Occupation
Steamfitter and pipefitter
Steamfitters and pipefitters build and maintain the piping that carries steam, high-pressure fluids, gases, and process media through plants, boiler rooms, and large buildings. The work is drawing-driven and tolerance-sensitive, since joints have to hold pressure and expansion has to be allowed for. Much of it happens on industrial sites, at height or in confined spaces, often during shutdowns.
Also known as: Pipefitter · Steamfitter · Mechanical pipefitter
Occupation content
Part of Skilled trades, maintenance and repair
What the work involves
- Interpret isometric drawings, piping specifications, and process diagrams to fabricate and set spools.
- Cut, bevel, fit, and align pipe, then bolt flanges or prepare joints for welding.
- Install hangers, supports, expansion loops, valves, traps, and gauges to the specified arrangement.
- Pressure-test and purge completed systems and record the results for inspection.
- Strip out and replace worn sections during plant shutdowns and scheduled outages.
- Follow permit-to-work, isolation, and confined-space procedures on live industrial systems.
How people commonly enter
- A registered steamfitter or pipefitter apprenticeship, typically served with a mechanical or industrial contractor.
- A college pipe trades or mechanical trades programme used to enter an apprenticeship.
- Movement from a welding or plumbing background into the pipe trades with additional technical training.
- A union or employer trainee intake that places candidates directly into supervised pipefitting work.
Typical training: Apprenticeship
Licensing: Regulated in some jurisdictions — confirm the current requirement with the regulator in your province, state, or country.
Pathways: Apprenticeship route
Typical work context
Client sites · Physically active · Team based · High responsibility · Outdoors
Related interests
Realistic (hands-on) · Investigative (analytical)
Related aptitude preparation
These are preparation links only. They do not measure eligibility for this occupation and no score here qualifies or disqualifies anyone.
Skills to practise
Practice suites
Related learning
Family-level learning links for Skilled trades, maintenance and repair.
Official sources
Labour-market facts such as pay and employment projections are not reproduced here. Open an official source below for figures, with its own geography and reference period.
- US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters · United States
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- Red Seal Program — Designated Red Seal trades · Canada
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- O*NET OnLine — occupation search: pipefitter · United States
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Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)
This is broad family-level context for Skilled trades, maintenance and repair in Canada, not a figure for Steamfitter and pipefitter. It does not affect matching scores and is not an eligibility determination.
This is a broad Skilled trades, maintenance and repair family. Explore the official profile for the chosen occupation; entry education and training can differ within the family.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Skilled trades, maintenance and repair: education pathways
Some roles in Skilled trades, maintenance and repair may be regulated. Confirm whether the specific role requires registration, certification, or a jurisdiction-specific licence.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Skilled trades, maintenance and repair: licensing
Find jobs
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- Search Canada Job Bank · Canada
- Search USAJOBS · United States federal
- Search EURES · European Union / EEA
- Search Indeed · International (choose location on Indeed)