SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases. May install heating and cooling equipment and mechanical control systems. Includes sprinkler fitters.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 47-2152.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $44,150 | $3,679 | $849 | $21.22 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $50,190 | $4,182 | $965 | $24.13 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $63,800 | $5,317 | $1,227 | $30.67 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $85,110 | $7,092 | $1,637 | $40.92 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $108,420 | $9,035 | $2,085 | $52.13 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters is $63,800, which is 25% higher. Among the 60 occupations of the field Construction and Extraction, it ranks number 13 by median pay. With 465,840 jobs, it makes up about 30 of every 10,000 jobs in the country. The average ($72,170) is well above the median, a sign that a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay by state
The highest median pay was in District of Columbia ($101,020), Illinois ($99,950) and Oregon ($97,050). The lowest was in Puerto Rico ($31,620), Guam ($36,470) and Arkansas ($48,660). The most jobs were in California (47,660), Texas (44,090) and Florida (29,260). The occupation is most concentrated in Guam, where its share of all jobs is 1.6 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 1,010 | $101,020 | $91,200 | $48.57 |
| Illinois | 16,750 | $99,950 | $93,400 | $48.05 |
| Oregon | 5,370 | $97,050 | $98,450 | $46.66 |
| Minnesota | 10,720 | $94,410 | $86,700 | $45.39 |
| Alaska | 1,200 | $93,920 | $90,460 | $45.15 |
| Massachusetts | 13,460 | $93,880 | $90,410 | $45.14 |
| Wisconsin | 10,210 | $81,210 | $84,720 | $39.04 |
| Washington | 12,470 | $81,030 | $88,800 | $38.96 |
| Michigan | 14,120 | $80,190 | $77,250 | $38.56 |
| Montana | 1,860 | $79,960 | $78,190 | $38.44 |
| New Jersey | 8,750 | $78,240 | $92,590 | $37.61 |
| Hawaii | 2,500 | $78,060 | $82,810 | $37.53 |
| New York | 23,210 | $77,490 | $83,790 | $37.26 |
| Connecticut | 5,410 | $77,280 | $75,400 | $37.16 |
| Rhode Island | 1,820 | $76,470 | $81,610 | $36.77 |
| Indiana | 11,280 | $76,320 | $75,660 | $36.69 |
| California | 47,660 | $72,830 | $82,320 | $35.01 |
| Pennsylvania | 13,620 | $68,080 | $77,050 | $32.73 |
| New Hampshire | 1,950 | $66,810 | $66,230 | $32.12 |
| Missouri | 8,310 | $66,790 | $75,010 | $32.11 |
| Maryland | 11,420 | $65,400 | $73,510 | $31.44 |
| Kansas | 4,590 | $65,220 | $71,410 | $31.36 |
| Delaware | 1,590 | $64,720 | $68,110 | $31.11 |
| Kentucky | 6,360 | $64,160 | $68,870 | $30.84 |
| Maine | 2,710 | $64,000 | $66,570 | $30.77 |
| Iowa | 5,730 | $63,890 | $70,030 | $30.72 |
| Louisiana | 8,360 | $63,680 | $62,620 | $30.62 |
| North Dakota | 1,620 | $63,560 | $66,160 | $30.56 |
| Ohio | 16,390 | $63,330 | $69,700 | $30.45 |
| Colorado | 10,080 | $63,240 | $69,090 | $30.40 |
| Wyoming | 1,140 | $62,410 | $61,890 | $30.01 |
| Vermont | 980 | $62,170 | $68,980 | $29.89 |
| Arizona | 11,810 | $62,070 | $67,940 | $29.84 |
| Utah | 7,030 | $61,900 | $64,210 | $29.76 |
| Nevada | 5,370 | $61,610 | $71,510 | $29.62 |
| New Mexico | 2,830 | $61,440 | $61,790 | $29.54 |
| Nebraska | 4,110 | $60,970 | $65,710 | $29.31 |
| Virginia | 13,780 | $60,470 | $60,650 | $29.07 |
| Texas | 44,090 | $59,840 | $60,780 | $28.77 |
| Alabama | 6,950 | $58,670 | $57,750 | $28.21 |
| Tennessee | 9,270 | $58,600 | $60,500 | $28.17 |
| Oklahoma | 6,050 | $57,970 | $58,970 | $27.87 |
| Georgia | 8,930 | $57,200 | $58,220 | $27.50 |
| North Carolina | 14,510 | $57,080 | $56,720 | $27.44 |
| West Virginia | 1,830 | $56,980 | $58,780 | $27.39 |
| Mississippi | 3,360 | $55,480 | $56,690 | $26.67 |
| South Carolina | 5,770 | $53,940 | $55,890 | $25.93 |
| Florida | 29,260 | $52,910 | $56,030 | $25.44 |
| Idaho | 3,090 | $52,380 | $58,450 | $25.18 |
| South Dakota | 1,760 | $51,620 | $55,530 | $24.82 |
| Virgin Islands | 50 | $49,630 | $55,910 | $23.86 |
| Arkansas | 3,370 | $48,660 | $50,640 | $23.39 |
| Guam | 320 | $36,470 | $39,610 | $17.53 |
| Puerto Rico | 940 | $31,620 | $35,360 | $15.20 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators$70,070 a year
- Tapers$68,270 a year
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas$67,890 a year
- Electricians$63,190 a year
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers$62,780 a year
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons$62,120 a year
Common questions
How much do Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters earn in the United States?
The median pay was $63,800 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $44,150 and the highest-paid 10% more than $108,420.
How many people work as Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters?
About 465,840 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.