As of May 18, 2021, the average hourly rate for a Pipefitter in the United States is $29, which translates to an annual salary of about $60,416.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
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A Pipefitter's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Pipefitter's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Pipefitter | $59,501 |
| Intermediate Level Pipefitter | $60,384 |
| Senior Level Pipefitter | $62,303 |
| Specialist Level Pipefitter | $62,565 |
| Expert Level Pipefitter | $63,001 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Pipefitters. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Troubleshooting | 3.51% |
| Pneumatics | 5.46% |
| Product Quality | 2.05% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Plumbing
|
$62,833 |
4%
|
|
Welding
|
$61,624 |
2%
|
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Pipefitters enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Pipefitter with a No Diploma is between $47,328 and $52,989).
Pipefitter Salaries by Degree Level
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 8.3% |
| High School | 62.5% |
| Associates | 16.7% |
| Bachelors | 12.5% |
| Masters | 0.0% |
| Doctorate | 0.0% |
Understanding how a Pipefitter's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Last Updated on May 18, 2021Salaries for a Pipefitter can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $47,032 in 2023 to around $47,066 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Pipefitter salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
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|
| 2023 | $47,032 |
| 2024 | $47,245 |
| 2025 | $47,066 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
View More
|
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Assembles, maintains, and repairs various types of pipes and piping systems. Follows blueprints and instructions to assemble and repair piping systems and ensure proper use, placement, and alignment. Conducts services in compliance with all safety and quality standards. Evaluates, identifies, and prepares the parts and equipment needed to perform services. Documents and records service details, dates, specifications, and processes for future reference and maintenance. Maintains knowledge and expertise in various piping applications including HVAC, water and steam heating, high and low pressure systems, and industrial refrigeration. Requires a high school diploma. Typically reports to a supervisor. Works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area. Possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. May require 0-1 year of general work experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Troubleshooting: Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
Pneumatics: Pneumatics (pronounced new-MATT-ix) is an aspect of physics and engineering that is concerned with using the energy in compressed gas to make something move or work.
Product Quality: Product quality refers to how well a product satisfies customer needs, serves its purpose and meets industry standards. When evaluating product quality, businesses consider several key factors, including whether a product solves a problem, works efficiently or suits customers' purposes.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
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