Pipelayer salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Pipelayers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $64,770 a year ($31.14 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,770 for the top 10%. That is 32% higher than the national median of $49,000. Pay here is 15% lower than the California statewide median of $76,180. There are 0.06 pipelayers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.29). The average (mean) salary is $71,560, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for pipelayers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,160 | $25.08 |
| 25th percentile | $62,400 | $30.00 |
| Median | $64,770 | $31.14 |
| 75th percentile | $74,070 | $35.61 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,770 | $45.08 |
| Average (mean) | $71,560 | $34.40 |
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 | $5,397.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,698.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,491.15 |
| Weekly | $1,245.58 |
| Hourly | $31.14 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $80,260 | 500 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $76,190 | 250 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $73,960 | 170 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $61,160 | 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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $57,180 | $27.49 |
| Carpenter | $73,200 | $35.19 |
| Electrician | $76,160 | $36.62 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $72,510 | $34.86 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $55,970 | $26.91 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $76,290 | $36.68 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $83,670 | $40.23 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $66,530 | $31.98 |
| Roofer | $62,180 | $29.90 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $80,080 | $38.50 |
| Tile and Stone Setters | $58,240 | $28.00 |
| Glazier | $65,150 | $31.32 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $76,400 | $36.73 |
| Solar Photovoltaic Installer | $61,340 | $29.49 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for pipelayers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $64,770 a year, or $31.14 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,770 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pipelayers make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of pipelayers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $93,770 a year. The top 25% earn $74,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for pipelayers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,160 a year, and a quarter of pipelayers earn $62,400 or less.
How many pipelayers work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 90 pipelayers are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.