Pipelayer Salary
Pipelayers earn a median $49,000 a year nationally. Construction and Extraction Occupations
U.S. median
$49,000
$23.56 per hour
Range
$37,730 – $80,170
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
33,050
across the U.S.
▲0.6%
Pay trend: The median for pipelayers in the U.S. rose from $48,710 (May 2024) to $49,000 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 1.8%.
What pipelayers do
Lay pipe for storm or sanitation sewers, drains, and water mains. Perform any combination of the following tasks: grade trenches or culverts, position pipe, or seal joints.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.1% (declining)
- Openings per year
- 2,100
Employment of pipelayers is projected to shrink 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 2,100 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Pipelayer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$41,552
per year · effective tax rate 15.2%
$3,463Monthly
$1,731Twice a month
$1,598Every 2 weeks
$19.98Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,700
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,038
- Medicare (1.45%)$711
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$41,552
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,730 | $18.14 | $32,496 |
| 25th percentile | $43,980 | $21.14 | $37,518 |
| Median (50th) | $49,000 | $23.56 | $41,552 |
| 75th percentile | $61,400 | $29.52 | $51,515 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,170 | $38.54 | $65,230 |
Pipelayer salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $86,870 | +6.9% | $66,719 | $69,600 – $98,520 | 350 |
| Washington | $82,450 | +2.7% | $66,834 | $61,010 – $101,310 | 1,050 |
| Minnesota | $81,980 | −3.4% | $62,452 | $66,620 – $101,360 | 510 |
| New Jersey | $78,830 | +11.4% | $61,455 | $53,020 – $106,890 | 400 |
| California | $76,180 | −2.4% | $58,550 | $50,650 – $108,790 | 1,420 |
| Indiana | $73,580 | −2.3% | $58,452 | $38,400 – $95,180 | 800 |
| Massachusetts | $72,770 | +19.5% | $56,605 | $56,620 – $86,560 | — |
| Ohio | $71,560 | +21.0% | $57,987 | $46,840 – $91,540 | 1,160 |
| New York | $70,370 | −8.0% | $55,132 | $44,790 – $112,860 | 250 |
| Oregon | $64,230 | +0.2% | $48,998 | $48,870 – $83,200 | 620 |
| Nevada | $63,570 | +0.8% | $53,258 | $33,280 – $90,690 | 450 |
| Arizona | $62,740 | +1.5% | $51,232 | $46,990 – $73,820 | 480 |
| Michigan | $61,560 | −4.3% | $49,278 | $52,140 – $86,120 | 180 |
| Colorado | $59,740 | +5.5% | $48,261 | $46,930 – $76,940 | 790 |
| Kentucky | $58,820 | +2.5% | $47,501 | $52,120 – $61,870 | 60 |
| Idaho | $58,650 | −6.6% | $47,305 | $38,990 – $73,340 | 280 |
| Delaware | $58,240 | +0.4% | $46,420 | $46,700 – $71,060 | — |
| Maryland | $55,640 | −4.5% | $44,607 | $48,270 – $62,690 | 650 |
| District of Columbia | $55,470 | +2.5% | $44,588 | $37,350 – $67,900 | 110 |
| Iowa | $53,990 | +4.2% | $44,161 | $46,940 – $63,660 | 280 |
| New Hampshire | $53,870 | +11.9% | $45,465 | $37,280 – $82,510 | 210 |
| Utah | $52,000 | +1.6% | $42,588 | $47,840 – $60,510 | 530 |
| Maine | $50,980 | −13.6% | $40,883 | $44,320 – $73,380 | 110 |
| South Dakota | $50,650 | +7.2% | $42,877 | $36,560 – $60,300 | 300 |
| Illinois | $49,590 | +1.1% | $39,716 | $41,760 – $62,490 | 280 |
| Virginia | $48,700 | +0.3% | $39,324 | $38,130 – $61,140 | 1,080 |
| Montana | $48,080 | −14.8% | $39,309 | $47,480 – $75,420 | 80 |
| North Dakota | $47,810 | −5.8% | $40,595 | $47,200 – $59,240 | 170 |
| Kansas | $47,390 | +3.3% | $38,413 | $44,720 – $58,280 | 240 |
| Florida | $47,260 | +1.9% | $40,153 | $37,620 – $58,450 | 4,050 |
| North Carolina | $47,220 | +4.1% | $38,746 | $37,870 – $59,280 | 3,830 |
| Georgia | $46,220 | +1.0% | $37,542 | $35,600 – $61,820 | 1,890 |
| Tennessee | $46,020 | +0.5% | $39,157 | $35,810 – $59,590 | 810 |
| Texas | $45,620 | +0.2% | $38,836 | $37,030 – $56,730 | 5,010 |
| New Mexico | $45,550 | +6.7% | $37,788 | $38,000 – $55,830 | 190 |
| Oklahoma | $45,190 | −10.0% | $37,002 | $37,120 – $53,300 | 530 |
| South Carolina | $45,180 | +1.6% | $36,928 | $37,480 – $58,920 | 670 |
| Alabama | $44,550 | +11.7% | $36,013 | $29,130 – $55,410 | 460 |
| Nebraska | $44,470 | −10.3% | $36,768 | $37,110 – $62,550 | 570 |
| Louisiana | $44,340 | +3.0% | $36,863 | $35,200 – $60,180 | — |
| Mississippi | $41,900 | +1.6% | $34,903 | $31,610 – $67,010 | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,600 | −31.5% | $34,328 | $41,600 – $75,330 | 590 |
| West Virginia | $40,440 | +12.1% | $33,560 | $31,660 – $58,680 | 180 |
| Arkansas | $37,650 | +2.6% | $31,176 | $31,570 – $44,760 | 430 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,800 | High school diploma or equivalent | +6.8% |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | $49,120 | No formal educational credential | +2.4% |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $49,400 | No formal educational credential | +3.0% |
| Carpet Installer | $50,340 | No formal educational credential | -16.4% |
| Floor Sander and Finisher | $50,440 | No formal educational credential | +1.4% |
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | No formal educational credential | +7.3% |
| Paperhanger | $52,140 | No formal educational credential | +4.3% |
| Solar Photovoltaic Installer | $53,140 | High school diploma or equivalent | +36.5% |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $53,340 | High school diploma or equivalent | -0.9% |
| Roofer | $55,440 | No formal educational credential | +5.3% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pipelayer make?
The national median salary for pipelayers is $49,000 a year ($23.56 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $37,730 and the top 10% earn over $80,170. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays pipelayers the most?
Wisconsin has the highest median pay at $86,870.
How many pipelayers are there in the U.S.?
About 33,050 people work as pipelayers nationwide.