Pipelayers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,730 | $18.14 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $49,000 | $23.56 |
| Mean (average) | $54,700 | $26.30 |
| 90th percentile | $80,170 | $38.55 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Pipelayers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 45 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $44,550 | $29,130 | $55,410 | 460 | 1.03 |
| Arizona | $62,740 | $46,990 | $73,820 | 480 | 0.7 |
| Arkansas | $37,650 | $31,570 | $44,760 | 430 | 1.57 |
| California | $76,180 | $50,650 | $108,790 | 1,420 | 0.37 |
| Colorado | $59,740 | $46,930 | $76,940 | 790 | 1.3 |
| Delaware | $58,240 | $46,700 | $71,060 | ||
| District of Columbia | $55,470 | $37,350 | $67,900 | 110 | 0.76 |
| Florida | $47,260 | $37,620 | $58,450 | 4,050 | 1.92 |
| Georgia | $46,220 | $35,600 | $61,820 | 1,890 | 1.82 |
| Idaho | $58,650 | $38,990 | $73,340 | 280 | 1.52 |
| Illinois | $49,590 | $41,760 | $62,490 | 280 | 0.22 |
| Indiana | $73,580 | $38,400 | $95,180 | 800 | 1.18 |
| Iowa | $53,990 | $46,940 | $63,660 | 280 | 0.85 |
| Kansas | $47,390 | $44,720 | $58,280 | 240 | 0.8 |
| Kentucky | $58,820 | $52,120 | $61,870 | 60 | 0.14 |
| Louisiana | $44,340 | $35,200 | $60,180 | ||
| Maine | $50,980 | $44,320 | $73,380 | 110 | 0.82 |
| Maryland | $55,640 | $48,270 | $62,690 | 650 | 1.11 |
| Massachusetts | $72,770 | $56,620 | $86,560 | ||
| Michigan | $61,560 | $52,140 | $86,120 | 180 | 0.19 |
| Minnesota | $81,980 | $66,620 | $101,360 | 510 | 0.82 |
| Mississippi | $41,900 | $31,610 | $67,010 | 320 | 1.29 |
| Montana | $48,080 | $47,480 | $75,420 | 80 | 0.77 |
| Nebraska | $44,470 | $37,110 | $62,550 | 570 | 2.63 |
| Nevada | $63,570 | $33,280 | $90,690 | 450 | 1.35 |
| New Hampshire | $53,870 | $37,280 | $82,510 | 210 | 1.47 |
| New Jersey | $78,830 | $53,020 | $106,890 | 400 | 0.44 |
| New Mexico | $45,550 | $38,000 | $55,830 | 190 | 1.03 |
| New York | $70,370 | $44,790 | $112,860 | 250 | 0.12 |
| North Carolina | $47,220 | $37,870 | $59,280 | 3,830 | 3.65 |
| North Dakota | $47,810 | $47,200 | $59,240 | 170 | 1.83 |
| Ohio | $71,560 | $46,840 | $91,540 | 1,160 | 0.99 |
| Oklahoma | $45,190 | $37,120 | $53,300 | 530 | 1.47 |
| Oregon | $64,230 | $48,870 | $83,200 | 620 | 1.49 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,600 | $41,600 | $75,330 | 590 | 0.46 |
| Puerto Rico | $25,620 | $22,150 | $35,200 | 180 | 0.92 |
| South Carolina | $45,180 | $37,480 | $58,920 | 670 | 1.36 |
| South Dakota | $50,650 | $36,560 | $60,300 | 300 | 3.12 |
| Tennessee | $46,020 | $35,810 | $59,590 | 810 | 1.16 |
| Texas | $45,620 | $37,030 | $56,730 | 5,010 | 1.68 |
| Utah | $52,000 | $47,840 | $60,510 | 530 | 1.44 |
| Virginia | $48,700 | $38,130 | $61,140 | 1,080 | 1.23 |
| Washington | $82,450 | $61,010 | $101,310 | 1,050 | 1.4 |
| West Virginia | $40,440 | $31,660 | $58,680 | 180 | 1.2 |
| Wisconsin | $86,870 | $69,600 | $98,520 | 350 | 0.56 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for pipelayers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 2,100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for pipelayers
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Grade or level trench bases, using tamping machines or hand tools.
- Dig trenches to desired or required depths, by hand or using trenching tools.
- Cut pipes to required lengths.
- Install or use instruments such as lasers, grade rods, or transit levels.
- Cover pipes with earth or other materials.
- Connect pipe pieces and seal joints, using welding equipment, cement, or glue.
- Install or repair sanitary or stormwater sewer structures or pipe systems.
- Check slopes for conformance to requirements, using levels or lasers.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Operation and Control, Coordination, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management.
Common job titles: Pipelayer, Tailman.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do pipelayers make?
The national median annual wage for pipelayers was $49,000 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $37,730 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $80,170. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do pipelayers need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is pipelayers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of pipelayers to change -3.1% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 2,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay pipelayers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Wisconsin ($86,870), Washington ($82,450), Minnesota ($81,980). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.