47 Series · SOC 47-2151

Pipelayers Salary

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

$49,000
Median / year
+0.6%
2024→2025
$80,170
Top 10% earn
-4.1%
Growth '24–'34
33,050
Estimated US jobs

Pipelayers earn a median of $49,000 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $49,000, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $37,730 (10th percentile) to $80,170 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 33,050 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Wisconsin ($86,870).

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

Pipelayers earn a median of $49,000, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 30% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Construction and Extraction, it ranks #48 of 60 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 4.1% by 2034.

$49,000
Median annual wage
Top 70%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#48 of 60
in Construction and Extraction
2.1×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Wisconsin at $86,870. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Pipelayers moved from $38,820 in May 2019 to $49,000 in May 2025 (+26.2%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Pipelayers sits +1.8 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Pipelayers (SOC 47-2151) has a national median of $49,000 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $37,730 to $80,170, and the published mean is $54,700. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 33,050 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 45 state or territory areas and 166 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $48,710 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $49,000 in May 2025, a rise of $290 (+0.6%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a -4.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as declining relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 2,400 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns No formal educational credential 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. Wisconsin pays the highest state median at $86,870, which is +77% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI at $93,550. 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 33,050 jobs Median $49,000/yr

Median Salary

$49,000

per year

Median Hourly

$23.56/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$54,700

average

Employment

33,050

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Pipelayers pay sits nationally

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

$49,000 Bottom 30% higher than 30% 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%

$49,000 · 30th 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 Pipelayers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 25 47-series occupations with growth data, Pipelayers sits on the slower-growing side at -4.1% growth and $49,000 median pay. Scatter plot of 25 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: $55690Pipelayers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -4.1% · Median annual wage: $49000
Among 25 47-series occupations with growth data, Pipelayers sits on the slower-growing side at -4.1% growth and $49,000 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
  • Pipelayers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -4.1%, Median annual wage $49000

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

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

-4.1%

Declining

Annual Openings

2,400

per year (projected)

Employment Change

-1,400

34,400 (2024) → 32,900 (2034)

Typical Education

No formal educational credential

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 Pipelayers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Operation and Control 3.1
Active Listening 3.0
Speaking 3.0
Critical Thinking 3.0
Coordination 3.0
Operations Monitoring 3.0
Quality Control Analysis 3.0
Reading Comprehension 2.9
Judgment and Decision Making 2.9
Time Management 2.9

Knowledge Areas

Building and Construction 3.7
Public Safety and Security 3.0
Engineering and Technology 3.0
Mechanical 3.0
Administration and Management 2.9
Production and Processing 2.8
English Language 2.8
Design 2.8
Education and Training 2.8
Mathematics 2.7

Key Tasks

  • Grade or level trench bases, using tamping machines or hand tools.
  • Dig trenches to desired or required depths, by hand or using trenching tools.
  • Cut pipes to required lengths.
  • Install or use instruments such as lasers, grade rods, or transit levels.
  • Cover pipes with earth or other materials.
  • Connect pipe pieces and seal joints, using welding equipment, cement, or glue.
  • Install or repair sanitary or stormwater sewer structures or pipe systems.
  • Check slopes for conformance to requirements, using levels or lasers.
  • Align and position pipes to prepare them for welding or sealing.
  • Lay out pipe routes, following written instructions or blueprints and coordinating layouts with supervisors.

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

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$37,730
25th$43,980
Median$49,000
75th$61,400
90th$80,170

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$18.14
25th$21.15
Median$23.56
75th$29.52
90th$38.55

Pipelayers pay history, 2015–2025

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

$35,000$40,000$45,000$50,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $37,780National median - 2016: $38,410National median - 2017: $38,400National median - 2018: $38,560National median - 2019: $38,820National median - 2020: $40,480National median - 2021: $45,980National median - 2022: $45,990National median - 2023: $47,330National median - 2024: $48,710National median - 2025: $49,000$49,000
National median annual wage for Pipelayers, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $37,780
2016 $38,410
2017 $38,400
2018 $38,560
2019 $38,820
2020 $40,480
2021 $45,980
2022 $45,990
2023 $47,330
2024 $48,710
2025 $49,000

2015 median

$37,780

2025 median

$49,000

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$10,180 (+26.2%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+4%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Pipelayers by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $37,780 First banked release 40,710
May 2016 $38,410 +1.7% 39,620
May 2017 $38,400 +0.0% 38,690
May 2018 $38,560 +0.4% 38,070
May 2019 $38,820 Classification break 36,270
May 2020 $40,480 +4.3% 33,950
May 2021 $45,980 +13.6% 33,330
May 2022 $45,990 +0.0% 36,070
May 2023 $47,330 +2.9% 34,840
May 2024 $48,710 +2.9% 33,580
May 2025 $49,000 +0.6% 33,050

