Also called: PHMSA Inspector
Inspects oil and gas pipelines to prevent leaks and explosions.
Pipeline inspectors visit construction sites where pipes are welded and buried, check maintenance records, and investigate after leaks. They travel a lot, often in rural areas. Engineers and former pipeline workers do well.
Federal General Schedule (GS) pay scale.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Engineering degree or pipeline industry experience.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Mechanical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Civil Engineering.
Growing about average. Approximate.
Low risk for 10 years. Drones and smart sensors help find leaks; on-site weld and construction inspections stay hands-on.
Classes: Physics, Welding CTE class, Chemistry.
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.