How much do pipelayers make in the US in 2026?

Which state is best for pipelayers?

Different states win on different measures — here's the top on each. Pick the one that matters to you.

Across 23 states: $44,340–$86,870 (median $59,740).

Pipelayer pay by state

Where is the union premium biggest for Pipelayers?

Named locals and the premium over the BLS all-worker median.

We don't have union scale data for Pipelayer across our states yet — these states are predominantly non-union, or we haven't added IBEW/UA data. Submitting your pay helps build complete data for Pipelayer.

Union landscape

Pipelaying is work that crosses a lot of organizational lines — water mains, storm drains, sanitary sewer, gas distribution — and the labor representation picture varies by region and project type. Some pipelayers work under a collective bargaining agreement that sets wages, benefits, and working conditions above what non-union shops offer. Others work open shop their entire career and never see a union card. Here's the honest situation on TradesPays: we do not have union scale data for pipelayers in any of the 23 states we currently cover. That means the figures you see — the $49,000 median, the state-level numbers — reflect what BLS OEWS captures across all employment types, union and non-union combined. We can't tell you from our data whether union scale in your area runs higher or lower than those figures. If you're on a union job or considering one, the only reliable source for current scale is your local collective bargaining agreement or the hall itself. Rates change with each contract cycle, and anything printed elsewhere — including here — can be out of date before the ink dries. Check directly with your local for current wages, fringes, and conditions. That's the only number worth writing your budget around.

What we don't track yet

The state-level numbers on TradesPays are a starting point, not the whole picture. There are two gaps worth knowing about before you use this data to make a decision. First, no metro-level breakdowns. A pipelayer working a major municipal infrastructure project in a high-cost urban area likely earns something different from one doing subdivision work in a rural part of the same state. Our current data doesn't split that out. The state figure is an average across all those situations, which means it can understate pay in dense metros and overstate it in lower-cost areas. Second, no apprentice, journeyman, or master-tier wage splits. Pipelaying doesn't carry formal licensing tiers in most states the way some other trades do, but experience and classification still affect what you earn in practice — especially under a CBA. We don't have that breakdown in our dataset right now. These are real limits, and we'd rather name them than let you assume the data covers more than it does. If you work in this trade and have wage information — by metro, by experience level, or by contract — we want to hear from you. Use the submission form to share what you're seeing in the field. Better data helps every pipelayer who comes here after you.

Pipelayer pay: FAQ

What is the national median wage for pipelayers?

According to BLS OEWS May 2025 data, the national median wage for pipelayers is $49,000 per year. The 25th percentile is $43,980 and the 75th percentile is $61,400.

Which states pay pipelayers the most, based on TradesPays data?

Among the 23 states TradesPays currently covers, Wisconsin is the highest at $86,870, followed by Washington at $82,450 and Minnesota at $81,980. These figures come from BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which state has the lowest pipelayer wage in your data set?

Louisiana has the lowest figure in our current data set at $44,340. That's still above the 25th percentile nationally, which illustrates how much the state average can mask variation within any given state.

How many states does TradesPays cover for pipelayer wages?

We currently cover pipelayer wages in 23 states. If yours isn't listed, we're still building out coverage — check back or submit wage data to help us get there faster.

Does TradesPays have union scale rates for pipelayers?

No. We do not have union scale data for pipelayers in any of the states we cover. Some pipelayers work under a collective bargaining agreement, but for current negotiated rates you'll need to check directly with your local. Our figures reflect BLS OEWS data across all employment types.

Do pipelayer wages vary a lot by state?

Yes, significantly. The spread between the lowest state in our data set (Louisiana at $44,340) and the highest (Wisconsin at $86,870) is over $42,000 a year. State, project type, and whether you're working under a CBA are among the biggest factors driving that range.

What does TradesPays not cover for pipelayers?

Two things worth knowing: we don't have metro-level wage breakdowns, so city-versus-rural differences inside a state aren't captured. We also don't have wage splits by experience tier — apprentice, journeyman, or similar classifications. We're working on both. In the meantime, use state-level figures as a benchmark, not a final answer.

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