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $37,780 in May 2015 to $49,000 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +4% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 36,270 in May 2019 to 33,050 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 45 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Wisconsin $86,870 +77% above national
2 Washington $82,450 +68% above national
3 Minnesota $81,980 +67% above national
4 New Jersey $78,830 +61% above national
5 California $76,180 +55% above national
6 Indiana $73,580 +50% above national
7 Massachusetts $72,770 +49% above national
8 Ohio $71,560 +46% above national
9 New York $70,370 +44% above national
10 Oregon $64,230 +31% above national
11 Nevada $63,570 +30% above national
12 Arizona $62,740 +28% above national
13 Michigan $61,560 +26% above national
14 Colorado $59,740 +22% above national
15 Kentucky $58,820 +20% above national
16 Idaho $58,650 +20% above national
17 Delaware $58,240 +19% above national
18 Maryland $55,640 +14% above national
19 District of Columbia $55,470 +13% above national
20 Iowa $53,990 +10% above national
21 New Hampshire $53,870 +10% above national
22 Utah $52,000 +6% above national
23 Maine $50,980 +4% above national
24 South Dakota $50,650 +3% above national
25 Illinois $49,590 +1% above national
26 Virginia $48,700 1% below national
27 Montana $48,080 2% below national
28 North Dakota $47,810 2% below national
29 Kansas $47,390 3% below national
30 Florida $47,260 4% below national
31 North Carolina $47,220 4% below national
32 Georgia $46,220 6% below national
33 Tennessee $46,020 6% below national
34 Texas $45,620 7% below national
35 New Mexico $45,550 7% below national
36 Oklahoma $45,190 8% below national
37 South Carolina $45,180 8% below national
38 Alabama $44,550 9% below national
39 Nebraska $44,470 9% below national
40 Louisiana $44,340 10% below national
41 Mississippi $41,900 14% below national
42 Pennsylvania $41,600 15% below national
43 West Virginia $40,440 17% below national
44 Arkansas $37,650 23% below national
45 Puerto Rico $25,620 48% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 131 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $93,550 +91% above national
2 Green Bay, WI $91,520 +87% above national
3 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $90,880 +85% above national
4 Madison, WI $86,870 +77% above national
5 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $84,830 +73% above national
6 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $82,020 +67% above national
7 Youngstown-Warren, OH $81,250 +66% above national
8 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $80,370 +64% above national
9 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $80,260 +64% above national
10 Cleveland, OH $79,840 +63% above national
11 Kennewick-Richland, WA $77,220 +58% above national
12 Toledo, OH $76,870 +57% above national
13 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $76,450 +56% above national
14 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $76,390 +56% above national
15 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $76,190 +55% above national
16 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $74,180 +51% above national
17 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $73,960 +51% above national
18 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $73,920 +51% above national
19 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $72,070 +47% above national
20 Columbus, OH $71,560 +46% above national
21 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $70,910 +45% above national
22 Syracuse, NY $70,370 +44% above national
23 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $70,230 +43% above national
24 Reno, NV $65,290 +33% above national
25 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $64,770 +32% above national
26 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $63,570 +30% above national
27 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $63,410 +29% above national
28 Salem, OR $63,220 +29% above national
29 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $63,010 +29% above national
30 Coeur d'Alene, ID $62,580 +28% above national
31 Medford, OR $62,370 +27% above national
32 Portland-South Portland, ME $62,020 +27% above national
33 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $61,570 +26% above national
34 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $61,220 +25% above national
35 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $61,160 +25% above national
36 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $59,810 +22% above national
37 Boise City, ID $59,530 +21% above national
38 Lexington Park, MD $59,340 +21% above national
39 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $58,560 +20% above national
40 York-Hanover, PA $58,400 +19% above national
41 Greeley, CO $56,570 +15% above national
42 Springfield, MA $55,760 +14% above national
43 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $55,320 +13% above national
44 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $54,690 +12% above national
45 Omaha, NE-IA $54,570 +11% above national
46 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $54,520 +11% above national
47 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $53,880 +10% above national
48 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $52,550 +7% above national
49 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $52,190 +7% above national
50 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $50,810 +4% above national
51 Rapid City, SD $50,650 +3% above national
52 Ogden, UT $50,200 +2% above national
53 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $50,020 +2% above national
54 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $49,400 +1% above national
55 Oklahoma City, OK $49,350 +1% above national
56 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $48,980 same as national
57 Colorado Springs, CO $48,910 same as national
58 Richmond, VA $48,700 1% below national
