Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in the U.S. is $42,360 ($20.36 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $42,360
- Mean annual wage
- $43,730
- Median hourly wage
- $20.36
- Employment
- 44,330
44,330 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,590 | $16.15 |
| 25th percentile | $36,940 | $17.76 |
| Median (50th) | $42,360 | $20.36 |
| 75th percentile | $47,720 | $22.94 |
| 90th percentile | $57,780 | $27.78 |
Highest-paying states for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $56,140 | 600 |
| Hawaii | $52,000 | 180 |
| New York | $52,000 | 4,840 |
| Maine | $48,410 | — |
| Arizona | $47,990 | 460 |
| Alaska | $47,290 | 100 |
| California | $47,130 | 2,500 |
| Maryland | $46,170 | 970 |
| New Hampshire | $46,030 | 70 |
| Ohio | $45,760 | 1,090 |
Lowest-paying states
- Missouri: $34,630 median annual wage
- West Virginia: $35,930 median annual wage
- Delaware: $36,070 median annual wage
- South Dakota: $36,500 median annual wage
- Louisiana: $37,380 median annual wage
About this occupation
Help plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, or pipelayers by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
Typical tasks
- Fit or assist in fitting valves, couplings, or assemblies to tanks, pumps, or systems, using hand tools.
- Assist pipe fitters in the layout, assembly, and installation of piping for air, ammonia, gas, and water systems.
- Cut or drill holes in walls or floors to accommodate the passage of pipes.
- Perform rough-ins, repair and replace fixtures and water heaters, and locate, repair, or remove leaking or broken pipes.
- Mount brackets and hangers on walls and ceilings to hold pipes, and set sleeves or inserts to provide support for pipes.
- Clean and renew steam traps.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 30.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 40.0% |
| Some college, no degree | 17.5% |
| Associate's degree | 6.8% |
| Bachelor's degree | 4.0% |
| Master's degree | 0.9% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.4% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Construction Laborers$47,120
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$79,920
- Electricians$63,190
- Carpenters$60,580
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$59,850
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,800
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance$49,400
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$57,020
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.