Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters vs Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators: $42K vs $60K Median Pay

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters vs Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators: what changes?

Consider Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters if you want to help plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, or pipelayers by performing duties requiring less skill. Consider Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators if you would rather operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade…. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters and Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

National median pay (2025): $42,360
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Measure, cut, thread and assemble new pipe, placing the assembled pipe in hangers or other supports.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 4,400

Know before you choose

The job can require working in cramped or physically awkward positions for meaningful stretches of time.

See the full Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters brief

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

National median pay (2025): $59,850
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Learn and follow safety regulations.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 39,200

Know before you choose

Errors can seriously affect people, equipment, or operations. Checking and accountability are part of the job, not optional polish.

See the full Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators brief

How the national numbers differ

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators has the edge on annual openings

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators is at 39,200 annual openings, compared with 4,400 annual openings for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters.

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators has the edge on median pay

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators is at $59,850, compared with $42,360 for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters.

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators has the edge on projected growth

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators is at 4.6% projected growth, compared with 2.4% projected growth for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters.

42.3/ 100

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

68.8/ 100

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters vs Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

Dimension	Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
Median pay (2025)	$42,360	$59,850
Pay percentile	14.3 percentile	47.6 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	2.4%	4.6%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	4,400	39,200
2025 employment	45,300	489,500
How you qualify	High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing	High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 2	Job Zone 2
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters brief Read Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators brief

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters vs Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

How the national numbers differ

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators has the edge on annual openings

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators has the edge on median pay

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators has the edge on projected growth

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters vs Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

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