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Pipelayers Salary
Pipelayers earn a median $49,000 a year in the U.S., with 33,050 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $49,000 a year
- Employment
- 33,050
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- -3.1%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 2,100
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $49,000 · $23.56 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $54,700 · $26.30 an hour (estimate error ±1.1%)
- 10th percentile
- $37,730 · $18.14 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $43,980 · $21.15 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $61,400 · $29.52 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $80,170 · $38.55 an hour
- Employment
- 33,050 (estimate error ±3.1%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
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. Excludes “Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers” (51-4121).
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 33,200
- Projected for 2035
- 32,200
- Change
- -1,000 (-3.1%)
- Openings each year
- 2,100
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- Not reported
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $86,870 | 350 |
| 2 | Washington | $82,450 | 1,050 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $81,980 | 510 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $78,830 | 400 |
| 5 | California | $76,180 | 1,420 |
| 6 | Indiana | $73,580 | 800 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $72,770 | Not reported |
| 8 | Ohio | $71,560 | 1,160 |
| 9 | New York | $70,370 | 250 |
| 10 | Oregon | $64,230 | 620 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 5,010 | $45,620 |
| Florida | 4,050 | $47,260 |
| North Carolina | 3,830 | $47,220 |
| Georgia | 1,890 | $46,220 |
| California | 1,420 | $76,180 |
| Ohio | 1,160 | $71,560 |
| Virginia | 1,080 | $48,700 |
| Washington | 1,050 | $82,450 |
| Tennessee | 810 | $46,020 |
| Indiana | 800 | $73,580 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $84,830 | 610 |
| 2 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $82,020 | 320 |
| 3 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $80,370 | 390 |
| 4 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $80,260 | 500 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $79,840 | 100 |
| 6 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $76,190 | 250 |
| 7 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $74,180 | 490 |
| 8 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $73,960 | 170 |
| 9 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $73,920 | 320 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $71,560 | 430 |
| 11 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $70,910 | 170 |
| 12 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $63,410 | 500 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,300 | $45,150 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,240 | $46,680 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 1,170 | $48,980 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,000 | $47,560 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 740 | $48,440 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 700 | $47,950 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 690 | $46,650 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 660 | $55,320 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 640 | $48,390 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 610 | $84,830 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 570 | $47,790 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 500 | $63,410 |
Visa filings for this occupation
Wages employers offered on Department of Labor filings
- PERM green card (FY 2026 through Q3)1 certified filingsMedian offered wage Not reported
Pipelayers pay by state
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Related occupations
- Boilermakers
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons
- Stonemasons
- Carpenters
- Carpet Installers
- Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
- Floor Sanders and Finishers
- Tile and Stone Setters
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
- Terrazzo Workers and Finishers
- Construction Laborers
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
Frequently asked questions
- How much do pipelayers make?
- The median wage for pipelayers in the U.S. is $49,000 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $43,980 and $61,400.
- Which state pays pipelayers the most?
- Wisconsin has the highest median wage for this occupation at $86,870 a year.
- What is the job outlook for pipelayers?
- BLS projects employment to decline 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, with about 2,100 openings each year on average.
- What education do pipelayers need?
- The typical entry-level education is: no formal educational credential.