Pipefitter Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$63,000
national median salary
$49,000 to $82,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $63,800 for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) across the United States, based on 465,840 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$44,150
25th percentile
$50,190
Median
$63,800
75th percentile
$85,110
90th percentile
$108,420
Workers surveyed
465,840
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$62,970
May 2025 release
$63,800
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) rather than Pipefitterspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 47-2152Highest Paying
$88,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$66,000
Washington DC, DC
Lowest Paying
$48,000
Jackson, MS
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 47-2152. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Pipefitter salary in the United States at $63,000 in 2026, within a range of $49,000 to $82,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $88,000, while Washington DC offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Industrial pipefitters working in refineries, power plants, and pharmaceutical facilities earn the highest wages due to exacting tolerances and hazardous materials handling.
Pipefitter salary by city.
Skills that increase Pipefitter pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Pipefitters based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $8,820 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$8,820 per year
≈ +$8,190 per year
≈ +$7,560 per year
≈ +$6,930 per year
≈ +$6,930 per year
≈ +$6,300 per year
≈ +$6,300 per year
≈ +$5,670 per year
What you should know.
Industrial pipefitters working in refineries, power plants, and pharmaceutical facilities earn the highest wages due to exacting tolerances and hazardous materials handling. Welding certifications in combination with pipefitting significantly boost rates by 15 to 25%. Shutdown and turnaround work at petrochemical plants offers premium overtime packages that push annual earnings well above base.
Pipefitter apprentices start at $36,000 to $44,000 during their five year apprenticeship. Journeyman pipefitters earn $50,000 to $72,000, while foremen and project leads reach $75,000 to $95,000. Piping superintendents and estimators at industrial contractors command $95,000 to $130,000.
Union pipefitters receive benefits worth $18,000 to $28,000 annually including pension, health, and training funds. Travel assignments to industrial sites include per diem of $75 to $125 daily, and double-time overtime during shutdowns can dramatically increase take-home pay.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Pipefitters typically earn $57,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
Are you a Pipefitter?
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Common questions about Pipefitter pay.
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