47 Series · SOC 47-3015

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$42,360
Median / year
+7.9%
2024→2025
$57,780
Top 10% earn
+4.9%
Growth '24–'34
44,330
Estimated US jobs

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters earn a median of $42,360 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $42,360, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $33,590 (10th percentile) to $57,780 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 44,330 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Washington ($56,140).

47 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters earn a median of $42,360, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 15% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Construction and Extraction, it ranks #59 of 60 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 4.9% by 2034.

$42,360
Median annual wage
Top 85%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#59 of 60
in Construction and Extraction
1.7×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Washington at $56,140. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters moved from $32,100 in May 2019 to $42,360 in May 2025 (+32.0%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters sits +7.5 pp ahead of that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-3015) has a national median of $42,360 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $33,590 to $57,780, and the published mean is $43,730. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 44,330 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 49 state or territory areas and 173 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $39,270 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $42,360 in May 2025, a rise of $3,090 (+7.9%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +4.9% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as about as fast as average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 4,900 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as short-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Construction and Extraction Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Washington pays the highest state median at $56,140, which is +33% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $65,600. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 44,330 jobs Median $42,360/yr

Median Salary

$42,360

per year

Median Hourly

$20.36/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$43,730

average

Employment

44,330

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$42,360 Bottom 15% higher than 15% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 (this entry) 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$42,360 · 15th percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 47-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 24 47-series occupations with growth data, Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters sits on the slower-growing side at +4.9% growth and $42,360 median pay. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $40000$50000$60000$70000$80000$90000 -5%0%5%10%15% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Construction Laborers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 7.3% · Median annual wage: $47120First-Line Superviso… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.3% · Median annual wage: $79920Electricians - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 9.5% · Median annual wage: $63190Carpenters - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.5% · Median annual wage: $60580Operating Engineers … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.6% · Median annual wage: $59850Plumbers, Pipefitter… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.5% · Median annual wage: $63800Painters, Constructi… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.8% · Median annual wage: $49400Cement Masons and Co… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.8% · Median annual wage: $57020Highway Maintenance … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3% · Median annual wage: $50260Construction and Bui… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.8% · Median annual wage: $74690Roofers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.9% · Median annual wage: $55440Sheet Metal Workers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.4% · Median annual wage: $61800Drywall and Ceiling … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.2% · Median annual wage: $58930Structural Iron and … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.4% · Median annual wage: $62780Helpers--Electricians - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.2% · Median annual wage: $42670Glaziers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.3% · Median annual wage: $57080Brickmasons and Bloc… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.2% · Median annual wage: $62120Hazardous Materials … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1% · Median annual wage: $49450Roustabouts, Oil and… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.5% · Median annual wage: $46960Insulation Workers, … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.8% · Median annual wage: $49120Helpers--Pipelayers,… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.9% · Median annual wage: $42360Service Unit Operato… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.4% · Median annual wage: $58160Paving, Surfacing, a… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.2% · Median annual wage: $53340Tile and Stone Setters - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 10.1% · Median annual wage: $55690
Among 24 47-series occupations with growth data, Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters sits on the slower-growing side at +4.9% growth and $42,360 median pay.
Read the chart as text
  • Construction Laborers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.3%, Median annual wage $47120
  • First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.3%, Median annual wage $79920
  • Electricians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 9.5%, Median annual wage $63190
  • Carpenters: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $60580
  • Operating Engineers …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.6%, Median annual wage $59850
  • Plumbers, Pipefitter…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $63800
  • Painters, Constructi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.8%, Median annual wage $49400
  • Cement Masons and Co…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.8%, Median annual wage $57020
  • Highway Maintenance …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3%, Median annual wage $50260
  • Construction and Bui…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.8%, Median annual wage $74690
  • Roofers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.9%, Median annual wage $55440
  • Sheet Metal Workers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.4%, Median annual wage $61800
  • Drywall and Ceiling …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.2%, Median annual wage $58930
  • Structural Iron and …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.4%, Median annual wage $62780
  • Helpers--Electricians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.2%, Median annual wage $42670
  • Glaziers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $57080
  • Brickmasons and Bloc…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.2%, Median annual wage $62120
  • Hazardous Materials …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1%, Median annual wage $49450
  • Roustabouts, Oil and…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.5%, Median annual wage $46960
  • Insulation Workers, …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.8%, Median annual wage $49120
  • Helpers--Pipelayers,…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.9%, Median annual wage $42360
  • Service Unit Operato…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.4%, Median annual wage $58160
  • Paving, Surfacing, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.2%, Median annual wage $53340
  • Tile and Stone Setters: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 10.1%, Median annual wage $55690

