OCCUPATION: Pipe Fitter
Name: Leonard Lanham
Company: Western Air and Refrigeration Co., Newport Beach Thumbs up: “I get to go to different places. I’m not going to the same building and sitting inside all day. I like working with my hands and standing back, seeing what I’ve done. I meet a lot of different people.”
Thumbs down: “I’d like to know when I’m going to have time off so I can plan ahead for a vacation. I can’t make plans two or three months ahead of time because a job can come up.”
Next step: Foreman, who makes sure the materials are at the job site and who coordinates the different tradespeople.
Advice: “Save your money for a rainy day because sometimes you’re going to be out of work. If you get laid off, keep a good attitude because there’s always going to be another job coming up.”
Salary range: Depending on experience, wages range from $7 to $24.75 an hour for union workers and from $5 to $17 an hour for non-union pipe fitters.
Fringe benefits: Most employees receive medical and life insurance, retirement plans and dental insurance. Many receive paid vacation. Some receive paid sick leave. No part-time employees receive benefits.
Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., five days a week, for many unionized workers. Some weekend work.
Educational and training requirements: High school diploma or equivalent. Many pipe fitters acquire their skills by working for several years as a helper to experienced plumbers or pipe fitters. Journey-level status is most often attained by completing a four-year apprenticeship and a union-administered trade test or city licensing test.
Size of work force: Medium. In Orange County, 3,000 to 3,500 people, or 0.3% of the labor force, work as pipe fitters or in the companion profession of plumber.
Expected demand: The state forecast is for faster than average growth for the profession through 1992.
Job description: Pipe fitters install and repair air-conditioning and heating systems. They build steam-cleaning sterilization systems for hospitals.
Major employing industries: Contractors engaged in new construction, repair, modernization or maintenance work. Industrial and commercial firms. Government agencies requiring maintenance work.
Advancement: Some pipe fitters may become supervisors, others go into business for themselves.
For information: Call or visit the job service window at any office of the state Employment Development Division. In Orange County, the offices are at 900 E. Pacifico Ave. in Anaheim (714) 978-7421, 233 E. Commonwealth Ave. in Fullerton (714) 680-7800, and 1001 S. Grand Ave. in Santa Ana (714) 558-4294. Employers are also invited to call with job openings.
Source: State Employment Development Department and the Orange County Private Industry Councils.
