How much does a pipelayer make?
The median pipelayer in the United States earns $49,000 per year, about $23.56 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all pipelayers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 47-2151.
Pipelayer salary range
Pay for pipelayers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $37,730 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $80,170. The average (mean) wage of $54,700 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,730 | $18.14 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $43,980 | $21.15 | |
| Median (50th) | $49,000 | $23.56 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $61,400 | $29.52 | |
| 90th percentile | $80,170 | $38.55 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for pipelayers (SOC 47-2151), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Pipelayer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Pipelayers earn the most in Wisconsin at $86,870 a year, and the least in Arkansas at $37,650. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | N/A |
| Ohio | $71,560 | 1,160 |
| New York | $70,370 | 250 |
| Oregon | $64,230 | 620 |
| Nevada | $63,570 | 450 |
| Arizona | $62,740 | 480 |
| Michigan | $61,560 | 180 |
| Colorado | $59,740 | 790 |
| Kentucky | $58,820 | 60 |
| Idaho | $58,650 | 280 |
| Delaware | $58,240 | N/A |
| Maryland | $55,640 | 650 |
| District of Columbia | $55,470 | 110 |
| Iowa | $53,990 | 280 |
| New Hampshire | $53,870 | 210 |
| Utah | $52,000 | 530 |
| Maine | $50,980 | 110 |
| South Dakota | $50,650 | 300 |
| Illinois | $49,590 | 280 |
| Virginia | $48,700 | 1,080 |
| Montana | $48,080 | 80 |
| North Dakota | $47,810 | 170 |
| Kansas | $47,390 | 240 |
| Florida | $47,260 | 4,050 |
| North Carolina | $47,220 | 3,830 |
| Georgia | $46,220 | 1,890 |
| Tennessee | $46,020 | 810 |
| Texas | $45,620 | 5,010 |
| New Mexico | $45,550 | 190 |
| Oklahoma | $45,190 | 530 |
| South Carolina | $45,180 | 670 |
| Alabama | $44,550 | 460 |
| Nebraska | $44,470 | 570 |
| Louisiana | $44,340 | N/A |
| Mississippi | $41,900 | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,600 | 590 |
| West Virginia | $40,440 | 180 |
| Arkansas | $37,650 | 430 |
State median wages for pipelayers (SOC 47-2151), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for pipelayers
The BLS projects employment of pipelayers to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 3.1%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 33,200 jobs in 2025 moving toward 32,200 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 2,100 openings a year for pipelayers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a pipelayer
The typical entry-level education for pipelayers is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a pipelayer earns
Experience, licensing, certifications, region, and overtime move these numbers the most. A licensed, experienced worker in a high cost metro or a strong union market lands near the top of the range, while apprentices and workers in rural areas start closer to the bottom.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Wisconsin, $86,870) and the lowest (Arkansas, $37,650) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 33,050 people work as pipelayers in the United States. At $49,000 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Pipelayer salary FAQ
How much does a pipelayer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a pipelayer is $23.56. The middle half of pipelayers earn between $21.15 and $29.52 per hour.
What is the highest pipelayer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of pipelayers earn more than $80,170 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a pipelayer make a year?
The median annual salary for a pipelayer is $49,000. The average (mean) wage of $54,700 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a pipelayer a well paid job?
At $49,000 a year, a pipelayer earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 33,050 people work as pipelayers in the United States.
Which state pays pipelayers the most?
Wisconsin has the highest median salary for pipelayers at $86,870 a year. Washington ($82,450) and Minnesota ($81,980) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a pipelayer a good career?
Employment of pipelayers is projected to shrink 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 2,100 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a pipelayer?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for pipelayers as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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