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+4.9%

About as fast as average

Annual Openings

4,900

per year (projected)

Employment Change

+2,200

45,300 (2024) → 47,500 (2034)

Typical Education

High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-Job Training

Short-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
Group

Construction and Extraction Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

Fatality Rate

12.4/100K

Injury Rate

3.5/100

Danger Index

20.2/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Active Listening 2.9
Critical Thinking 2.9
Monitoring 2.9
Judgment and Decision Making 2.9
Coordination 2.8
Active Learning 2.6
Complex Problem Solving 2.6
Repairing 2.6
Speaking 2.5
Social Perceptiveness 2.5

Knowledge Areas

Building and Construction 4.5
Customer and Personal Service 3.7
Mechanical 3.6
Mathematics 3.5
English Language 3.3
Administration and Management 3.1
Design 2.9
Engineering and Technology 2.9
Education and Training 2.8
Public Safety and Security 2.8

Key Tasks

  • Measure, cut, thread and assemble new pipe, placing the assembled pipe in hangers or other supports.
  • Cut or drill holes in walls or floors to accommodate the passage of pipes.
  • Perform rough-ins, repair and replace fixtures and water heaters, and locate, repair, or remove leaking or broken pipes.
  • Assist pipe fitters in the layout, assembly, and installation of piping for air, ammonia, gas, and water systems.
  • Install gas burners to convert furnaces from wood, coal, or oil.
  • Cut pipe and lift up to fitters.
  • Fit or assist in fitting valves, couplings, or assemblies to tanks, pumps, or systems, using hand tools.
  • Requisition tools and equipment, select type and size of pipe, and collect and transport materials and equipment to work site.
  • Mount brackets and hangers on walls and ceilings to hold pipes, and set sleeves or inserts to provide support for pipes.
  • Excavate and grade ditches, and lay and join pipe for water and sewer service.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$33,590
25th$36,940
Median$42,360
75th$47,720
90th$57,780

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$16.15
25th$17.76
Median$20.36
75th$22.94
90th$27.78

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay history, 2015–2025

Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$25,000$30,000$35,000$40,000$45,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $28,500National median - 2016: $29,030National median - 2017: $29,890National median - 2018: $30,980National median - 2019: $32,100National median - 2020: $33,590National median - 2021: $35,720National median - 2022: $36,340National median - 2023: $37,650National median - 2024: $39,270National median - 2025: $42,360$42,360
National median annual wage for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $28,500
2016 $29,030
2017 $29,890
2018 $30,980
2019 $32,100
2020 $33,590
2021 $35,720
2022 $36,340
2023 $37,650
2024 $39,270
2025 $42,360

2015 median

$28,500

2025 median

$42,360

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$10,260 (+32%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+4.7%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $28,500 First banked release 55,530
May 2016 $29,030 +1.9% 54,080
May 2017 $29,890 +3.0% 54,790
May 2018 $30,980 +3.6% 54,710
May 2019 $32,100 Classification break 58,400
May 2020 $33,590 +4.6% 55,740
May 2021 $35,720 +6.3% 45,930
May 2022 $36,340 +1.7% 46,760
May 2023 $37,650 +3.6% 45,300
May 2024 $39,270 +4.3% 43,640
May 2025 $42,360 +7.9% 44,330

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $28,500 in May 2015 to $42,360 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +4.7% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 58,400 in May 2019 to 44,330 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.

