Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC · SOC 47-3015

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

Metro area salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025)

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Median Salary

$38,480

per year in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

9% below

National Median

$42,360

per year nationally

Hourly Rate

$18.50/hr

median hourly

Employment

N/A

jobs in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

BLS metro-level wage data places Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC at a median of $38,480 per year ($18.50/hr/hour), drawn from the OEWS May 2025 release for this Metropolitan Statistical Area. Compared to the national median of $42,360, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton pays 9% below, which typically tracks with a lower local cost of living or smaller specialized-employer cluster.

The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton pay distribution spans from $29,660 at the 10th percentile to $46,130 at the 90th — a 1.6× spread that reflects experience tenure, specialization, employer size, and the difference between public-sector, nonprofit, and private-sector compensation inside the metro. The 25th percentile sits at $35,400 and the 75th at $43,680, so half of Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton-based helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitterss earn within that middle band.

Metro figures capture where you actually work, not just where you live — which matters for commuters. BLS draws metro boundaries from the OMB MSA definitions, so Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC covers the central city plus outlying counties tied to the metro economically. Remember that OEWS wages reflect base pay only: employer-provided health insurance, retirement matches, stock options, signing bonuses, overtime, and tips are excluded and can add 20-40% to real total compensation. Before using this metro median as a negotiation anchor, triangulate against the same occupation's national profile (linked below), its state-wide NC data, and peer-metro comparisons — a median is a starting point, not a ceiling.

Salary Range in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

Annual Salary Distribution

$29,660$35,400$38,480$43,680$46,130
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$29,660

25th Percentile

$35,400

Median

$38,480

75th Percentile

$43,680

90th Percentile

$46,130

Top Paying Jobs in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

Similar Occupations in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

Other roles inside the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC MSA from the same SOC major group.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
The median annual salary for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC is $38,480 ($18.50/hour). The salary range spans from $29,660 at the 10th percentile to $46,130 at the 90th percentile.
Is Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton a good place to work as a Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters?
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC earns 9% below the national median of $42,360.

Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.

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