Pipefitters and Steamfitters
Job description
These individuals design, manufacture, install, and repair sprinkler heating systems. They also maintain and repair plumbing and heating systems.
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
- Climatic conditions
- Equipment, machinery, tools
- Hazardous chemical
- Odours
- Nontoxic dust
- Hazardous workplaces
- Noise
- Fire, steam, hot surfaces
- Falling objects
Main tasks
Pipefitters and Steamfitters
- Study plans and specifications to establish the layout of the network.
- Make openings in walls, floors, and ceilings.
- Choose the type and size of pipe.
- Measure, cut, drill, bend, and assemble pipes.
- Install brackets, valves, conduits, and control systems.
- Check the network for leaks.
- Clean and maintain the pipes, fittings, and drainage system.
- Replace worn elements and restart the system.
- Interpret evaluative specifications, as required.
Sprinkler System Installers and Fire Protection Mechanics
- Study plans, specifications, and codes in force to establish the network’s route.
- Install piping, sprinklers, and firefighting equipment.
- Cut, assemble, and drill pipes.
- Connect pipes to supply tanks and water mains.
- Install valves, alarms, and related equipment.
- Check the network for leaks.
- Maintain and repair sprinkler systems.
- Produce evaluative estimates, as required.
Advancement and mobility
- Qualified Steamfitters and Fire Protection Mechanics obtain a Red Seal endorsement upon successful completion of the Interprovincial Examination.
- Experience leads to supervisory positions.
Hourly wage
The hourly wage is calculated by averaging wages from 2022 to 2024.- Minimum
- $30.00
- Median
- $42.15
- Maximum
- $48.00
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Les 2 champs de sélection ci-dessous vous permettent de comparer 2 régions. Les données des régions seront automatiquement mises à jour à la sélection. Par défaut, la province de Québec est sélectionnée pour la première région.
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
Very good
All of Québec
Non available
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
4,000
All of Québec
na
Gender distribution
All of Québec
Not available.
- 1.2% Female
- 98.8% Male
Not available.
- 1.2% Female
- 98.8% Male
Job types
All of Québec
Not available.
- Full time
- Part time
Not available.
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
$70,500
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- Seasonal worker
- Non traditional for women
- None
All of Québec
- Seasonal worker
- Non traditional for women
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
Not available.
-
NAICS 2377% of jobs
-
NAICS 914% of jobs
-
NAICS 324, 3252% of jobs
-
NAICS 612% of jobs
-
NAICS 55, 562% of jobs
-
Others13% of jobs
All of Québec
Not available.
-
NAICS 2377% of jobs
-
NAICS 914% of jobs
-
NAICS 324, 3252% of jobs
-
NAICS 612% of jobs
-
NAICS 55, 562% of jobs
-
Others13% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
Secondary
DVS in plomberie et chauffage
Code : 5333
Placement rate: 90.8%
4.9% of graduates pursue further studies
Also required
- Certificate of qualification.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Information processing
- Critical thought
- Active listening
- Judgment and decision-making
- Quality control analysis
- Data collection
- Troubleshooting
- Oral expression
- Repair
- Solving complex problems
- Monitoring operations
- Active learning
- Reading comprehension
- Coordination
- Teaching
- Equipment maintenance
- Result evaluation
- Operations and control
- Time management
- Service oriented
Abilities
- Awareness of issues
- Near vision
- Digital dexterity
- Deductive reasoning
- Physical flexibility in extension
- Oral comprehension
- Limb coordination
- Manual dexterity
- Inductive reasoning
- Hand-arm stability
- Information organization
- Control accuracy
- Visualization
- Written comprehension
- Core strength
- Verbal skills
- Perception speed
- Selective attention
- Speech clarity
- Classification
- Overall balance of the body
- Static muscle power
- Idea generation
- Speech recognition
- Processing flexibility
- Distance vision
Knowledge and attributes
- Capacity to work under pressure
- Critical thinking
- Autonomy
- Capacity to adapt
- Sense of initiative
- Respect standards and regulations
- Sense of observation
- Commitment to quality
- Knowledge of buildings and construction
- Knowledge of mechanics
Interests
- Work with numbers
- Make, build, install
- Self-employment
- Work manually
- Work outdoors
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Enterprising
- People with this profile prefer having responsibilities, influencing others and responding to challenges.
Official name of the NOC 72301
Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
Job titles
- Pipefitters
- Fire Protection Mechanics
- Sprinkler fitter
- Pipefitter-steamfitter
- Apprentice pipefitter
- Sprinkler system installer apprentice
- Apprentice pipefitter-steamfitter
- Apprentice steamfitter
- Apprentice sprinkler system fitter
- Journeyman/woman sprinkler system installer
- Journeyman/woman steamfitter-pipefitter
- Journeyman/woman pipefitter
- Sprinkler system installer
- Steam heating installer
- Fire protection piping installer
- Steamfitter
- Sprinkler system installer (non-construction)
- Sprinkler and fire protection installer
- Sprinkler system fitter
- Fire sprinkler fitter
- Fire prevention and automatic suppression systems installer
- Fire protection piping system installer
- Steamfitter - shipbuilding
- Marine steamfitter
- Ship steamfitter
- Steam main servicer
- Steamfitter/pipefitter (non-construction)
- Welding pipefitter
- Pipefitter - shipbuilding
- Maintenance pipefitter
- Steam pipefitter
- Railway car and locomotive pipefitter
- Marine pipefitter
- Ship pipefitter
- Radiator pipe installer
- Turbine pipefitter
Skill type
Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations
Last update: January 29, 2026
Page evaluation