do not set permit conditions yourself |
Read A1 and copy the two nominal lengths and units.
Compute 2.00 meters and note that it is not a purchase or cutting quantity.
Read A2 and list the three unknowns of isolation, drawing revision, and hot work permit.
Write a stop-work handover note per A3.
Ask a peer to check the equation, material numbers, and recipient.
Revise the draft against the four scoring points.
File the calculation card, condition table, handover note, and reflection, and check local apprenticeship entry points.
| Qualification / status | Mainly suited to whom | Realistic role in job seeking | Whether it is a universal entry threshold | Application / registration conditions | Level of investment | Important limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US high school diploma or equivalent | US 47-2152 entrants | BLS typical education description | Not a uniform threshold for all employers | Check the job posting | Depends on the training arrangement | Does not grant independent work authority |
| US apprenticeship training | Newly hired piping roles | BLS lists typical training | Usually requires supervision | Check the specific apprenticeship program | Usually 4 or 5 years | Completion of training and licensing requirements are verified separately |
| US state and local licenses | Those intending to work independently in the US | Most states require a plumber license; pipefitter and steamfitter requirements vary by location | Determined by jurisdiction | Ask the local licensing agency | Depends on state and role | US requirements do not equal Chinese qualifications |
| Chinese project training | Those intending to work in China | Verify the location, system, method, and safety requirements | This page does not claim a unified certificate | Ask the competent authority and the employer | Depends on the role | US materials do not substitute for Chinese regulations |
| Drawing and piping training | Those who want to learn pipefitting | Understand dimensions, media, and material records | Depends on the role | Check the actual course | Continuous practice | Paper calculations are not operating authorization |
| Paper exercise portfolio | Career explorers | Demonstrates reviewable judgment | Not a qualification | Fictional materials only | One week | Cannot be written up as construction experience |
Typical scope：Read the fictional drawing and mark the unknown medium and isolation.
Readiness evidence：The 2.00 meters calculation and risk table can be recomputed.
Credential boundary：Do not touch real systems.
Next moves：Check apprenticeship entry points.
Typical scope：Learns materials, joining, and inspection under supervision.
Readiness evidence：Mentor feedback and training records.
Credential boundary：Does not independently accept work.
Next moves：Check the local licensing path.
Typical scope：Installs, repairs, and records as authorized.
Readiness evidence：Lawful project records.
Credential boundary：Licensing and acceptance follow the jurisdiction.
Next moves：Builds experience across different systems.
Typical scope：Takes part in reviews and mentoring.
Readiness evidence：Can explain how abnormalities were handled.
Credential boundary：Experience does not replace permits.
Next moves：Review connection leaks, rework, and delivery records, and re-verify training, licensing, and authorization when changing systems.
Typical scope：Understands steam, gas, pressurized, and hot work risks.
Readiness evidence：Paper condition table.
Credential boundary：Real valve operation is verified against training and authorization.
Next moves：Takes part in project briefings.
Typical scope：Prepares materials and drawing records as assigned.
Readiness evidence：Handover is traceable.
Credential boundary：Does not approve isolation.
Next moves：Check method training.
Typical scope：Handles industrial piping as authorized.
Readiness evidence：Original inspections are reviewable.
Credential boundary：Does not exceed the permit scope.
Next moves：Learning new media.
Typical scope：Identifies pipe materials, valves, and fixtures.
Readiness evidence：Fictional material list.
Credential boundary：Real system repair is verified against role authorization.
Next moves：Check formal courses.
Typical scope：Practices recording and abnormality escalation per the plan.
Readiness evidence：Inspection feedback.
Credential boundary：Does not test independently.
Next moves：Check testing training.
Typical scope：Inspects, repairs, and hands over as authorized.
Readiness evidence：Lawful maintenance records.
Credential boundary：Isolation and testing follow permits.
Next moves：Retrains on new equipment.
Use fictional materials to identify unknowns in media, isolation, and permits.
Practice drawing reading, material preparation, joining, and inspection, and keep mentor feedback.
Install, repair, and record within the approved plan and supervised scope.
Retrain and re-verify permits when media, methods, or jurisdictions change.