Salary by State

View all 49 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Washington $56,140 +33% above national
2 Hawaii $52,000 +23% above national
3 New York $52,000 +23% above national
4 Maine $48,410 +14% above national
5 Arizona $47,990 +13% above national
6 Alaska $47,290 +12% above national
7 California $47,130 +11% above national
8 Maryland $46,170 +9% above national
9 New Hampshire $46,030 +9% above national
10 Ohio $45,760 +8% above national
11 District of Columbia $45,440 +7% above national
12 Wyoming $45,250 +7% above national
13 Colorado $45,030 +6% above national
14 Oregon $44,800 +6% above national
15 Nebraska $44,550 +5% above national
16 Tennessee $44,550 +5% above national
17 New Jersey $44,360 +5% above national
18 Massachusetts $44,340 +5% above national
19 North Carolina $43,710 +3% above national
20 Utah $43,380 +2% above national
21 Kentucky $43,330 +2% above national
22 Michigan $42,810 +1% above national
23 Indiana $42,240 same as national
24 Pennsylvania $42,150 same as national
25 Texas $41,950 1% below national
26 Wisconsin $41,670 2% below national
27 Montana $41,420 2% below national
28 Nevada $41,100 3% below national
29 Kansas $40,540 4% below national
30 Idaho $40,120 5% below national
31 New Mexico $40,100 5% below national
32 Oklahoma $40,080 5% below national
33 South Carolina $39,450 7% below national
34 Connecticut $38,930 8% below national
35 Illinois $38,300 10% below national
36 Virginia $38,190 10% below national
37 Iowa $37,870 11% below national
38 Georgia $37,730 11% below national
39 Arkansas $37,670 11% below national
40 Florida $37,560 11% below national
41 Alabama $37,440 12% below national
42 Mississippi $37,440 12% below national
43 Vermont $37,440 12% below national
44 Louisiana $37,380 12% below national
45 South Dakota $36,500 14% below national
46 Delaware $36,070 15% below national
47 West Virginia $35,930 15% below national
48 Missouri $34,630 18% below national
49 Puerto Rico $25,560 40% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 145 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $65,600 +55% above national
2 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $63,210 +49% above national
3 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $52,000 +23% above national
4 Urban Honolulu, HI $52,000 +23% above national
5 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $51,940 +23% above national
6 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $51,350 +21% above national
7 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $49,660 +17% above national
8 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $47,710 +13% above national
9 Anchorage, AK $47,290 +12% above national
10 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $47,100 +11% above national
11 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $46,990 +11% above national
12 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $46,950 +11% above national
13 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $46,940 +11% above national
14 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $46,840 +11% above national
15 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $46,780 +10% above national
16 Jackson, TN $46,650 +10% above national
17 Syracuse, NY $46,610 +10% above national
18 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $46,540 +10% above national
19 Greensboro-High Point, NC $46,420 +10% above national
20 Oklahoma City, OK $46,290 +9% above national
21 Reno, NV $46,290 +9% above national
22 Cleveland, OH $46,280 +9% above national
23 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $46,110 +9% above national
24 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $46,010 +9% above national
25 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $45,990 +9% above national
26 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $45,930 +8% above national
27 Akron, OH $45,870 +8% above national
28 Madison, WI $45,760 +8% above national
29 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $45,660 +8% above national
30 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $45,500 +7% above national
31 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $45,340 +7% above national
32 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $45,200 +7% above national
33 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $45,030 +6% above national
34 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV $45,030 +6% above national
35 Raleigh-Cary, NC $45,020 +6% above national
36 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $44,960 +6% above national
37 Topeka, KS $44,880 +6% above national
38 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $44,750 +6% above national
39 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $44,580 +5% above national
40 Knoxville, TN $44,550 +5% above national
41 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $44,510 +5% above national
42 Mobile, AL $44,500 +5% above national
43 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $44,360 +5% above national
44 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $44,320 +5% above national
45 Fresno, CA $44,190 +4% above national
46 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $44,010 +4% above national
47 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $43,790 +3% above national
48 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $43,680 +3% above national
49 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $43,680 +3% above national
50 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $43,350 +2% above national
51 Asheville, NC $43,040 +2% above national
52 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $43,010 +2% above national
53 Lexington-Fayette, KY $43,000 +2% above national
54 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $42,630 +1% above national
55 Albuquerque, NM $42,210 same as national
56 Florence, SC $42,120 1% below national
57 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL $41,600 2% below national
58 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $41,510 2% below national
59 Odessa, TX $41,280 3% below national
60 Corpus Christi, TX $41,270 3% below national
61 Columbus, OH $41,030 3% below national
62 Wilmington, NC $40,670 4% below national
63 Naples-Marco Island, FL $40,570 4% below national
64 Rocky Mount, NC $40,570 4% below national
65 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $40,440 5% below national
66 Stockton-Lodi, CA $40,300 5% below national
67 Boise City, ID $40,120 5% below national
68 Tulsa, OK $40,080 5% below national
69 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $39,710 6% below national
70 Waco, TX $39,710 6% below national
