Pipelayers
Pipelayers (SOC 47-2151) earn a median $49,000 a year ($23.56 an hour) in the United States, with 33,050 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Wisconsin.
What pipelayers do
Pipelayers lay pipe for storm or sanitation sewers, drains and water mains. Any one worker may do some combination of grading trenches or culverts, positioning pipe and sealing joints. Working in trenches, they dig to the required depth by hand or with trenching tools, and grade or level the trench base using tamping machines or hand tools. They set up or use instruments including lasers, grade rods and transit levels and check slopes against requirements with levels or lasers. Pipe is cut to length, pieces are connected, and joints are sealed using welding equipment, cement or glue, and the pipe is then covered with earth or other materials. Pipelayers also install or repair sanitary or stormwater sewer structures and pipe systems. Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers (51-4121) are excluded and have their own code, and plumbers and pipefitters (47-2152) are a separate occupation.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report that no high school diploma is required, and training happens on the job.
Also called: Cast Iron Drain Pipe Layer, Drain Layer, Drain Tiler, Pipe Assembly Worker, Pipe Caulker.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $18.14 | $21.15 | $23.56 | $29.52 | $38.55 | $26.30 | 33,050 |
| Annual | $37,730 | $43,980 | $49,000 | $61,400 | $80,170 | $54,700 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where pipelayers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $33.46 | $38.94 | $41.77 | $44.98 | $47.36 | $41.75 | 350 | 0.12 | 0.56 |
| Annual | $69,600 | $80,990 | $86,870 | $93,550 | $98,520 | $86,850 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $29.33 | $33.71 | $39.64 | $45.76 | $48.71 | $39.50 | 1,050 | 0.30 | 1.40 |
| Annual | $61,010 | $70,110 | $82,450 | $95,180 | $101,310 | $82,170 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $32.03 | $36.46 | $39.41 | $45.69 | $48.73 | $40.91 | 510 | 0.17 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $66,620 | $75,840 | $81,980 | $95,040 | $101,360 | $85,080 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $25.49 | $30.46 | $37.90 | $46.79 | $51.39 | $37.79 | 400 | 0.09 | 0.44 |
| Annual | $53,020 | $63,360 | $78,830 | $97,310 | $106,890 | $78,600 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $24.35 | $29.74 | $36.63 | $45.46 | $52.30 | $37.47 | 1,420 | 0.08 | 0.37 |
| Annual | $50,650 | $61,870 | $76,180 | $94,560 | $108,790 | $77,930 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $17.81 | $19.17 | $21.93 | $23.79 | $27.27 | $22.16 | 5,010 | 0.36 | 1.68 |
| Annual | $37,030 | $39,870 | $45,620 | $49,490 | $56,730 | $46,090 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $18.09 | $21.07 | $22.72 | $23.94 | $28.10 | $22.81 | 4,050 | 0.41 | 1.92 |
| Annual | $37,620 | $43,820 | $47,260 | $49,800 | $58,450 | $47,440 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $18.21 | $20.29 | $22.70 | $24.94 | $28.50 | $23.07 | 3,830 | 0.78 | 3.65 |
| Annual | $37,870 | $42,200 | $47,220 | $51,880 | $59,280 | $47,990 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $17.12 | $18.78 | $22.22 | $24.25 | $29.72 | $22.71 | 1,890 | 0.39 | 1.82 |
| Annual | $35,600 | $39,050 | $46,220 | $50,440 | $61,820 | $47,230 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $24.35 | $29.74 | $36.63 | $45.46 | $52.30 | $37.47 | 1,420 | 0.08 | 0.37 |
| Annual | $50,650 | $61,870 | $76,180 | $94,560 | $108,790 | $77,930 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | Hourly | $39.19 | $41.76 | $44.98 | $46.10 | $47.52 | $43.43 | 90 | 0.11 | 0.52 |
