Pipelayer salary in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Pipelayers in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median of $43,260 a year ($20.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,850 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $49,000. Pay here is 8% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $47,220. There are 0.67 pipelayers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $43,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for pipelayers in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,590 | $17.59 |
| 25th percentile | $37,680 | $18.11 |
| Median | $43,260 | $20.80 |
| 75th percentile | $47,040 | $22.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,850 | $25.89 |
| Average (mean) | $43,830 | $21.07 |
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 | $3,605 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,802.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,663.85 |
| Weekly | $831.92 |
| Hourly | $20.80 |
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 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $46,860 | 110 |
| 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 |
| 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $44,550 | $21.42 |
| Electrician | $53,730 | $25.83 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $47,340 | $22.76 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $51,330 | $24.68 |
| Carpenter | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $39,870 | $19.17 |
| Roofer | $46,810 | $22.51 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $44,570 | $21.43 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $46,800 | $22.50 |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $44,760 | $21.52 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $69,990 | $33.65 |
| Helpers--Electricians | $37,990 | $18.26 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $44,550 | $21.42 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $59,800 | $28.75 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median salary for pipelayers in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $43,260 a year, or $20.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,850 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pipelayers make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The top 10% of pipelayers in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn at least $53,850 a year. The top 25% earn $47,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for pipelayers in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,590 a year, and a quarter of pipelayers earn $37,680 or less.
How many pipelayers work in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
About 100 pipelayers are employed in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.