Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Controlling Machines and Processes Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanised Devices, or Equipment Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanised equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

The Work

• Learning and developing new practical craft-related skills, knowledge and competence
• Working with and learning from experienced craftspersons.
• Seeing a job through from start to finish
• Comply with Health and Safety requirements
• Working with technical drawings and diagrams
• Using tools or machinery to fabricate industrial components
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Being well organised and careful with practical tasks
• Working at heights
• Lifting or carrying heavy items
• Taking responsibility for own learning, including the allocation of study time
• Being physically active
• Passing all your phase exams (theory, practicals, skills demonstrations).
• Working in a noisy environment
• Bending and kneeling
• Working in cramped and awkward spaces

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Cut, thread, or hammer pipes to specifications, using tools such as saws, cutting torches, pipe threaders, or pipe benders.
• Lay out full scale drawings of pipe systems, supports, or related equipment, according to blueprints.
• Inspect, examine, or test installed systems or pipe lines, using pressure gauge, hydrostatic testing, observation, or other methods.
• Plan pipe system layout, installation, or repair, according to specifications.
• Attach pipes to walls, structures, or fixtures, such as radiators or tanks, using brackets, clamps, tools, or welding equipment.
• Modify, clean, or maintain pipe systems, units, fittings, or related machines or equipment, using hand or power tools.
• Select pipe sises, types, or related materials, such as supports, hangers, or hydraulic cylinders, according to specifications.
• Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brasing, or welding equipment.
• Install pipe assemblies, fittings, valves, appliances such as dishwashers or water heaters, or fixtures such as sinks or toilets, using hand or power tools.
• Install automatic controls to regulate pipe systems.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Apprenticeship Route

The official entry route for a Pipe Fitter is through undertaking an apprenticeship.

Click here to find information on the Pipe Fitter apprenticeship

There are many pathways to develop skills & qualifications towards a career as a Pipe Fitter technician. 

Training & Development

FET Centre Traineeship Engineering operations & Techno0ogy, Construction sklills NFQ level 5 or a pre-apprenticeship maintenance & engineering course NFQ level 5 search our FET coursefinder

Apprenticeship Pipe Fitter Apprenticeship NFQ level 6 search Apprenticeship 

The minimum age at which the employment of an apprentice may commence is 16 years of age.

Entry requirements:

Grade D or "Achieved" in five subjects in the Department of Education & Skills Junior Certificate Examination or an approved equivalent

or

The successful completion of an approved Pre-Apprenticeship course

or

Three years’ work experience gained over sixteen years of age in a relevant designated industrial activity as SOLAS shall deem acceptable.

You must obtain a job as an apprentice in your chosen occupation. Your employer must be approved to train apprentices and must register you as an apprentice within 2 weeks of recruitment.

Last Updated: November, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €30k - €55k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, project or sessional rate, and role.

Data Source(s):
Payscale / Indeed / Glassdoor / Solas/ Excel/ WRC

Last Updated: March, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This occupation has been identified as a Job in Demand by the most recent National Skills Bulletin.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Despite declines in 2020 and 2021, the five-year annual average employment growth was strong (6%), with employment levels for this occupational group reaching their highest levels to date. The demand for welders has persisted, with employers (Skills for Growth) and the Recruitment Agency Survey both citing welding positions as difficult to fill, typically for roles requiring MIG/TIG and arc welding skills or for the machinery manufacturing sector. Job vacancies advertised through the DSP included welder/fabricators, pipefitters, and sheet metal workers/fabricators, while online job adverts, although small in number, grew by 16% year-on-year, driven by increases for sheet metal workers. Employment permits related to welders/fabricators, pipe fitters and, to a lesser extent, sheet metal workers.

Output from the further education and training system has increased in recent years: compared to pre-COVID levels (in 2019), the number of industry and craft awards in welding and metal fabrication grew by 388 and 77 awards, to reach nearly 1,600 and 145 awards respectively. Smaller numbers of awards were made to qualifying apprentices in pipefitting and sheet metal working (combined 38 awards in 2022).

Recent growth in the number of new apprentice registrations in metal fabrication, pipefitting and sheet metal working are expected to lead to further increased output for these occupations in the medium term. The SOC classification system does not capture the extent of the merging of skills in these roles; welder, fabricator and even pipe fitter skills are merging which span both this and the occupation below. Although welders are employed across sectors, shortages are particularly emerging for qualified and experienced welders/fabricators in industry including high tech.

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