| Annual | $81,520 | $86,860 | $93,550 | $95,880 | $98,840 | $90,340 | ||||
| Green Bay, WI | Hourly | $26.67 | $38.00 | $44.00 | $46.65 | $50.61 | $41.40 | 40 | 0.22 | 1.03 |
| Annual | $55,470 | $79,040 | $91,520 | $97,040 | $105,270 | $86,120 | ||||
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | Hourly | $24.66 | $32.93 | $43.69 | $44.04 | $44.04 | $37.55 | 40 | 0.33 | 1.53 |
| Annual | $51,300 | $68,480 | $90,880 | $91,600 | $91,600 | $78,090 | ||||
| Madison, WI | Hourly | $38.55 | $40.11 | $41.77 | $47.17 | $51.28 | $43.77 | 50 | 0.12 | 0.55 |
| Annual | $80,190 | $83,420 | $86,870 | $98,110 | $106,670 | $91,050 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $30.00 | $36.50 | $40.78 | $46.66 | $50.08 | $40.64 | 610 | 0.30 | 1.39 |
| Annual | $62,400 | $75,930 | $84,830 | $97,050 | $104,170 | $84,530 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $17.76 | $19.32 | $21.71 | $23.42 | $28.13 | $22.25 | 1,300 | 0.40 | 1.86 |
| Annual | $36,930 | $40,190 | $45,150 | $48,710 | $58,520 | $46,280 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $18.22 | $21.36 | $22.44 | $24.21 | $27.02 | $22.84 | 1,240 | 0.31 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $37,900 | $44,440 | $46,680 | $50,350 | $56,210 | $47,510 | ||||
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | Hourly | $19.39 | $22.35 | $23.55 | $28.45 | $28.78 | $24.42 | 1,170 | 0.86 | 4.06 |
| Annual | $40,330 | $46,490 | $48,980 | $59,180 | $59,860 | $50,790 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $17.78 | $19.40 | $22.86 | $26.67 | $31.01 | $24.14 | 1,000 | 0.35 | 1.64 |
| Annual | $36,980 | $40,360 | $47,560 | $55,470 | $64,490 | $50,210 | ||||
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | Hourly | $18.68 | $22.12 | $23.29 | $25.34 | $30.03 | $24.20 | 740 | 0.57 | 2.68 |
| Annual | $38,850 | $46,010 | $48,440 | $52,710 | $62,450 | $50,340 | ||||
Top industries employing pipelayers
Utility System Construction employ 39.8% of pipelayers nationally (13,140 jobs) at a median $48,530 a year ($23.33 an hour), followed by Other Specialty Trade Contractors (18.0%) and Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (17.5%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utility System Construction NAICS 237100 | 13,140 | 39.8% | $48,530 | $23.33 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors NAICS 238900 | 5,960 | 18.0% | $49,340 | $23.72 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 5,770 | 17.5% | $49,680 | $23.89 |
| Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction NAICS 237300 | 2,260 | 6.8% | $48,060 | $23.10 |
| Building Equipment Contractors NAICS 238200 | 2,010 | 6.1% | $59,280 | $28.50 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (33,050). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $45,980 for pipelayers in May 2021 and $49,000 in May 2025, with employment of 33,330 and 33,050.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $45,980 | $22.11 | 33,330 |
| May 2022 | $45,990 | $22.11 | 36,070 |
| May 2023 | $47,330 | $22.76 | 34,840 |
| May 2024 | $48,710 | $23.42 | 33,580 |
| May 2025 | $49,000 | $23.56 | 33,050 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
44 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin profile | $41.77 | $86,870 | $69,600 | $98,520 | 350 | 0.12 | 0.56 |
| 2 | Washington profile | $39.64 | $82,450 | $61,010 | $101,310 | 1,050 | 0.30 | 1.40 |
| 3 | Minnesota profile | $39.41 | $81,980 | $66,620 | $101,360 | 510 | 0.17 | 0.82 |
| 4 | New Jersey profile | $37.90 | $78,830 | $53,020 | $106,890 | 400 | 0.09 | 0.44 |
| 5 | California profile | $36.63 | $76,180 | $50,650 | $108,790 | 1,420 | 0.08 | 0.37 |
