Pipefitter Salary.

Q: How much does a Pipefitter make?

Orbyt estimates the national median Pipefitter salary at $63,000 in 2026, within a range of $49,000 to $82,000. This is a computed estimate, not a measured wage. Where you land depends on your experience, skills, the company's size, and your location.

Q: What is the Pipefitter salary range by experience level?

Entry level Pipefitters (0 to 2 years) typically earn $41,000 to $50,000. Mid level (3 to 5 years) run $54,000 to $66,000. Senior (6 to 9 years) reach $69,000 to $82,000, and lead level (10 plus years) $79,000 to $98,000.

Q: Is Pipefitter a well paid career?

With a national median of $63,000 and senior pay reaching $82,000 to $98,000, Pipefitter is a well compensated field. Pay varies by city, so compare cost of living adjusted numbers before judging any single offer.

Q: What is the entry level Pipefitter salary?

Entry level Pipefitter roles start around $41,000 to $50,000. Candidates with strong internships, certifications, or portfolio work often negotiate toward the national median of $63,000.

Across 81 U.S. cities.

$63,000

estimated national base salary

$49,000 to $82,000. Last updated September 2026.

Orbyt prices 2 titles at this same figure: Plumber and Pipefitter. Orbyt does not hold title-level wage data that would separate them.

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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 Pipefitter specifically. 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 47-2152

Highest 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 September 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. This figure is not specific to this title: Orbyt prices 2 titles at the same estimate. 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.

