Pipelayers Salary
Construction and Extraction Occupations · 33K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$49,000
Median hourly
$24
Average annual
$54,700
Typical range
$37,730–$80,170
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Pipelayers is $49,000 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $24 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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..
Most earn between $37,730 and $80,170 a year. There are roughly 33K people employed as pipelayers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Pipelayers.
- Hourly
- $23.56
- Daily
- $188
- Weekly
- $942
- Bi-weekly
- $1,885
- Monthly
- $4,083
- Annual
- $49,000
$49,000 a year is around the 50th percentile for Pipelayerss. The median is $49,000.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Wisconsin$86,870
- 2Washington$82,450
- 3Minnesota$81,980
- 4New Jersey$78,830
- 5California$76,180
- 6Indiana$73,580
- 7Massachusetts$72,770
- 8Ohio$71,560
- 9New York$70,370
- 10Oregon$64,230
- 11Nevada$63,570
- 12Arizona$62,740
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI$93,550
- 2Green Bay, WI$91,520
- 3South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI$90,880
- 4Madison, WI$86,870
- 5Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$84,830
- 6Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$82,020
- 7Youngstown-Warren, OH$81,250
- 8New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$80,370
- 9Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$80,260
- 10Cleveland, OH$79,840
- 11Kennewick-Richland, WA$77,220
- 12Toledo, OH$76,870
Related job titles
Employers advertise Pipelayers roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,800
- Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$42,360
- Construction Laborers$47,120
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$49,880
- Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$49,120
- Insulation Workers, Mechanical$58,340
- Sheet Metal Workers$61,800
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers$62,780
What a Pipelayers does
- Install or use instruments such as lasers, grade rods, or transit levels.
- Cut pipes to required lengths.
- Install or repair sanitary or stormwater sewer structures or pipe systems.
- Check slopes for conformance to requirements, using levels or lasers.
- Lay out pipe routes, following written instructions or blueprints and coordinating layouts with supervisors.
- Grade or level trench bases, using tamping machines or hand tools.
- Locate existing pipes needing repair or replacement, using magnetic or radio indicators.
- Connect pipe pieces and seal joints, using welding equipment, cement, or glue.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Pipelayers make?
- The median annual wage for Pipelayers is $49,000 ($24 per hour). Pay ranges from about $37,730 at the 10th percentile to $80,170 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Pipelayers?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $54,700, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Pipelayerss the most?
- Wisconsin has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $86,870.
- Is Pipelayers a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 33K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Pipelayers do?
- Install or use instruments such as lasers, grade rods, or transit levels.; Cut pipes to required lengths.; Install or repair sanitary or stormwater sewer structures or pipe systems..