Now is a great time to build a great career as a utility worker. Employment opportunities and wages are both on the rise. In fact, average industry hourly wages increased 20% from 2019 to 2023 alone.
Roughly 560,000 utility workers help ensure that people have the electricity, water, heat and digital connectivity they need to live their everyday lives. Several factors fuel demand for those types of services, including population growth and new infrastructure installation, existing infrastructure replacement, and ongoing maintenance and repair. Thus, there are more employment opportunities in certain parts of the country than others. Employment opportunities may also vary depending on which segment of the broader utilities industry you’re seeking employment in.
Pipelayers lay pipe for storm and sanitation sewers, drains and water mains. More than 36,000 people are employed in this profession across the country. Pipelayers can be found in a variety of utility industry sectors. The highest concentration is within utility system construction, but pipelayers are also employed by local governments, building contractors and heavy civil firms.
Employment Opportunities
The top 10 states employing the most pipelayers are:
1. Texas
2. Florida
3. California
4. Arizona
5. North Carolina
6. Georgia
7. Colorado
8. Minnesota
9. New Jersey
10. Nebraska
Wages and Compensation
Pipelayers earn nearly $25 an hour as an industry average. New Jersey leads the way by paying an average of more than $46 in the heavy civil sector. Here’s a look at the top 10 states for pipelayer wages:
1. New Jersey
2. New York
3. Minnesota
4. Nevada
5. Massachusetts
6. Washington
7. Indiana
8. Wisconsin
9. Maryland
10. Kentucky
In conclusion
Choosing the best states to seek employment as a pipelayer largely depends on where you’d like to live and work. Yes, certain states offer more employment opportunities and higher wages. But the industry as a whole is growing, is in urgent need of workers, and is paying higher wages than it has ever paid before. Now is a great time to build a great career as a pipelayer—whichever state you choose.
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