Pipelayer salary in the U.S.
Pipelayers in the U.S. earn a median of $49,000 a year ($23.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 33,050 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,170 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $54,700, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for pipelayers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,730 | $18.14 |
| 25th percentile | $43,980 | $21.15 |
| Median | $49,000 | $23.56 |
| 75th percentile | $61,400 | $29.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,170 | $38.55 |
| Average (mean) | $54,700 | $26.30 |
Half of pipelayers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,083.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,041.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,884.62 |
| Weekly | $942.31 |
| Hourly | $23.56 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Pipelayer salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $86,870 | 350 |
| Washington | $82,450 | 1,050 |
| Minnesota | $81,980 | 510 |
| New Jersey | $78,830 | 400 |
| California | $76,180 | 1,420 |
| Indiana | $73,580 | 800 |
| Massachusetts | $72,770 | n/a |
| Ohio | $71,560 | 1,160 |
| New York | $70,370 | 250 |
| Oregon | $64,230 | 620 |
| Nevada | $63,570 | 450 |
| Arizona | $62,740 | 480 |
| Michigan | $61,560 | 180 |
| Colorado | $59,740 | 790 |
| Kentucky | $58,820 | 60 |
| Idaho | $58,650 | 280 |
| Delaware | $58,240 | n/a |
| Maryland | $55,640 | 650 |
| District of Columbia | $55,470 | 110 |
| Iowa | $53,990 | 280 |
| New Hampshire | $53,870 | 210 |
| Utah | $52,000 | 530 |
| Maine | $50,980 | 110 |
| South Dakota | $50,650 | 300 |
| Illinois | $49,590 | 280 |
| Virginia | $48,700 | 1,080 |
| Montana | $48,080 | 80 |
| North Dakota | $47,810 | 170 |
| Kansas | $47,390 | 240 |
| Florida | $47,260 | 4,050 |
| North Carolina | $47,220 | 3,830 |
| Georgia | $46,220 | 1,890 |
| Tennessee | $46,020 | 810 |
| Texas | $45,620 | 5,010 |
| New Mexico | $45,550 | 190 |
| Oklahoma | $45,190 | 530 |
| South Carolina | $45,180 | 670 |
| Alabama | $44,550 | 460 |
| Nebraska | $44,470 | 570 |
| Louisiana | $44,340 | n/a |
| Mississippi | $41,900 | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,600 | 590 |
| West Virginia | $40,440 | 180 |
| Arkansas | $37,650 | 430 |
| Puerto Rico | $25,620 | 180 |
Best-paying metro areas for pipelayers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $93,550 | 90 |
| Green Bay, WI | $91,520 | 40 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $90,880 | 40 |
| Madison, WI | $86,870 | 50 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $84,830 | 610 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $82,020 | 320 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $81,250 | 30 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $80,370 | 390 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $80,260 | 500 |
| Cleveland, OH | $79,840 | 100 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $77,220 | 90 |
| Toledo, OH | $76,870 | 30 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $76,450 | 40 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $76,390 | 80 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $76,190 | 250 |
Metro areas with the most pipelayers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,300 | $45,150 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,240 | $46,680 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 1,170 | $48,980 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,000 | $47,560 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 740 | $48,440 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 700 | $47,950 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 690 | $46,650 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 660 | $55,320 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 640 | $48,390 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 610 | $84,830 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 570 | $47,790 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 500 | $63,410 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 500 | $80,260 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 490 | $74,180 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 450 | $47,690 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| Electrician | $63,190 | $30.38 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $59,850 | $28.78 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,800 | $30.67 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $57,020 | $27.41 |
| Roofer | $55,440 | $26.65 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 | $29.71 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $58,930 | $28.33 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $62,780 | $30.18 |
| Glazier | $57,080 | $27.44 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $62,120 | $29.87 |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | $49,120 | $23.62 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2151. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pipelayer make in the U.S.?
The median salary for pipelayers in the U.S. is $49,000 a year, or $23.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pipelayers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of pipelayers in the U.S. earn at least $80,170 a year. The top 25% earn $61,400 or more.
What is the starting pay for pipelayers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,730 a year, and a quarter of pipelayers earn $43,980 or less.
How many pipelayers work in the U.S.?
About 33,050 pipelayers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.