What is the salary and career path for a underground utility worker?
There is no BLS occupation called underground utility worker, so this figure is approximate: the closest code is Pipelayers, SOC 47-2151 — a broad stand-in, since underground utility crews also install conduit, vaults and structures that fall partly under construction laborer and equipment operator codes — with an OEWS May 2025 median of $49,000 a year ($23.56 an hour), from $37,730 at the 10th percentile to $80,170 at the 90th. The outlook is negative: BLS projects a 4.1% decline in pipelayer employment over 2024–2034, with about 2,400 openings a year, essentially all replacement. Entry is direct hire as a laborer with no degree required, and progression runs through pipe laying, grade work and equipment. There is no individual state licence, but OSHA 1926 subpart P excavation rules and state 811 one-call requirements govern every day of the work.
- Underground Utility Workers earn a national median $49,000/yr ($23.56/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-2151); the top 10% clear $80,170.
- The $49,000 figure comes from the broad Pipelayers code (SOC 47-2151) and is an approximation — underground utility crews also fall partly under laborer and equipment operator codes.
- BLS projects a 4.1% decline in pipelayer employment over 2024–2034; roughly 2,400 openings a year are almost entirely replacement, not growth.
- No licence is required to enter, but OSHA 1926 subpart P trench rules and state 811 one-call law govern the work daily.
Career Path
How do you become an underground utility worker?
Underground laborer
Working the trench edge, handling pipe, bedding stone and running the shoring; entry pay sits near the SOC 47-2151 10th percentile of $37,730.
Pipelayer
Laying water, sewer and storm to line and grade with correct bedding and joints, around the $49,000 national median for the code.
Lead pipelayer / grade hand
Running grade with lasers and GPS, setting structures and directing the excavator pays toward the 75th percentile of $61,400.
Underground foreman or superintendent
Running utility crews, managing inspections, 811 tickets and shoring plans reaches the 90th percentile at $80,170.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays underground utility workers the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-2151. National median: $49,000. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does underground utility worker pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles underground utility workers most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: underground utility workers rank 3 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected −4.1% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly underground utility workers clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-2151 (underground utility workers) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do underground utility workers need?
Required in substance by OSHA 1926 subpart P: a competent person must inspect excavations daily and select protective systems for the soil type. See all state licences →
Hauling equipment, pipe and spoil is routine, and a CDL substantially increases the hours a worker is available for.
Manholes, wet wells and vaults are permit-required confined spaces under OSHA 1910.146, requiring atmospheric testing, attendants and rescue arrangements.
Some states and utilities require certification for tapping mains, backflow devices or on-site sewage installation; requirements are set locally, so check the state authority.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do underground utility workers use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 47-2151
Salary Levers
How do underground utility workers earn above the $49,000 BLS median?
Grade and layout skill
Pipelayers who can run their own grade and hold invert elevations move well above the $37,730 tenth-percentile laborer floor
Equipment operation and CDL
Excavator time plus a Class A licence pushes earnings toward the $61,400 seventy-fifth percentile
Prevailing-wage and municipal contracts
Public water, sewer and transit work carries prevailing wage rates well above private site development
Foreman responsibility
Running crews, shoring plans and inspections is what reaches the $80,170 top decile
This Route vs. College
Is becoming an underground utility worker worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 47-2151. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Underground Utility Worker Career, Frequently Asked Questions
Underground Utility Worker career research journey
Do your homework, then let the network do the rest.Get the job, then keep rising
FreeSet your intent, matching jobs come to you. No applying.
A roadmap to your next licence tier and higher pay band.
Once placed, we cover all certification, licence & career-guide fees.
Hiring underground utility workers?
Get a verified shortlist of 3–5 qualified candidates in 48 hours
GlobalCybers verifies active state licenses, trade certifications, Intent and right-to-work status before any candidate reaches your portal. Flat $2,999/mo RPO (Recruitment Process Outsourcing), up to 3 concurrent roles, or a free trial (pay on hire). 90-day written guarantee.
Related · Underground Utility Worker
Everything for underground utility workers in one place
Salary data, licensing, interview prep, and hiring, all cross-linked so you (and search engines) can move through the full underground utility worker cluster.