How to become a pipe fitter
Official title: Pipe fitters
Also called: Pipe man, Pipe layer, Pipe fitter, Tube fitter, Pipe turner, Pipe erector, Pipe engineer, Brine pipe man, Boiler pipe fitter, Pipe fitter-welder, Pipe welder-fitter, Pump lineman
Pipe fitters install pipe systems and maintain and repair pipes in major utilities, industrial and construction settings and sites.
Main tasks
- Examines drawings and specifications to determine layout of piping
- Measures and cuts required lengths of copper, lead, steel, iron, aluminium or plastic piping using hand or machine tools
- Installs pipes for heating, ventilating, fire prevention, water and similar systems in industrial and construction settings, including oil rigs and terminals, sewerage systems and other mains networks
- Fits piping into position and joins sections by welding, soldering, cementing, fusing, screwing or by other methods
- Tests pipe work for leaks and makes necessary adjustments
How to become one
There are no formal academic entry requirements, although some employers may expect entrants to possess GCSEs/S grades. Training is usually via apprenticeship including practical experience and technical training. NVQs/SVQs at levels 2 and 3 are available.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Engineering construction pipefitter (level 3). England. Typically 36 months. Skills England standard ST0162.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £42,580 a year
- About 10,800 people work in this job now, and about 10,200 are projected by 2035. (-5.6%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a pipe fitter?
There are no formal academic entry requirements, although some employers may expect entrants to possess GCSEs/S grades. Training is usually via apprenticeship including practical experience and technical training. NVQs/SVQs at levels 2 and 3 are available.
How much does a pipe fitter earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £42,580 a year (Office for National Statistics).
Is a pipe fitter a growing career in the UK?
Employment is projected to fall 6% by 2035, from about 10,800 to about 10,200 people (Department for Education).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03