Pipelayer Salary in Raleigh, NC
Pipelayers in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median $48,390 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,639 take-home, or $3,303 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pipelayer salary in Raleigh, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,627
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,000
- Medicare (1.45%)$702
- North Carolina income tax$1,422
- Take-home pay$39,639
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Pipelayer pay by experience in Raleigh, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,720 | $19.10 | $33,019 | $2,752 |
| 25th percentile | $45,960 | $22.10 | $37,784 | $3,149 |
| Median (50th) | $48,390 | $23.26 | $39,639 | $3,303 |
| 75th percentile | $57,720 | $27.75 | $46,764 | $3,897 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,080 | $28.88 | $48,566 | $4,047 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $48,390 buys in Raleigh, NC
Prices in Raleigh, NC are 1.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.03× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pipelayer's $39,639 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,384 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Raleigh, NC has 4.0× the national concentration of pipelayer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for pipelayers, adjusted for cost of living
Raleigh, NC ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Raleigh, NC | $48,390 | $39,639 | $40,384 |
*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 North Carolina
- Charlotte, NC — $48,980
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pipelayer make in Raleigh, NC?
The median pipelayer salary in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $48,390 a year, or about $23.26 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,960 and $57,720.
What is a pipelayer’s take-home pay in Raleigh, NC?
On the median $48,390 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $39,639 a year ($3,303 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,422 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Raleigh, NC a good place to work as a pipelayer?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $49,000. Local prices are 1.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,384 would in a typical U.S. city. Raleigh, NC ranks #9 of 15 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pipelayer afford rent in Raleigh, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Raleigh, NC is $1,596 a month ($1,750 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median pipelayer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Raleigh, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $77,690
- Construction and Building Inspector — $67,840
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $60,540
- Electrician — $56,800
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $51,110
- Carpenter — $50,820
- Roofer — $50,720
- Sheet Metal Worker — $50,570
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators — $48,590
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $47,430
- Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall — $46,030
- Construction Laborer — $45,650