Pipelayers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for pipelayers in the U.S. is $49,000 ($23.56 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $49,000
- Mean annual wage
- $54,700
- Median hourly wage
- $23.56
- Employment
- 33,050
33,050 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,730 | $18.14 |
| 25th percentile | $43,980 | $21.15 |
| Median (50th) | $49,000 | $23.56 |
| 75th percentile | $61,400 | $29.52 |
| 90th percentile | $80,170 | $38.55 |
Highest-paying states for pipelayers
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $86,870 | 350 |
| Washington | $82,450 | 1,050 |
| Minnesota | $81,980 | 510 |
| New Jersey | $78,830 | 400 |
| California | $76,180 | 1,420 |
| Indiana | $73,580 | 800 |
| Massachusetts | $72,770 | — |
| Ohio | $71,560 | 1,160 |
| New York | $70,370 | 250 |
| Oregon | $64,230 | 620 |
Lowest-paying states
- Arkansas: $37,650 median annual wage
- West Virginia: $40,440 median annual wage
- Pennsylvania: $41,600 median annual wage
- Mississippi: $41,900 median annual wage
- Louisiana: $44,340 median annual wage
About this occupation
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 tasks
- Lay out pipe routes, following written instructions or blueprints and coordinating layouts with supervisors.
- Connect pipe pieces and seal joints, using welding equipment, cement, or glue.
- Train or supervise others in laying pipe.
- Cut pipes to required lengths.
- Tap and drill holes into pipes to introduce auxiliary lines or devices.
- Check slopes for conformance to requirements, using levels or lasers.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: No formal educational credential
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 25.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 42.3% |
| Some college, no degree | 17.7% |
| Associate's degree | 8.4% |
| Bachelor's degree | 4.4% |
| Master's degree | 0.8% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 1.0% |
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.