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Started By
Message

What can you tell me about being a Pipefitter?
Posted on 1/22/22 at 12:11 pm
Posted on 1/22/22 at 12:11 pm
19 year old here. Friend is trying to get me into it.
What kind of pay do you start off with and what can you expect 5 years down the road if you bust arse and are competent?
I'll be working working in Louisiana and at plants. Is work here generally consistent or do you have to constantly go out of state. He said we'll being working on turnarounds.
Lastly, what kind of hours can I expect. Is 5-10s the norm or 7-10s.
I'd trying googling all this but it varied so much from state to state.
What kind of pay do you start off with and what can you expect 5 years down the road if you bust arse and are competent?
I'll be working working in Louisiana and at plants. Is work here generally consistent or do you have to constantly go out of state. He said we'll being working on turnarounds.
Lastly, what kind of hours can I expect. Is 5-10s the norm or 7-10s.
I'd trying googling all this but it varied so much from state to state.
Posted on 1/22/22 at 12:14 pm to GlobeFish
Save in feast for times of famine.
Posted on 1/22/22 at 12:15 pm to GlobeFish
quote:
Friend is trying to get me into it.
I would start by asking him.
Posted on 1/22/22 at 12:16 pm to Potchafa
quote:
They fit pipe
while Jody lays pipe

Posted on 1/22/22 at 12:17 pm to GlobeFish
If you are working turnarounds you probably will be working 13 days in a row at around 12 hours a day. After the day off you are back at the 13 days in a row. Pre and post TA will be a little less.
If you get good and are with the right company you can stay busy most of the year In La and fill in when needed in Texas.
The welders will blame you for all of their problems. LOL
If you get good and are with the right company you can stay busy most of the year In La and fill in when needed in Texas.
The welders will blame you for all of their problems. LOL
This post was edited on 1/22/22 at 12:18 pm
Posted on 1/22/22 at 12:17 pm to GlobeFish
Good honest work. Can be lucrative working turnarounds. Like what was said before-save for the down times.
Posted on 1/22/22 at 12:23 pm to GlobeFish
quote:
19 year old here. Friend is trying to get me into it.
The key is to get a steady plant job if do not want to travel. However a lot of the mechanical maint in the plants here is contract which means you will make less than you would as a company employee simply because there is a middle man involved. Not many of those company jobs around anymore.
Now my advice to a 19 yr old going into a craft would be either Electrical or Instrumentation if you have the aptitude for it. These jobs are precious commodities to plants and are often company rather than contract.
Posted on 1/22/22 at 12:24 pm to GlobeFish
Spoiler Alert
Your Uncle Bob is gonna die. RIP brah.

Your Uncle Bob is gonna die. RIP brah.

This post was edited on 1/22/22 at 12:27 pm
Posted on 1/22/22 at 12:25 pm to GetmorewithLes
quote:
GetmorewithLes
Listen to what he just told you.
Posted on 1/22/22 at 12:32 pm to GlobeFish
quote:
What kind of pay do you start off with and what can you expect 5 years down the road if you bust arse and are competent?
Pay is pretty good for the work and requirements. However, depending on your ability and intelligence, you’ll be working around a bunch of dumbasses with a few quality guys mixed in. Unfortunately, pay won’t progress too well in 5 years unless you can advance and run a crew or pick up a more exclusive craft (welding, crane operator, E&I).
quote:
He said we'll being working on turnarounds. Lastly, what kind of hours can I expect. Is 5-10s the norm or 7-10s.
Turnarounds are 12-14 hour days, 7 days a week. You’ll usually get your 14th day off, but it’s back at it after that. It’s exhausting and gets old after a month or so. But you get paid a premium for working all the time. If you can find steady work with the occasional TA, that’s usually preferred to bouncing from TA to TA.
Posted on 1/22/22 at 12:34 pm to LSUtigerME
Good respectible trade.
Posted on 1/22/22 at 12:36 pm to justjoe906
quote:
Good respectible trade.
the world needs pipe fitters too, Danny
Posted on 1/22/22 at 12:36 pm to GlobeFish
It’s a decent job but not a career. Chasing turnarounds isn’t a way to live
Posted on 1/22/22 at 12:37 pm to GlobeFish
Imma bout to fit this pipe in your mama
Posted on 1/22/22 at 12:40 pm to GlobeFish
You will start out as a Pipe Fitter Helper, and undergo 30 days to 3 months of training. Job is considered HEAVY duty which means ... Lifting, Carrying, Pushing, Pulling 50 - 100 Lbs. occasionally; 20 - 50 Lbs. frequently; 10 - 20 Lbs. constantly. Frequent climbing, handling, and reaching.
Assists PIPE FITTER (construction) to assemble and install piping for air, ammonia, gas, and water systems:
Tasks
1. Cuts or drills holes in walls to permit passage of pipes, using pneumatic drill.
2. Selects specified type and size of pipe.
3. Mounts pipe hangers and brackets on walls and ceiling to hold pipe.
4. Assists PIPE FITTER (construction) to install valves, couplings, and other fittings.
5. Performs other duties as described under HELPER (any industry) Master Title.
May Also Include:
1. May disassemble and remove damaged or worn pipe.
Wages are commensurate on your experience and the job location. DOL/BLS reported wages for Lake Charles, LA in May 2020 range from $16.33/hour (25th percentile), to $19.23 (Median). Annual wages are $28,860 to $39,990 respectively.
The turnaround might be 15 days up to several months. If you have contacts with a supervisor/foreman, you can sign on for out of State jobs and make lots of money with OT. Most PF will buy a travel trailer to live in when OOS. You get paid per diem as it is cheaper to live in a trailer vs. a local hotel.
I know a pipefitter with 20 years experience, who worked for Turner Industries and he was making approx. $40 per hour. He was always traveling OOS to make more money with OT pay on 3-4 month turnarounds.
Assists PIPE FITTER (construction) to assemble and install piping for air, ammonia, gas, and water systems:
Tasks
1. Cuts or drills holes in walls to permit passage of pipes, using pneumatic drill.
2. Selects specified type and size of pipe.
3. Mounts pipe hangers and brackets on walls and ceiling to hold pipe.
4. Assists PIPE FITTER (construction) to install valves, couplings, and other fittings.
5. Performs other duties as described under HELPER (any industry) Master Title.
May Also Include:
1. May disassemble and remove damaged or worn pipe.
Wages are commensurate on your experience and the job location. DOL/BLS reported wages for Lake Charles, LA in May 2020 range from $16.33/hour (25th percentile), to $19.23 (Median). Annual wages are $28,860 to $39,990 respectively.
The turnaround might be 15 days up to several months. If you have contacts with a supervisor/foreman, you can sign on for out of State jobs and make lots of money with OT. Most PF will buy a travel trailer to live in when OOS. You get paid per diem as it is cheaper to live in a trailer vs. a local hotel.
I know a pipefitter with 20 years experience, who worked for Turner Industries and he was making approx. $40 per hour. He was always traveling OOS to make more money with OT pay on 3-4 month turnarounds.
Posted on 1/22/22 at 12:43 pm to GlobeFish
I fit my pipe in your mom last night
Posted on 1/22/22 at 12:43 pm to Got Blaze
quote:
I know a pipefitter with 20 years experience, who worked for Turner Industries and he was making approx. $40 per hour. He was always traveling OOS to make more money with OT pay on 3-4 month turnarounds.
everything in your post sounds awful, almost like indentured servitude, absolutely no time for a life, welcome to the Proletariat comrade!
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