59 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $48,440 1% below national
60 Raleigh-Cary, NC $48,390 1% below national
61 Wichita, KS $48,390 1% below national
62 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $48,250 2% below national
63 Naples-Marco Island, FL $48,220 2% below national
64 Goldsboro, NC $48,190 2% below national
65 Birmingham, AL $47,980 2% below national
66 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $47,950 2% below national
67 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $47,820 2% below national
68 Tucson, AZ $47,810 2% below national
69 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $47,790 2% below national
70 Fargo, ND-MN $47,740 3% below national
71 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $47,700 3% below national
72 Jacksonville, FL $47,690 3% below national
73 Huntsville, AL $47,610 3% below national
74 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $47,560 3% below national
75 Greensboro-High Point, NC $47,550 3% below national
76 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $47,330 3% below national
77 Winston-Salem, NC $47,150 4% below national
78 Port St. Lucie, FL $47,130 4% below national
79 Spartanburg, SC $47,000 4% below national
80 Charlottesville, VA $46,970 4% below national
81 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $46,860 4% below national
82 Asheville, NC $46,840 4% below national
83 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $46,680 5% below national
84 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $46,650 5% below national
85 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $46,630 5% below national
86 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $46,530 5% below national
87 Fayetteville, NC $46,410 5% below national
88 Wilmington, NC $46,130 6% below national
89 Burlington, NC $46,070 6% below national
90 Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL $45,950 6% below national
91 Savannah, GA $45,700 7% below national
92 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $45,690 7% below national
93 Midland, TX $45,440 7% below national
94 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL $45,430 7% below national
95 Lincoln, NE $45,250 8% below national
96 Ocala, FL $45,250 8% below national
97 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $45,150 8% below national
98 Albuquerque, NM $45,110 8% below national
99 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL $44,920 8% below national
100 Lynchburg, VA $44,580 9% below national
101 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $44,560 9% below national
102 Chattanooga, TN-GA $44,210 10% below national
103 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $44,200 10% below national
104 Columbia, SC $44,190 10% below national
105 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC $44,170 10% below national
106 Jacksonville, NC $44,000 10% below national
107 Warner Robins, GA $43,990 10% below national
108 Tulsa, OK $43,620 11% below national
109 Gainesville, GA $43,470 11% below national
110 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $43,260 12% below national
111 Rocky Mount, NC $43,230 12% below national
112 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $42,990 12% below national
113 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC $42,950 12% below national
114 Valdosta, GA $42,880 12% below national
115 Jackson, MS $42,210 14% below national
116 Odessa, TX $41,990 14% below national
117 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $41,920 14% below national
118 College Station-Bryan, TX $41,820 15% below national
119 Johnson City, TN $41,800 15% below national
120 Corpus Christi, TX $41,590 15% below national
121 Longview, TX $40,880 17% below national
122 Wildwood-The Villages, FL $40,570 17% below national
123 Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC $40,220 18% below national
124 El Paso, TX $38,370 22% below national
125 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $38,010 22% below national
126 Florence, SC $37,650 23% below national
127 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $37,290 24% below national
128 Manchester-Nashua, NH $37,280 24% below national
129 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $37,020 24% below national
130 Albany, GA $36,820 25% below national
131 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $25,620 48% 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 ($49,000 here) and reported employment (33,050 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 Pipelayers make?
The median annual salary for Pipelayers is $49,000 ($23.56/hour). The salary range spans from $37,730 at the 10th percentile to $80,170 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Pipelayers pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $49,000, Pipelayers pay is higher than 30% 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 Pipelayers the most?
Wisconsin pays the highest median salary for Pipelayers at $86,870/year, which is +77% above the national median.
What education do Pipelayers need?
BLS assigns Pipelayers to No formal educational credential 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 Pipelayers?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Pipelayers 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 Pipelayers a good career?
Employment for Pipelayers is projected to decline 4.1% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 2,400 openings are projected each year.
How does Pipelayers pay vary by state?
Pipelayers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Wisconsin at $86,870/year, while Puerto Rico pays the least at $25,620/year. BLS data covers 45 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Pipelayers?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI at $93,550/year. BLS reports a median for 131 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Pipelayers pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $61,400/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: Wisconsin leads at $86,870/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.