United States · 47-2152 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters independent row
+6.8%
Projected change
The combined 47-2150 occupation differs from the 47-2152 independent row; this page uses only the independent row's +6.8%.
Does not establish：Cannot be used to infer demand in every region or piping network project.
United States · 47-2152 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters independent row
About 42,000 per year
Annual average openings
Includes growth and replacement from exits and transfers.
Does not establish：Differs from the ten-year net change and is not a hiring probability.
These are capability relationships, not automatic promotions or credential waivers.
Transfers：Pipe materials, joining, and drawings
Build next：Add trench, slope and bedding, main positioning and sealing, and project safety training; building piping can also be underground, so a transfer cannot be assumed from location alone.
View career profileTransfers：Steam systems, metal joining
Build next：Add boiler and vessel assembly and repair, material joining, and related qualifications, not just adapting to large enclosed spaces.
View career profileTransfers：Piping, equipment, and servicing
Build next：Refrigeration and equipment diagnostics
View career profileTransfers：Building system maintenance
Build next：Cross-system maintenance
View career profileTransfers：Tool and material assistance
Build next：Supervised helper duties
View career profileTransfers：Site safety and materials
Build next：Multi-trade helper tasks
View career profileTransfers：Building and industrial piping, valves, and fixtures
Build next：Continue building apprenticeship and licensing
View career profileTransfers：Drawings and site inspection
Build next：Moving into building inspection requires verifying independence, local qualifications, and employer requirements; piping experience does not automatically grant inspection duties.
View career profileObserve whether you are willing to keep reading drawings, doing hands-on installation and repair, and recording inspections over the long term, and to follow medium isolation and site safety discipline; R/C interests are only an exploratory clue.
No reliable displacement rate for 47-2152 was verified this round. AI can assist with records and document organization, but cannot verify site isolation or piping quality; the BLS projection does not attribute the change to AI.
Evidence is insufficient: no nationwide Chinese occupational median wage directly comparable to US 47-2152 was verified. Urban non-private construction units were 92,036 yuan/year and private units 66,275 yuan/year; manufacturing and related personnel in construction above designated size were 69,081 yuan/year. All are 2025 pre-tax annual average wages covering broad industries or broad occupations, not a plumber-specific wage, median, entry-level pay, or take-home income.
No. The 2025 US annual median wage for 47-2152 is 63,800 dollars; the 10th, 25th, 75th, and 90th percentiles are 44,150, 50,190, 85,110, and 108,420 dollars respectively. Percentiles are not years of service, entry-level starting pay, or self-employment income.
BLS lists typical entry-level education as a high school diploma or equivalent, usually through apprenticeships; most US states require a plumber license, and pipefitter and steamfitter requirements vary by state. Chinese requirements are verified separately.
Without organizational training and authorization, do not touch real steam, gas, or pressurized piping, and do not perform hot work. Start with fictional drawings for paper exercises.
Unclear media or isolation, high-temperature steam, gas leaks, hot work, and work at height or in confined spaces must all be controlled by qualified personnel under project procedures.
BLS projects 47-2152 to rise from about 510,600 in 2025 to about 545,200 in 2035, a 6.8% increase, with about 42,000 annual openings. Underground pipe laying, boiler, HVAC, or helper roles must be verified separately.
FermatMind career content team (official source review and editorial compilation, not a construction procedure)
Official evidence review for this round: 2026-10-12; registered historical access dates are kept, and wages for 2025, projections for 2025—2035, and the US risk background were verified separately.
Occupational tasks and the Realistic dominant interest score are based on O*NET 47-2152; the US 2025 wage quintiles are based on O*NET citing BLS, the four industry wages are based on the BLS handbook, and employment is based on the 2025—2035 independent projection row. China construction and broad production role averages serve only as background, not as a plumber median.
Limitations：47-2152 tasks include underground storm, sanitary, and water supply system connections, fitting, valve, and fixture installation, repair and testing, and drawing reading; interests R100/C45/I20/S3/A0/E0, and RC is not a qualification.
Limitations：Use only the 47-2152 independent row; annual median 63800 dollars, typical high school diploma or equivalent and apprenticeship training; the combined 47-2150 row cannot be used.
