Pipelayer Jobs for OPT Students
Pipelayer roles in water, sewer, and gas infrastructure hire F-1 OPT students with construction management, civil engineering, or environmental science degrees. Your 12-month OPT window covers field rotations and project cycles, and STEM-designated programs may qualify for a 24-month extension if your employer files through E-Verify.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Wharton-Smith, Inc. currently has immediate openings in the Central Florida area for the following positions:
- Pipelayer
- Heavy Equipment Operator
- Laborers
- Experienced Mechanical Pipe-layers
- Carpenters
- Craft Foremen
We offer a competitive salary and field benefits.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Successful Candidates must have:
-
Experience in building water/wastewater treatment plant projects.
-
Must be able to shoot grades, be mechanically inclined and have a working knowledge of flanged and mechanical joint (MJ) type ductile iron pipe.
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Have an understanding of different types of concrete forming systems (Symons, Peri, Doka, Meva, EFCO, Alisply, job built, etc.). Pump setting, equipment setting and concrete finishing skills a plus.
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Must have the communication skills to lead craftspeople in all of the above mentioned tasks.
-
Operators must have current certifications.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disability
Wharton-Smith provides equal opportunity to qualified disabled veterans, Pre-JVA special disabled veterans and individuals with disabilities to online application systems by making reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access for submitting to job openings. (i.e., wheelchair accessibility, website accessibility, etc).
Our recruiting process is centralized and is handled by our HR Department. If we are sent unsolicited resumes from recruiters, we will not pay any recruiting fees. Unsolicited resumes are any resumes sent to us by a recruiter who has not been pre-approved by HR, has not signed our contract, and has not been requested by our HR Department to search for a specific position.
INTRODUCTION
Wharton-Smith, Inc. currently has immediate openings in the Central Florida area for the following positions:
- Pipelayer
- Heavy Equipment Operator
- Laborers
- Experienced Mechanical Pipe-layers
- Carpenters
- Craft Foremen
We offer a competitive salary and field benefits.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Successful Candidates must have:
-
Experience in building water/wastewater treatment plant projects.
-
Must be able to shoot grades, be mechanically inclined and have a working knowledge of flanged and mechanical joint (MJ) type ductile iron pipe.
-
Have an understanding of different types of concrete forming systems (Symons, Peri, Doka, Meva, EFCO, Alisply, job built, etc.). Pump setting, equipment setting and concrete finishing skills a plus.
-
Must have the communication skills to lead craftspeople in all of the above mentioned tasks.
-
Operators must have current certifications.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disability
Wharton-Smith provides equal opportunity to qualified disabled veterans, Pre-JVA special disabled veterans and individuals with disabilities to online application systems by making reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access for submitting to job openings. (i.e., wheelchair accessibility, website accessibility, etc).
Our recruiting process is centralized and is handled by our HR Department. If we are sent unsolicited resumes from recruiters, we will not pay any recruiting fees. Unsolicited resumes are any resumes sent to us by a recruiter who has not been pre-approved by HR, has not signed our contract, and has not been requested by our HR Department to search for a specific position.
See all 9+ Pipelayer jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Pipelayer Jobs
Align your degree to specialty occupation
Pipelayer roles qualify for OPT when tied to a civil engineering, construction management, or environmental science degree. Pull the O*NET profile for your job title to confirm the degree-to-role match before you apply.
Target contractors enrolled in E-Verify
STEM OPT extensions require your employer to be E-Verify enrolled. Search municipal and federal infrastructure contractors first, public works projects often mandate E-Verify participation as a contract condition.
Request authorization before your OPT end date
Your DSO must update your I-20 before USCIS can approve the STEM extension. File I-765 at least 90 days before your current EAD expires to avoid a gap in authorization between project phases.
Check prevailing wage before accepting an offer
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the prevailing wage for pipelayer roles in your work location. If your offered wage falls below Level I for that area, an employer's later H-1B or PERM filing could be delayed or denied.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsoring employers
Many infrastructure contractors sponsor visas but don't advertise it in job postings. Migrate Mate surfaces pipelayer roles from employers with active H-1B and LCA filing histories so you can target sponsors from the start.
Pipelayer jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Pipelayer JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does a pipelayer job qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes, if your degree field is directly related to the role. Civil engineering, construction management, and environmental science degrees commonly support pipelayer OPT authorization. Your DSO will confirm the connection when updating your I-20. Roles classified under infrastructure construction on O*NET can qualify, but the degree-to-job link must be documented and credible to USCIS.
Can I get a STEM OPT extension working as a pipelayer?
Possibly, depending on your degree. If you hold a STEM-designated degree such as civil or environmental engineering and your pipelayer role involves technical application of that field, you may qualify. Your employer also must be enrolled in E-Verify and sign a formal training plan. Check the USCIS STEM OPT guidance and confirm your degree's CIP code is on the STEM designated degree program list.
How do I find pipelayer employers who sponsor work visas?
Migrate Mate filters pipelayer and infrastructure construction roles by employers with documented H-1B and LCA filing histories, so you're not guessing which contractors are willing to sponsor. Many municipal contractors and utility companies sponsor but don't flag it in job ads, making targeted search tools more effective than broad job board searches.
What happens to my OPT authorization if a construction project ends between jobs?
OPT allows up to 90 days of unemployment in total across your authorization period, not per job. If one project ends and you're between contracts, those days count against your cumulative limit. Securing your next role or a new employer authorization before hitting 90 days is critical, as exceeding it invalidates your OPT status regardless of remaining EAD validity.
Does my pipelayer role need to be full-time for OPT to remain valid?
USCIS requires OPT employment to be at least 20 hours per week to count as qualifying work. Most pipelayer positions are full-time by nature of the work, but seasonal slowdowns or between-project gaps should be tracked carefully. Part-time work under 20 hours per week counts as unemployment and adds to your 90-day limit.
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