Salary comparison across 81 cities
City	Median	Range	COL	Adjusted	Rank
San Jose, CA	$88,000	$68,000 to $114,000	1.38x	$64,000	#3371 of 3445
San Francisco, CA	$87,000	$67,000 to $113,000	1.35x	$64,000	#3374 of 3445
New York, NY	$82,000	$64,000 to $107,000	1.28x	$64,000	#3371 of 3445
Washington DC, DC	$82,000	$64,000 to $107,000	1.25x	$66,000	#3369 of 3445
Seattle, WA	$80,000	$63,000 to $105,000	1.24x	$65,000	#3371 of 3445
Boston, MA	$79,000	$62,000 to $103,000	1.22x	$65,000	#3371 of 3445
Honolulu, HI	$79,000	$62,000 to $103,000	1.30x	$61,000	#3393 of 3445
Los Angeles, CA	$77,000	$60,000 to $101,000	1.18x	$65,000	#3367 of 3445
Arlington, VA	$75,000	$58,000 to $97,000	1.22x	$61,000	#3382 of 3445
Jersey City, NJ	$75,000	$58,000 to $97,000	1.20x	$63,000	#3377 of 3445
San Diego, CA	$74,000	$57,000 to $96,000	1.17x	$63,000	#3378 of 3445
Newark, NJ	$74,000	$57,000 to $96,000	1.18x	$63,000	#3380 of 3445
Boulder, CO	$74,000	$57,000 to $96,000	1.15x	$64,000	#3372 of 3445
Princeton, NJ	$73,000	$57,000 to $95,000	1.15x	$63,000	#3377 of 3445
Denver, CO	$71,000	$55,000 to $92,000	1.08x	$66,000	#3368 of 3445
Sacramento, CA	$71,000	$55,000 to $92,000	1.10x	$65,000	#3369 of 3445
Philadelphia, PA	$70,000	$54,000 to $91,000	1.09x	$64,000	#3372 of 3445
Anchorage, AK	$70,000	$54,000 to $91,000	1.13x	$62,000	#3385 of 3445
Chicago, IL	$69,000	$54,000 to $90,000	1.07x	$64,000	#3370 of 3445
Miami, FL	$69,000	$54,000 to $90,000	1.12x	$62,000	#3380 of 3445
Portland, OR	$69,000	$54,000 to $90,000	1.10x	$63,000	#3385 of 3445
Baltimore, MD	$69,000	$53,000 to $89,000	1.08x	$64,000	#3372 of 3445
Minneapolis, MN	$67,000	$52,000 to $88,000	1.05x	$64,000	#3377 of 3445
Austin, TX	$66,000	$51,000 to $86,000	1.03x	$64,000	#3371 of 3445
Dallas, TX	$66,000	$51,000 to $85,000	1.01x	$65,000	#3367 of 3445
Atlanta, GA	$66,000	$51,000 to $86,000	1.02x	$65,000	#3369 of 3445
Wilmington, DE	$66,000	$51,000 to $86,000	1.02x	$65,000	#3370 of 3445
Providence, RI	$66,000	$51,000 to $85,000	1.04x	$63,000	#3377 of 3445
Richmond, VA	$66,000	$51,000 to $86,000	1.01x	$65,000	#3369 of 3445
Nashville, TN	$65,000	$50,000 to $84,000	1.00x	$65,000	#3371 of 3445
Hartford, CT	$65,000	$51,000 to $85,000	1.08x	$60,000	#3389 of 3445
Portland, ME	$65,000	$51,000 to $85,000	1.05x	$62,000	#3385 of 3445
Burlington, VT	$65,000	$50,000 to $84,000	1.06x	$61,000	#3382 of 3445
Raleigh, NC	$64,000	$50,000 to $84,000	0.99x	$65,000	#3371 of 3445
Manchester, NH	$64,000	$50,000 to $83,000	1.06x	$60,000	#3393 of 3445
Houston, TX	$63,000	$49,000 to $82,000	0.97x	$65,000	#3367 of 3445
Salt Lake City, UT	$63,000	$49,000 to $82,000	0.98x	$64,000	#3372 of 3445
Tampa, FL	$63,000	$49,000 to $82,000	0.96x	$66,000	#3366 of 3445
Phoenix, AZ	$62,000	$48,000 to $80,000	0.96x	$65,000	#3370 of 3445
Boise, ID	$62,000	$48,000 to $80,000	0.95x	$65,000	#3367 of 3445
Virginia Beach, VA	$62,000	$48,000 to $80,000	0.98x	$63,000	#3372 of 3445
Reno, NV	$62,000	$48,000 to $80,000	0.96x	$65,000	#3371 of 3445
Ann Arbor, MI	$62,000	$48,000 to $81,000	1.02x	$61,000	#3392 of 3445
North Charleston, SC	$62,000	$48,000 to $80,000	0.94x	$66,000	#3367 of 3445
Pittsburgh, PA	$60,000	$47,000 to $78,000	0.92x	$65,000	#3369 of 3445
New Orleans, LA	$60,000	$46,000 to $78,000	0.92x	$65,000	#3368 of 3445
Las Vegas, NV	$60,000	$47,000 to $79,000	0.96x	$63,000	#3380 of 3445
Albany, NY	$60,000	$47,000 to $79,000	0.96x	$63,000	#3377 of 3445
Charlotte, NC	$59,000	$46,000 to $76,000	0.97x	$61,000	#3391 of 3445
Kansas City, MO	$59,000	$46,000 to $77,000	0.93x	$63,000	#3374 of 3445
Charleston, SC	$59,000	$46,000 to $77,000	0.98x	$60,000	#3395 of 3445
Columbus, OH	$59,000	$46,000 to $76,000	0.93x	$63,000	#3375 of 3445
Orlando, FL	$59,000	$46,000 to $77,000	0.95x	$62,000	#3383 of 3445
San Antonio, TX	$59,000	$46,000 to $77,000	0.91x	$65,000	#3369 of 3445
Madison, WI	$59,000	$46,000 to $77,000	0.95x	$62,000	#3382 of 3445
Spokane, WA	$59,000	$46,000 to $77,000	0.92x	$64,000	#3372 of 3445
Detroit, MI	$58,000	$45,000 to $76,000	0.90x	$64,000	#3370 of 3445
Cincinnati, OH	$58,000	$45,000 to $76,000	0.90x	$64,000	#3372 of 3445
Knoxville, TN	$58,000	$45,000 to $75,000	0.89x	$65,000	#3369 of 3445
Columbus, OH	$57,000	$44,000 to $74,000	0.93x	$61,000	#3384 of 3445
Louisville, KY	$57,000	$44,000 to $74,000	0.88x	$65,000	#3369 of 3445
Cheyenne, WY	$57,000	$44,000 to $74,000	0.87x	$66,000	#3369 of 3445
Baton Rouge, LA	$57,000	$44,000 to $74,000	0.88x	$65,000	#3369 of 3445
St. Louis, MO	$56,000	$43,000 to $72,000	0.90x	$62,000	#3382 of 3445
Albuquerque, NM	$56,000	$44,000 to $73,000	0.88x	$64,000	#3375 of 3445
Milwaukee, WI	$56,000	$44,000 to $73,000	0.91x	$62,000	#3387 of 3445
Indianapolis, IN	$55,000	$43,000 to $72,000	0.91x	$60,000	#3386 of 3445
Des Moines, IA	$55,000	$43,000 to $71,000	0.86x	$64,000	#3371 of 3445
Omaha, NE	$55,000	$43,000 to $72,000	0.88x	$63,000	#3377 of 3445
Oklahoma City, OK	$55,000	$42,000 to $71,000	0.84x	$65,000	#3368 of 3445
Fargo, ND	$54,000	$42,000 to $70,000	0.85x	$64,000	#3376 of 3445
Columbia, SC	$54,000	$42,000 to $71,000	0.90x	$60,000	#3393 of 3445
Little Rock, AR	$53,000	$41,000 to $69,000	0.82x	$65,000	#3370 of 3445
Birmingham, AL	$52,000	$40,000 to $68,000	0.84x	$62,000	#3380 of 3445
Wichita, KS	$52,000	$40,000 to $67,000	0.82x	$63,000	#3376 of 3445
Sioux Falls, SD	$52,000	$40,000 to $68,000	0.85x	$61,000	#3384 of 3445
Lexington, KY	$52,000	$40,000 to $68,000	0.86x	$60,000	#3392 of 3445
Des Moines, IA	$52,000	$40,000 to $68,000	0.86x	$60,000	#3388 of 3445
Tulsa, OK	$52,000	$40,000 to $67,000	0.83x	$63,000	#3379 of 3445
Charleston, WV	$50,000	$39,000 to $65,000	0.78x	$64,000	#3375 of 3445
Jackson, MS	$48,000	$37,000 to $62,000	0.79x	$61,000	#3389 of 3445

