# Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door

US SOC code 49-9012. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/49-9012

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **48,240** US control and valve installers and repairers (except mechanical door), with median pay of **$74,340** a year. By the method BLS used before May 2021, the highest count from 2003 to 2020 was **52,270**, in May 2019. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://uwua.net/our-history/) of **58,000** from 1990, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for control and valve installers and repairers: Advanced Metering Infrastructure smart meter rollout, 2005 to 2022.

Figures: Official statistic (latest count and pay, highest count); Researched context (earliest figure).

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 4.3% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=49-9012&ioType=o) (Official statistic).

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1888
- Latest US employment: 48,240 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [3]
- Latest US median pay: $74,340 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [5]
- Outlook: +4.3% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [14]

### All 26 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1956 | n/a | $4,200 (average) (estimate) | Est., University of Missouri Libraries [4] |
| 1990 | 58,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Utility Workers Union of America [1] |
| 2000 | 56,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., O\*NET / BLS [2] |
| 2003 | 37,840 | $42,540 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [3] |
| 2004 | 37,260 | $43,710 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [3] |
| 2005 | 38,640 | $44,120 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [3] |
| 2006 | 42,270 | $45,440 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [3] |
| 2007 | 43,160 | $46,140 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [3] |
| 2008 | 43,900 | $47,040 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [3] |
| 2009 | 42,180 | $47,240 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [3] |
| 2010 | 43,430 | $48,430 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [3] |
| 2011 | 42,450 | $49,600 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [3] |
| 2012 | 40,310 | $50,960 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [3] |
| 2013 | 40,940 | $52,980 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [3] |
| 2014 | 41,290 | $53,140 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [3] |
| 2015 | 42,510 | $54,100 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [3] |
| 2016 | 45,740 | $54,520 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [3] |
| 2017 | 47,700 | $55,850 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [3] |
| 2018 | 51,730 | $56,070 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [3] |
| 2019 | 52,270 | $58,100 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [3] |
| 2020 | 50,660 | $60,580 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [3] |
| 2021 | 44,870 | $62,760 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [3] |
| 2022 | 46,410 | $64,810 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [3] |
| 2023 | 47,780 | $70,100 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [3] |
| 2024 | 46,920 | $74,690 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [3] |
| 2025 | 48,240 | $74,340 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [3] |

## Sources (68)

### Employment series

1. [Utility Workers Union of America — Our History (UWUA founded 1945-1946, representing meter and service workers in gas and electric utilities)](https://uwua.net/our-history/), Utility Workers Union of America
2. [O\*NET 49-9012.00 Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door (BLS SOC 2000 introduction reference; current employment and description)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/49-9012.00), O\*NET / BLS
3. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Wage series

4. [University of Missouri Libraries: Prices and Wages by Decade 1950-1959 (BLS wage survey reference for skilled craftsmen, mid-1950s)](https://libraryguides.missouri.edu/pricesandwages/1950-1959), University of Missouri Libraries / BLS historical sources
5. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Tool eras

6. [Edison Tech Center: History of Electric Meters (Shallenberger watt-hour meter 1888, rotating disk design)](https://edisontechcenter.org/Meters.html), Edison Tech Center
7. [EIA: Natural Gas Timeline (first US gas company 1821, Baltimore street lamps 1816, residential gas expansion)](https://www.eia.gov/kids/history-of-energy/timelines/natural-gas.php), US Energy Information Administration
8. [Lebanon, TN History of Natural Gas (AGA: 30.1 million customers 1956; pipeline expansion 1940s-1960s)](https://www.lebanontn.org/183/History-of-Natural-Gas), Lebanon, Tennessee / American Gas Association
9. [Utility Workers Union of America: Our History (UWUA formation 1942-1946, representing gas and electric meter servicemen)](https://uwua.net/our-history/), Utility Workers Union of America
10. [History of Electric Metering and Introduction to Power Measurements (solid-state register transition, digital test equipment era)](https://www.tescometering.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/History-of-Electric-Metering-and-Intro-to-Power-Measurements-HB-Tom-Lawton-7-22-24.pdf), TESCO Metering
11. [NETL Modern Grid Strategy: AMI White Paper 2008 (Energy Policy Act 2005, Energy Independence and Security Act 2007)](https://netl.doe.gov/sites/default/files/Smartgrid/AMI-White-paper-final-021108--2--APPROVED_2008_02_12.pdf), National Energy Technology Laboratory / US DOE
12. [CLOU Global: How AMI is Reshaping Utility Workforce Dynamics (AMI vs AMR crossover 2013; 90 million AMI meters by 2020; workforce reskilling)](https://clouglobal.com/how-ami-is-reshaping-utility-workforce-dynamics/), CLOU Global
13. [PHMSA: State of the National Pipeline Infrastructure Report (pipeline safety rules driving valve inspection and automatic shutoff mandates)](https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/Secretarys%20Infrastructure%20Report_Revised%20per%20PHC_103111.pdf), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration / US DOT

### Forecasts and exposure studies

14. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 49-9012 Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door (2025: 50.4 thousand; 2035: 52.6 thousand; +4.3%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=49-9012&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Historical notes

15. [Milestones: Weston Meters, 1887-1893 and Shallenberger watt-hour meter patent 1888 (Engineering and Technology History Wiki)](https://ethw.org/Milestones:Weston_Meters,_1887-1893), Engineering and Technology History Wiki (IEEE)
16. [Woodway Energy: History of Transportation of Natural Gas by Pipeline (1931 Amarillo-Chicago pipeline, pipeline expansion history)](https://www.woodwayenergy.com/history-transportation-natural-gas-pipeline/), Woodway Energy
17. [Utility Workers Union of America: Our History (founding 1945, AFL-CIO affiliation 1955)](https://uwua.net/our-history/), Utility Workers Union of America
18. [Lebanon, TN History of Natural Gas (AGA data: 30.1 million US gas customers 1956; 800,000 new customers/year gains in mid-1950s)](https://www.lebanontn.org/183/History-of-Natural-Gas), Lebanon, Tennessee / American Gas Association historical data
19. [NETL Modern Grid Strategy AMI White Paper (Energy Policy Act 2005, EISA 2007, AMI deployment context)](https://netl.doe.gov/sites/default/files/Smartgrid/AMI-White-paper-final-021108--2--APPROVED_2008_02_12.pdf), National Energy Technology Laboratory / US DOE
20. [CLOU Global: How AMI is Reshaping Utility Workforce Dynamics (90 million AMI meters by end of 2020; 29 million AMR remaining)](https://clouglobal.com/how-ami-is-reshaping-utility-workforce-dynamics/), CLOU Global

### Predecessors & successors

21. [EIA: Natural Gas Timeline (gas distributed via pipes to homes from 1816; gas fitters installed residential connections)](https://www.eia.gov/kids/history-of-energy/timelines/natural-gas.php), US Energy Information Administration
22. [Edison Tech Center: History of Electric Meters (meter installation grew out of electrician trades as utilities formalized service connections)](https://edisontechcenter.org/Meters.html), Edison Tech Center

### Present-day analysis

- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-05-21
- [O\*NET 30.3 — US Department of Labor](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), accessed 2026-05-21

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.