Pipelayer salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Pipelayers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $46,860 a year ($22.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,630 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $49,000. Pay here is 1% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $47,220. There are 0.31 pipelayers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $47,340, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for pipelayers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,020 | $17.32 |
| 25th percentile | $40,970 | $19.70 |
| Median | $46,860 | $22.53 |
| 75th percentile | $49,550 | $23.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,630 | $29.15 |
| Average (mean) | $47,340 | $22.76 |
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 | $3,905 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,952.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,802.31 |
| Weekly | $901.15 |
| Hourly | $22.53 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Pipelayer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $48,980 | 1,170 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $48,390 | 640 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $48,190 | 50 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $47,820 | 260 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $47,550 | 120 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $47,150 | 190 |
| Asheville, NC | $46,840 | 160 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $46,410 | 110 |
| Wilmington, NC | $46,130 | 160 |
| Burlington, NC | $46,070 | 30 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $44,000 | 70 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $43,260 | 100 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $43,230 | 50 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $40,220 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for pipelayers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $86,870 |
| Washington | $82,450 |
| Minnesota | $81,980 |
| New Jersey | $78,830 |
| California | $76,180 |
| Indiana | $73,580 |
| Massachusetts | $72,770 |
| Ohio | $71,560 |
| New York | $70,370 |
| Oregon | $64,230 |
See Pipelayer pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician | $59,220 | $28.47 |
| Construction Laborer | $46,560 | $22.38 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $60,110 | $28.90 |
| Carpenter | $51,540 | $24.78 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $50,820 | $24.44 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $46,520 | $22.37 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $44,420 | $21.36 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $57,810 | $27.79 |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $54,800 | $26.35 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $46,240 | $22.23 |
| Glazier | $47,270 | $22.73 |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | $49,450 | $23.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $75,430 | $36.27 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $73,590 | $35.38 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for pipelayers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $46,860 a year, or $22.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pipelayers make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of pipelayers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $60,630 a year. The top 25% earn $49,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for pipelayers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,020 a year, and a quarter of pipelayers earn $40,970 or less.
How many pipelayers work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 110 pipelayers are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.