Limitations：47-2152 employment 510.6 thousand → 545.2 thousand, table net gain 34.5 thousand, 6.8%, annual openings 42.0 thousand; each value is rounded independently and is not attributed to AI.
Limitations：The handbook for this occupation supports the annual median 63800 and the 10/90 boundary values 44150/108420 dollars; the four industry medians are 71660/65770/63270/63010 dollars; US apprenticeship and licenses that vary by state and role; wages exclude the self-employed.
Limitations：NBS Table 2 non-private construction 92036, Table 5 private 66275, Table 7 manufacturing and related personnel in construction above designated size 69081 yuan/year; pre-tax annual averages, broad industry or role and not plumber-specific, with industrial piping verified separately.
Limitations：The actual URL is an NBS wage release, not an occupational classification or qualification register; it does not prove a unified Chinese piping work qualification.
Limitations：US descriptions of cuts, hot pipe or welding burns, ladder falls, apprenticeship, and licensing for this occupation; gas, isolation, and confined space details are cited separately from OSHA and do not substitute for Chinese regulations.
Limitations：The actual URLs are all O*NET 47-2152 task profiles; the old ID is not a paper, hiring sample, wage page, or another occupation, and can only support this occupation's tasks and context, not adoption rates or wages.
Limitations：The actual URLs are all O*NET 47-2152 task profiles; the old ID is not a paper, hiring sample, wage page, or another occupation, and can only support this occupation's tasks and context, not adoption rates or wages.
Limitations：The actual URLs are all O*NET 47-2152 task profiles; the old ID is not a paper, hiring sample, wage page, or another occupation, and can only support this occupation's tasks and context, not adoption rates or wages.
Limitations：The actual URLs are all O*NET 47-2152 task profiles; the old ID is not a paper, hiring sample, wage page, or another occupation, and can only support this occupation's tasks and context, not adoption rates or wages.
Limitations：A cross-occupation study of generative AI task exposure; does not provide actual tool adoption, layoffs, or displacement rates for 47-2152.
Limitations：The old editor entry is named O*NET but has an empty URL and cannot support the editorial exercises or statistics; the current manual summary now cites editor-note, and the original identity is retained.
Limitations：Organization-level generative AI reliability, privacy, and human oversight; not certification of isolation, connection quality, or equipment performance.
Limitations：The actual URLs are all O*NET 47-2152 task profiles; the old ID is not a paper, hiring sample, wage page, or another occupation, and can only support this occupation's tasks and context, not adoption rates or wages.
Limitations：The actual URLs are all O*NET 47-2152 task profiles; the old ID is not a paper, hiring sample, wage page, or another occupation, and can only support this occupation's tasks and context, not adoption rates or wages.
Limitations：The actual URLs are all O*NET 47-2152 task profiles; the old ID is not a paper, hiring sample, wage page, or another occupation, and can only support this occupation's tasks and context, not adoption rates or wages.
Limitations：The actual URLs are all O*NET 47-2152 task profiles; the old ID is not a paper, hiring sample, wage page, or another occupation, and can only support this occupation's tasks and context, not adoption rates or wages.
Limitations：The actual URLs are all O*NET 47-2152 task profiles; the old ID is not a paper, hiring sample, wage page, or another occupation, and can only support this occupation's tasks and context, not adoption rates or wages.
Limitations：The actual URLs are all O*NET 47-2152 task profiles; the old ID is not a paper, hiring sample, wage page, or another occupation, and can only support this occupation's tasks and context, not adoption rates or wages.
Limitations：The actual URLs are all O*NET 47-2152 task profiles; the old ID is not a paper, hiring sample, wage page, or another occupation, and can only support this occupation's tasks and context, not adoption rates or wages.
Limitations：The actual URLs are all O*NET 47-2152 task profiles; the old ID is not a paper, hiring sample, wage page, or another occupation, and can only support this occupation's tasks and context, not adoption rates or wages.
Limitations：The actual URLs are all O*NET 47-2152 task profiles; the old ID is not a paper, hiring sample, wage page, or another occupation, and can only support this occupation's tasks and context, not adoption rates or wages.