Skills that increase Pipefitter pay.

The premiums below are Orbyt's modelled scenarios for Pipefitters, not effects measured from job postings: each is a fixed percentage applied to the estimated base. At the top premium that works out to $8,820 a year.

LLM Fine-Tuning+14%

≈ +$8,820 per year

Reinforcement Learning+13%

≈ +$8,190 per year

CUDA+12%

≈ +$7,560 per year

RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation)+11%

≈ +$6,930 per year

Kubernetes+11%

≈ +$6,930 per year

Transformers+10%

≈ +$6,300 per year

Rust+10%

≈ +$6,300 per year

PyTorch+9%

≈ +$5,670 per year

See all 35 skill premiums →

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.

Base Salary

$63,000

Equity / Year

$8,000

Annual Bonus

$3,000

Total Comp

$74,000

Salary by company size

Startup

< 50 employees

$54,000

Growth

50-500 employees

$59,000

Scale-up

500-5K employees

$63,000

Public

5K+ employees

$74,000

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.

Orbyt estimates the national median Pipefitter salary at $63,000 in 2026, within a range of $49,000 to $82,000. This is a computed estimate, not a measured wage. Where you land depends on your experience, skills, the company's size, and your location.

Entry level Pipefitters (0 to 2 years) typically earn $41,000 to $50,000. Mid level (3 to 5 years) run $54,000 to $66,000. Senior (6 to 9 years) reach $69,000 to $82,000, and lead level (10 plus years) $79,000 to $98,000.

With a national median of $63,000 and senior pay reaching $82,000 to $98,000, Pipefitter is a well compensated field. Pay varies by city, so compare cost of living adjusted numbers before judging any single offer.

Entry level Pipefitter roles start around $41,000 to $50,000. Candidates with strong internships, certifications, or portfolio work often negotiate toward the national median of $63,000.

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Pipefitter Salary.

Government benchmark for this occupation

Pipefitter salary by city.

Skills that increase Pipefitter pay.

What you should know.

Total compensation breakdown.

Salary by company size

Remote salary adjustment

Are you a Pipefitter?

Related.

Common questions about Pipefitter pay.

How much does a Pipefitter make?

What is the Pipefitter salary range by experience level?

Is Pipefitter a well paid career?

What is the entry level Pipefitter salary?

What is the total compensation for a Pipefitter?

What factors affect Pipefitter salaries?

You have the data.