Pipefitter Career Guide and Counseling

Question: Is a pipefitter a good profession if you would like to be able to travel and find jobs nationwide? Is it looked down upon in this field to work 1 place for a while, then pickup and move somewhere else?

Answer: My father was a pipefitter and made a very good living. As to moving around...thats looked down on in many fields but pipefitter jobs are plentiful in most parts of the country.

Question: What is the difference between a construction plumber and pipefitter? I was thinking about joining the local union, but im not sure if plumbing or pipefitting would be better. What are the pro's and con's of each??

Answer: Plumbers deal with water that people/animals use otherwise known as "potable water" such as sewers (for waste) water for bathing, drinking, any use that would come in contact with a living thing. Pipe fitters deal with water for industry. Water used in factories such as water pressure for etching steel. There are as many pros as cons for each, it really boils down to which you would rather do. In many instances they are both on the same job. A factory needs a plumber to do the piping for the kitchens, bathrooms, drinking fountains and the pipe fitter would do the piping say for the automatic rinse off for equipment. Depending on where you live, the amount of money you will make as a independent plumber can be less than a union pipe fitter. I live in a union town so all the major jobs go to union companies. But if you have a good reputation and a license you can probably make a decent living. In my area plumbers make a little more than a dollar more per hour.

Question: Does the pipefitter's union training center REALLY do a hair follicle drug test as part of the application? I am definitely not what you'd call a regular user of illicit drugs, but I have used pot and cocaine 4-5 times in the past 3 months and I don't want to have to wait a couple months for the drugs to be out of my hair before I start the union training. Is this just a scare tactic they put on their website or do they really go through the expense and trouble of a follicle drug test?

Answer: Union jobs are strict with there drug testing policies. If they state they are going to preform a hair test, I would believe them. Luckily you can use a cleansing shampoo to get it out of your hair. Check out: http://www.detoxlabs.com/store/product_i… to pass a hair test.

Question: I start a job as a pipefitter helper on wednesday and I need to know what kindof tools I'll need. help? Its a helpers job working on an ethanol plant. I have a tool belt and basic hand tools (pliers, wrenches, etc.) but does anyone know exactly what I'll need?

Answer: Why don't you call whoever hired you and asked what tool you need to bring as you will be starting as a "pipefitter's helper" on Wednesday. I am certain they will be most helpful to you.

Question: Iam a time-served pipefitter moving to perth, australia in january 2009, is ther any good websites i can look ? at to find me a job that matches my description?

Answer: Australia's main job search websites are: http://www.seek.com.au/ http://www.careerone.com.au/ http://jobsearch.gov.au/default.aspx You should also try The West Australian newspaper's employment pages: http://olps.thewest.com.au/olps/employme… Good luck with the search!

Question: I was a pipefitter in Texas until last week. They replaced me with a mexican immigrant pipefitter. Now what? I have been a pipefitter in the oil and gas construction business for 22 years in Texas. I was making a good salary at about $45,000 year. Last week, they let some of us go on a job we were doing in western Texas. This week, they hired several mexican nationals to do the jobs we had been doing. They are working for about 25 to 30% less than we were. No what am I supposed to do? I was born and raised in this country and still have two kids in high school. All of my wages stayed in our economy. I'm pretty sure a lot of the money I used to earn will now leave the country. I'm going to tell my story to the news. I'll find another job, but this is not a good sign for Texas. Immigration is killing us. Both... Been doing this what seems like forever.... Sorry for the confusion/ But, Thanks for the fans!!!

Answer: Rancher or pipefitter? Which is it? http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;… While I agree with your sentiment about the multi factorial negative impact of illegal aliens on Texas, California and the rest of the US....please get your personal story straight. There are plenty of facts to support this position without resorting to fabrications.

Question: What are the wages of an pipefitter fabricator in louisiana?

Answer: http://www.indeed.com/salary?q1=pipefitt… $42,000 PLCG~

Question: Can someone with a steamfitter/pipefitter trade findwork as a plumber? Or is additional training required?

Answer: Find a local union for Pipefitters / Boilermakers in your area. You can also try trade schools. It will most likely be an apprenticeship you are looking for.

Question: how does the tax sytem work in australia perth, for a hairdresser an pipefitter moving over from england. ? what percentage would be taken from our wages.

Answer: Depends on how much you earn, how much you declare and how much you claim back. Check out: ato.gov.au - The Tax office Site.

Question: How much does a pipefitter make a year?

Answer: I differs. If you want to be a pipefitter, be advised that the first step is to try to get into an appreticship. This can be hard sometimes, so maybe see if a local college is offering a few classes. taking these willl greatley increase your chances of getting your foot in the door. often just one class will do. by all means avoid the "helper" position. employers use this word to underpay their employees. men can do it for 10 years as a helper and make only 13-15 dollers an hour. Your local union would be a good step, but union members are oftern arrogent arseholes so itll be tough to get in. but a union pipefitter can make up to 52 dollers an hour, the average being about $35. Union wages in the south are lower though, where I live, its 21$ hourly The non-union fitter makes about 18 - 26$ an hr. If you want to know how much a salery is pased on hourley pay, its about twice the hourly figure plus 3 zeros. (21$ hr is 42,000 a year) by all means get into an apprenticship though www.ua.org