Limitations：The actual URLs are all O*NET 47-2152 task profiles; the old ID is not a paper, hiring sample, wage page, or another occupation, and can only support this occupation's tasks and context, not adoption rates or wages.
Limitations：The actual URLs are all O*NET 47-2152 task profiles; the old ID is not a paper, hiring sample, wage page, or another occupation, and can only support this occupation's tasks and context, not adoption rates or wages.
Limitations：This page is manually compiled; it is not a wage survey, a jurisdictional licensing rule, or real on-site operating guidance.
Limitations：Annual wages at 10/25/50/75/90 are 44150/50190/63800/85110/108420 dollars; hourly wages are 21.22/24.13/30.67/40.92/52.13 dollars, not years of service or individual quotes.
Limitations：Stored energy release during maintenance and steam valve burn risks, and employer training; general industry LOTO guidance does not automatically apply to every construction task and does not substitute for Chinese regulations.
Limitations：Fume, arc, and burn risks from welding, cutting, and brazing, plus related fire and confined space entry; does not provide plumber accident rates or site permits.
Limitations：Spaces with limited entry and exit, hazardous atmospheres, entrapment, and piping; a cramped space does not automatically equal a permit-required confined space, and construction and general industry rules are distinguished.
Limitations：Storm, sanitary, and water supply mains; trench grading, positioning, and joint sealing, distinguished from plumbers by duties rather than an absolute above ground versus below ground boundary.
Limitations：Stationary steam boilers and auxiliary equipment, structural plate sections, and valve parts; overlaps with piping, with training and role authorization verified separately.
Limitations：Heating, HVAC, and refrigeration systems and diagnostic repair; overlaps with piping but authorizations are not mutually recognized.
Limitations：Maintains equipment or buildings using skills from two or more maintenance trades, which may include pipefitting, but does not automatically prove specialist piping qualifications.
Limitations：Assists plumbers and pipe layers with materials, tools, and site cleanup, and may assist with installation; helper work does not equal independent work authorization.
Limitations：Site labor, tools, site preparation, trenches, and helper trades; not a specialist piping qualification.
Limitations：Editorial ratings use the existing occupational responsibilities and AI task analysis on this page. They are not adoption rates, measured effects, job-disappearance or personal-unemployment probabilities, or official scores from Stanford or another external institution. No measured time weights or future robot deployment are assumed.
The Chinese text on this page explains the US occupational scope; Chinese construction qualifications are verified by project and local regulations. All practice materials are fictional and must not be used for real pressurized, gas, steam, or hot work.
MBTI (English) · Big Five (English) · MBTI (Chinese) · Big Five (Chinese)
Record the medium, material specifications, drawing revision, connection inspection, abnormalities, and handover. Market: BLS projects US 47-2152 employment at about 510,600 in 2025 and about 545,200 in 2035, a change of +6.8%, with about 42,000 annual openings.
Construction, inspection, maintenance, and safety personnel collaborate according to the approved plan and role authority. Reading drawings, measuring, pipe joining, fault diagnosis, and safety discipline must be built up through supervised training.
47-2152 is the independent US occupation for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters; 47-2151 underground pipe layers is listed separately. Verify materials, locations, connections, and inspection results against the approved design and applicable codes, and do not invent generic thresholds.
First verify the system medium, site risks, apprenticeship entry points, and your own fit for hands-on repair. Move from paper drawing exercises and job observation into formal apprenticeship or supervised training, with real work according to local qualifications and employer authorization.
Typical scope：Organizes drawing revisions and handovers.
Readiness evidence：Closed-loop issue records.
Credential boundary：Does not substitute for final acceptance.
Next moves：Spot-checks drawing revisions, medium isolation, and abnormality handovers, retrains for new media and methods, and does not carry old experience across systems.
Typical scope：Summarizes faults and rework.
Readiness evidence：Improvement records.
Credential boundary：Experience cannot replace testing.
Next moves：Use original fault detection and retest delivery to calibrate mentoring, verify codes and authorization separately when equipment is updated, and do not waive testing based on experience.