71 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $39,700 6% below national
72 Tuscaloosa, AL $39,660 6% below national
73 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $39,650 6% below national
74 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $39,520 7% below national
75 Killeen-Temple, TX $39,510 7% below national
76 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $39,380 7% below national
77 Burlington, NC $39,250 7% below national
78 Pittsburgh, PA $39,190 7% below national
79 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $39,130 8% below national
80 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $39,080 8% below national
81 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $39,020 8% below national
82 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $38,930 8% below national
83 Columbia, SC $38,830 8% below national
84 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $38,710 9% below national
85 Winchester, VA-WV $38,710 9% below national
86 Winston-Salem, NC $38,710 9% below national
87 Rochester, NY $38,500 9% below national
88 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $38,480 9% below national
89 Jackson, MS $38,400 9% below national
90 Baton Rouge, LA $38,310 10% below national
91 Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA $38,310 10% below national
92 Lubbock, TX $38,300 10% below national
93 Fayetteville, NC $38,220 10% below national
94 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $38,170 10% below national
95 Victoria, TX $38,170 10% below national
96 Wichita, KS $38,040 10% below national
97 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $38,030 10% below national
98 Appleton, WI $37,990 10% below national
99 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $37,990 10% below national
100 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $37,990 10% below national
101 Omaha, NE-IA $37,990 10% below national
102 Richmond, VA $37,990 10% below national
103 Longview, TX $37,960 10% below national
104 Charlottesville, VA $37,950 10% below national
105 Canton-Massillon, OH $37,940 10% below national
106 Savannah, GA $37,870 11% below national
107 College Station-Bryan, TX $37,770 11% below national
108 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC $37,730 11% below national
109 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $37,610 11% below national
110 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $37,520 11% below national
111 Birmingham, AL $37,440 12% below national
112 Abilene, TX $37,160 12% below national
113 Athens-Clarke County, GA $36,930 13% below national
114 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $36,920 13% below national
115 Jacksonville, FL $36,810 13% below national
116 Lake Charles, LA $36,800 13% below national
117 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $36,780 13% below national
118 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $36,760 13% below national
119 Tyler, TX $36,730 13% below national
120 Alexandria, LA $36,720 13% below national
121 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $36,680 13% below national
122 Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL $36,550 14% below national
123 Sumter, SC $36,450 14% below national
124 San Angelo, TX $36,430 14% below national
125 Lynchburg, VA $36,380 14% below national
126 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA $36,280 14% below national
127 Macon-Bibb County, GA $36,240 14% below national
128 Albany, GA $36,220 14% below national
129 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $36,140 15% below national
130 Rapid City, SD $36,110 15% below national
131 Tallahassee, FL $36,100 15% below national
132 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $36,070 15% below national
133 Tucson, AZ $35,920 15% below national
134 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $35,630 16% below national
135 Amarillo, TX $35,610 16% below national
136 Warner Robins, GA $35,470 16% below national
137 Roanoke, VA $35,360 17% below national
138 Cedar Rapids, IA $35,320 17% below national
139 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $35,190 17% below national
140 El Paso, TX $35,080 17% below national
141 Monroe, LA $35,010 17% below national
142 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA $34,500 19% below national
143 Gainesville, FL $34,380 19% below national
144 Brunswick-St. Simons, GA $32,000 24% below national
145 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $26,040 39% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 47 (Construction and Extraction Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 59 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Construction and Extraction Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($42,360 here) and reported employment (44,330 jobs here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters make?
The median annual salary for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters is $42,360 ($20.36/hour). The salary range spans from $33,590 at the 10th percentile to $57,780 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $42,360, Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay is higher than 15% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters the most?
Washington pays the highest median salary for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters at $56,140/year, which is +33% above the national median.
What education do Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters need?
BLS assigns Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters to High school diploma or equivalent for typical education needed for entry. Typical on-the-job training assignment: Short-term on-the-job training.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in this release. WageDex shows the Construction and Extraction Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
Is Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters a good career?
Employment for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters is projected to grow 4.9% from 2024 to 2034, which is about as fast as average. About 4,900 openings are projected each year.
How does Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay vary by state?
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Washington at $56,140/year, while Puerto Rico pays the least at $25,560/year. BLS data covers 49 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $65,600/year. BLS reports a median for 145 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $47,720/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Washington leads at $56,140/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.