Pipelayers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for pipelayers is $49,000, or $23.56 per hour. About 33,050 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $86,870 in Wisconsin to $37,650 in Arkansas.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 44 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $86,870 | $41.77 | 350 | 0.56 |
| 2 | Washington | $82,450 | $39.64 | 1,050 | 1.40 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $81,980 | $39.41 | 510 | 0.82 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $78,830 | $37.90 | 400 | 0.44 |
| 5 | California | $76,180 | $36.63 | 1,420 | 0.37 |
| 6 | Indiana | $73,580 | $35.38 | 800 | 1.18 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $72,770 | $34.99 | — | — |
| 8 | Ohio | $71,560 | $34.41 | 1,160 | 0.99 |
| 9 | New York | $70,370 | $33.83 | 250 | 0.12 |
| 10 | Oregon | $64,230 | $30.88 | 620 | 1.49 |
| 11 | Nevada | $63,570 | $30.56 | 450 | 1.35 |
| 12 | Arizona | $62,740 | $30.16 | 480 | 0.70 |
| 13 | Michigan | $61,560 | $29.60 | 180 | 0.19 |
| 14 | Colorado | $59,740 | $28.72 | 790 | 1.30 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $58,820 | $28.28 | 60 | 0.14 |
| 16 | Idaho | $58,650 | $28.20 | 280 | 1.52 |
| 17 | Delaware | $58,240 | $28.00 | — | — |
| 18 | Maryland | $55,640 | $26.75 | 650 | 1.11 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $55,470 | $26.67 | 110 | 0.76 |
| 20 | Iowa | $53,990 | $25.96 | 280 | 0.85 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $53,870 | $25.90 | 210 | 1.47 |
| 22 | Utah | $52,000 | $25.00 | 530 | 1.44 |
| 23 | Maine | $50,980 | $24.51 | 110 | 0.82 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $50,650 | $24.35 | 300 | 3.12 |
| 25 | Illinois | $49,590 | $23.84 | 280 | 0.22 |
| 26 | Virginia | $48,700 | $23.41 | 1,080 | 1.23 |
| 27 | Montana | $48,080 | $23.12 | 80 | 0.77 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $47,810 | $22.99 | 170 | 1.83 |
| 29 | Kansas | $47,390 | $22.78 | 240 | 0.80 |
| 30 | Florida | $47,260 | $22.72 | 4,050 | 1.92 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $47,220 | $22.70 | 3,830 | 3.65 |
| 32 | Georgia | $46,220 | $22.22 | 1,890 | 1.82 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $46,020 | $22.12 | 810 | 1.16 |
| 34 | Texas | $45,620 | $21.93 | 5,010 | 1.68 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $45,550 | $21.90 | 190 | 1.03 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $45,190 | $21.73 | 530 | 1.47 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $45,180 | $21.72 | 670 | 1.36 |
| 38 | Alabama | $44,550 | $21.42 | 460 | 1.03 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $44,470 | $21.38 | 570 | 2.63 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $44,340 | $21.32 | — | — |
| 41 | Mississippi | $41,900 | $20.14 | 320 | 1.29 |
| 42 | Pennsylvania | $41,600 | $20.00 | 590 | 0.46 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $40,440 | $19.44 | 180 | 1.20 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $37,650 | $18.10 | 430 | 1.57 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do pipelayers make?
The median annual wage for pipelayers in the United States is $49,000, or $23.56 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $37,730, and the top 10% earn $80,170.
How many pipelayers are employed in the U.S.?
About 33,050 people work as pipelayers nationwide.
Which state pays pipelayers the most?
Wisconsin pays the most at a median of $86,870, followed by Washington ($82,450) and Minnesota ($81,980).
Which state pays pipelayers the least?
Arkansas has the lowest median at $37,650.
Where are pipelayers jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is North Carolina at 3.65×.