Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitterss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $43,730 ≈ $21/hr
National median salary $42,360
Total employment 44,330 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth +4.9%
Faster than average
Annual openings 4,900 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 45,300 → 47,500 (+2,200)
Typical entry education High school diploma or equivalent
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Washington$58,480
- New York$53,390
- Hawaii$50,680
- California$49,080
- Arizona$47,790
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- West Virginia$35,280
- Missouri$36,470
- South Dakota$36,540
- Mississippi$36,590
- Alabama$37,470
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $58,480 | $56,140 | $28 | +33.7% | 600 |
| 2 | New York | $53,390 | $52,000 | $26 | +22.1% | 4,840 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $50,680 | $52,000 | $24 | +15.9% | 180 |
| 4 | California | $49,080 | $47,130 | $24 | +12.2% | 2,500 |
| 5 | Arizona | $47,790 | $47,990 | $23 | +9.3% | 460 |
| 6 | Alaska | $47,370 | $47,290 | $23 | +8.3% | 100 |
| 7 | Maine | $47,310 | $48,410 | $23 | +8.2% | — |
| 8 | Maryland | $47,030 | $46,170 | $23 | +7.5% | 970 |
| 9 | Idaho | $46,280 | $40,120 | $22 | +5.8% | — |
| 10 | Oregon | $46,200 | $44,800 | $22 | +5.6% | 210 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $46,130 | $45,250 | $22 | +5.5% | 40 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $46,000 | $44,340 | $22 | +5.2% | — |
| 13 | Colorado | $45,970 | $45,030 | $22 | +5.1% | 240 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $45,580 | $44,360 | $22 | +4.2% | 760 |
| 15 | Ohio | $45,520 | $45,760 | $22 | +4.1% | 1,090 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $44,470 | $45,440 | $21 | +1.7% | — |
| 17 | Nebraska | $44,100 | $44,550 | $21 | +0.8% | 70 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $43,690 | $46,030 | $21 | -0.1% | 70 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $43,310 | $42,150 | $21 | -1% | 920 |
| 20 | Nevada | $43,250 | $41,100 | $21 | -1.1% | 350 |
| 21 | Indiana | $43,120 | $42,240 | $21 | -1.4% | 390 |
| 22 | Utah | $43,010 | $43,380 | $21 | -1.6% | 390 |
| 23 | Michigan | $42,960 | $42,810 | $21 | -1.8% | 270 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $42,940 | $44,550 | $21 | -1.8% | 1,100 |
| 25 | Texas | $42,770 | $41,950 | $21 | -2.2% | 7,210 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $42,470 | $43,330 | $20 | -2.9% | 960 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $42,390 | $40,080 | $20 | -3.1% | 740 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $42,240 | $43,710 | $20 | -3.4% | 3,070 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $42,200 | $41,670 | $20 | -3.5% | 450 |
| 30 | Iowa | $41,600 | $37,870 | $20 | -4.9% | 350 |
| 31 | Montana | $41,550 | $41,420 | $20 | -5% | 110 |
| 32 | Illinois | $41,520 | $38,300 | $20 | -5.1% | — |
| 33 | Connecticut | $41,420 | $38,930 | $20 | -5.3% | 160 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $40,870 | $40,100 | $20 | -6.5% | 400 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $40,860 | $39,450 | $20 | -6.6% | 1,090 |
| 36 | Virginia | $40,700 | $38,190 | $20 | -6.9% | 1,640 |
| 37 | Kansas | $40,680 | $40,540 | $20 | -7% | 320 |
| 38 | Florida | $39,720 | $37,560 | $19 | -9.2% | 4,500 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $39,100 | $37,380 | $19 | -10.6% | 2,010 |
| 40 | Georgia | $39,070 | $37,730 | $19 | -10.7% | 2,100 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $38,870 | $37,670 | $19 | -11.1% | 330 |
| 42 | Delaware | $38,260 | $36,070 | $18 | -12.5% | 140 |
| 43 | Vermont | $38,060 | $37,440 | $18 | -13% | 140 |
| 44 | Alabama | $37,470 | $37,440 | $18 | -14.3% | 770 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $36,590 | $37,440 | $18 | -16.3% | 400 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $36,540 | $36,500 | $18 | -16.4% | 210 |
| 47 | Missouri | $36,470 | $34,630 | $18 | -16.6% | 280 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $35,280 | $35,930 | $17 | -19.3% | 130 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 172 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $65,600 | $65,600 | 280 |
| 2 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $63,210 | $58,030 | 90 |
| 3 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $54,950 | $49,240 | 30 |
| 4 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $52,340 | $49,300 | 40 |
| 5 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $52,000 | $54,180 | 4,360 |
| 6 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $52,000 | $50,010 | 120 |
| 7 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $51,940 | $51,280 | 100 |
| 8 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $51,350 | $54,650 | 430 |
| 9 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $49,660 | $50,790 | 320 |
| 10 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $47,990 | $48,920 | 40 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitterss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $57,340 | $52,950 | 160 |
| 2 | Sector 54 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $57,340 | $52,950 | 160 |
| 3 | Support Activities for Mining | $56,000 | $52,330 | 220 |
| 4 | Support Activities for Mining | $56,000 | $52,330 | 220 |
| 5 | Sector 21 - Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $56,000 | $52,330 | 220 |
| 6 | Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $51,940 | $54,170 | 200 |
| 7 | Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $51,940 | $54,280 | 200 |
| 8 | Sector 99 - Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS | $51,940 | $54,170 | 200 |
| 9 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | $50,880 | $49,810 | 40 |
| 10 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $50,740 | $48,630 | 50 |
| 11 | Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $50,250 | $52,860 | 230 |
| 12 | Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $50,000 | $52,490 | 250 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make in the U.S.?
The median helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary in the United States is $42,360 per year (mean $43,730), and about 80% earn between $33,590 and $57,780.
How much do helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make per hour?
Roughly $21 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $43,730 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters the most?
Washington has the highest average pay for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters at $58,480 per year (median $56,140).
What is the job outlook for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters?
Employment is projected to change +4.9% from 2024 to 2034 (Faster than average), with about 4,900 openings per year.