Also called: Pipeline Integrity Technician
Checks pipelines for corrosion, leaks, and bad welds during construction and operation.
You walk new pipeline construction to check coating and welds, and review data from 'smart pigs', robots that travel inside the pipe scanning its walls.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Certificate, about 1 year after high school. Inspector certifications (API, NACE/AMPP) plus experience.
Ways in: Certification, On-the-job training. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Pipeline Technology, Welding Inspection.
Growing slowly. Oil and gas jobs swing up and down with oil prices; long-term outlook is flat to slightly growing.
Medium risk for 10 years. Smart pigs, drones and AI corrosion analytics automate much inspection; field verification still needs certified inspectors.
Classes: Chemistry, Geometry, Welding CTE class.
Official data: O*NET occupation 47-4011.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.