Pipelayer Salary in Houston, TX
Pipelayers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $45,150 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,458 take-home, or $3,205 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pipelayer salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,238
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,799
- Medicare (1.45%)$655
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$38,458
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pipelayer pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,930 | $17.75 | $31,853 | $2,654 |
| 25th percentile | $40,190 | $19.32 | $34,473 | $2,873 |
| Median (50th) | $45,150 | $21.71 | $38,458 | $3,205 |
| 75th percentile | $48,710 | $23.42 | $41,318 | $3,443 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,520 | $28.13 | $49,201 | $4,100 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,150 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pipelayer's $38,458 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,993 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Houston, TX has 1.9× the national concentration of pipelayer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for pipelayers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #12 of 15 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $84,830 | $68,508 | $61,645 |
| 2 | Indianapolis, IN | $74,180 | $58,857 | $61,504 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $80,260 | $61,015 | $53,726 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $63,410 | $51,048 | $48,258 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $48,440 | $41,102 | $41,912 |
| 6 | Charlotte, NC | $48,980 | $40,090 | $41,182 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $55,320 | $44,476 | $40,848 |
| 8 | Jacksonville, FL | $47,690 | $40,499 | $40,709 |
| 12 | Houston, TX | $45,150 | $38,458 | $38,993 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 15 metros →
Pipelayer salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Austin, TX — $48,440
- Dallas, TX — $46,680
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pipelayer make in Houston, TX?
The median pipelayer salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $45,150 a year, or about $21.71 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $40,190 and $48,710.
What is a pipelayer’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $45,150 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $38,458 a year ($3,205 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a pipelayer?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $49,000. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,993 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #12 of 15 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pipelayer afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median pipelayer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Elevator and Escalator Installer and Repairer — $104,350
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas — $79,450
- Boilermaker — $77,090
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $76,020
- Construction and Building Inspector — $66,780
- Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas — $62,910
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $61,300
- Electrician — $59,180
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $58,030
- Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas — $57,970
- Brickmason and Blockmason — $56,410
- Sheet Metal Worker — $51,870