| 6 | Indiana profile | $35.38 | $73,580 | $38,400 | $95,180 | 800 | 0.25 | 1.18 |
| 7 | Massachusetts profile | $34.99 | $72,770 | $56,620 | $86,560 | ** | ** | ** |
| 8 | Ohio profile | $34.41 | $71,560 | $46,840 | $91,540 | 1,160 | 0.21 | 0.99 |
| 9 | New York profile | $33.83 | $70,370 | $44,790 | $112,860 | 250 | 0.03 | 0.12 |
| 10 | Oregon profile | $30.88 | $64,230 | $48,870 | $83,200 | 620 | 0.32 | 1.49 |
| 11 | Nevada profile | $30.56 | $63,570 | $33,280 | $90,690 | 450 | 0.29 | 1.35 |
| 12 | Arizona profile | $30.16 | $62,740 | $46,990 | $73,820 | 480 | 0.15 | 0.70 |
| 13 | Michigan profile | $29.60 | $61,560 | $52,140 | $86,120 | 180 | 0.04 | 0.19 |
| 14 | Colorado profile | $28.72 | $59,740 | $46,930 | $76,940 | 790 | 0.28 | 1.30 |
| 15 | Kentucky profile | $28.28 | $58,820 | $52,120 | $61,870 | 60 | 0.03 | 0.14 |
| 16 | Idaho profile | $28.20 | $58,650 | $38,990 | $73,340 | 280 | 0.32 | 1.52 |
| 17 | Delaware profile | $28.00 | $58,240 | $46,700 | $71,060 | ** | ** | ** |
| 18 | Maryland profile | $26.75 | $55,640 | $48,270 | $62,690 | 650 | 0.24 | 1.11 |
| 19 | District of Columbia profile | $26.67 | $55,470 | $37,350 | $67,900 | 110 | 0.16 | 0.76 |
| 20 | Iowa profile | $25.96 | $53,990 | $46,940 | $63,660 | 280 | 0.18 | 0.85 |
| 21 | New Hampshire profile | $25.90 | $53,870 | $37,280 | $82,510 | 210 | 0.31 | 1.47 |
| 22 | Utah profile | $25.00 | $52,000 | $47,840 | $60,510 | 530 | 0.31 | 1.44 |
| 23 | Maine profile | $24.51 | $50,980 | $44,320 | $73,380 | 110 | 0.17 | 0.82 |
| 24 | South Dakota profile | $24.35 | $50,650 | $36,560 | $60,300 | 300 | 0.66 | 3.12 |
| 25 | Illinois profile | $23.84 | $49,590 | $41,760 | $62,490 | 280 | 0.05 | 0.22 |
| 26 | Virginia profile | $23.41 | $48,700 | $38,130 | $61,140 | 1,080 | 0.26 | 1.23 |
| 27 | Montana profile | $23.12 | $48,080 | $47,480 | $75,420 | 80 | 0.16 | 0.77 |
| 28 | North Dakota profile | $22.99 | $47,810 | $47,200 | $59,240 | 170 | 0.39 | 1.83 |
| 29 | Kansas profile | $22.78 | $47,390 | $44,720 | $58,280 | 240 | 0.17 | 0.80 |
| 30 | Florida profile | $22.72 | $47,260 | $37,620 | $58,450 | 4,050 | 0.41 | 1.92 |
| 31 | North Carolina profile | $22.70 | $47,220 | $37,870 | $59,280 | 3,830 | 0.78 | 3.65 |
| 32 | Georgia profile | $22.22 | $46,220 | $35,600 | $61,820 | 1,890 | 0.39 | 1.82 |
| 33 | Tennessee profile | $22.12 | $46,020 | $35,810 | $59,590 | 810 | 0.25 | 1.16 |
| 34 | Texas profile | $21.93 | $45,620 | $37,030 | $56,730 | 5,010 | 0.36 | 1.68 |
| 35 | New Mexico profile | $21.90 | $45,550 | $38,000 | $55,830 | 190 | 0.22 | 1.03 |
| 36 | Oklahoma profile | $21.73 | $45,190 | $37,120 | $53,300 | 530 | 0.31 | 1.47 |
| 37 | South Carolina profile | $21.72 | $45,180 | $37,480 | $58,920 | 670 | 0.29 | 1.36 |
| 38 | Alabama profile | $21.42 | $44,550 | $29,130 | $55,410 | 460 | 0.22 | 1.03 |
| 39 | Nebraska profile | $21.38 | $44,470 | $37,110 | $62,550 | 570 | 0.56 | 2.63 |
| 40 | Louisiana profile | $21.32 | $44,340 | $35,200 | $60,180 | ** | ** | ** |
| 41 | Mississippi profile | $20.14 | $41,900 | $31,610 | $67,010 | 320 | 0.28 | 1.29 |
| 42 | Pennsylvania profile | $20.00 | $41,600 | $41,600 | $75,330 | 590 | 0.10 | 0.46 |
| 43 | West Virginia profile | $19.44 | $40,440 | $31,660 | $58,680 | 180 | 0.26 | 1.20 |
| 44 | Arkansas profile | $18.10 | $37,650 | $31,570 | $44,760 | 430 | 0.33 | 1.57 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (47-2150), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Construction and Extraction Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 47-2151 Pipelayers.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 47-2151, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 47-2151.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.