How Much Do Pipefitters Make?
National median $62,970/yr ($30.27/hr)
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics groups pipefitters with plumbers and steamfitters under one code, and as of May 2024 the median pay for that group was $62,970 a year, which works out to about $30.27 an hour. Half of all workers earned more than that. The bottom 10% made under $40,670 a year, while the top 10% made over $105,150. Pipefitters tend to land in the upper part of that range because so much of the work is industrial rather than residential.
What pushes a fitter's pay up is fairly clear. Union (UA) membership brings a set scale plus benefits, with journeyman packages often worth $50 to $75 an hour counting wages and fringes. Industrial, petrochemical, and power work pays far more than residential service. A pipe welding certification, especially a 6G test, is worth a premium on almost any job. And traveling to shutdowns and turnarounds stacks tax-free per diem of $100 to $150 a day plus heavy overtime on top of base wages.
Where you work matters too. Illinois leads the country at roughly $98,370 mean, with Alaska, Oregon, Massachusetts, New York, and Washington also near the top. The Gulf Coast, meaning Houston, Beaumont, Baton Rouge, and Lake Charles, is the densest industrial-fitter market in the country, and Chicago pays strong union scale. Put those pieces together, welding certs, industrial work, overtime, and per diem, and six figures is a realistic target.
Pay by experience
Highest-paying paths
Journeyman total packages commonly run $50 to $75+/hr counting wage plus benefits, with base taxable pay often $40 to $56/hr. Example locals report full packages of $53 to $58/hr.
Gulf Coast industrial fitters earn $35 to $55/hr base and routinely reach $90,000 to $140,000/yr on refinery and process construction, far above residential.
ASME and AWS certified welders in Houston, Chicago, and the Gulf Coast earn $35 to $55/hr, a clear premium over non-welding fitters on the same job.
Out-of-town shutdowns and turnarounds pay $100 to $150/day tax-free per diem, adding roughly $8,000 to $15,000+ a year on top of base wages.
Shutdown schedules of 60 to 70 hours a week at time-and-a-half and double time can add tens of thousands in a single season.
Illinois leads at about $98,370 mean, followed by Alaska near $84,130, with Oregon, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Washington in the high $70,000s to low $80,000s.
Chicago, the Gulf Coast (Houston, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles), Northeast metros, and Alaska pay the highest fitter wages.
How to earn more
- Get welding certified. Passing a 6G pipe test and holding ASME or AWS certs is the single biggest pay bump for a fitter, worth several dollars an hour on industrial jobs.
- Join a UA local apprenticeship. You get union scale plus full benefits, you earn while you learn, and you finish with no student debt.
- Move into industrial, petrochemical, or power work. Refinery turnarounds and process piping pay far above residential and service work.
- Chase travel and per-diem jobs. Shutdowns and large projects stack tax-free per diem and heavy overtime on top of your base wage.
- Add an in-demand specialty. Medical gas, instrumentation and orbital welding, LNG, and data-center or semiconductor-fab process piping all command premiums.
- Earn your journeyman card, then step up to foreman or general foreman for a supervisory premium and steadier hours.
- Relocate or travel to high-scale markets like Illinois, Alaska, the Gulf Coast, and Northeast metros.
See who's hiring
Browse Pipefitter jobs with pay shown upfront, or read the full Pipefitter career guide.
Pipefitter pay: common questions
How much do pipefitters make?
As of May 2024, the BLS median for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters was $62,970 a year, or $30.27 an hour. The lowest 10% earned under $40,670 and the highest 10% earned over $105,150. Because so much pipefitting is industrial, experienced fitters often sit in the upper half of that range.
Do pipefitters make good money?
Yes. The median beats the median for all U.S. jobs, and there is no college debt to pay off. Union and industrial fitters commonly earn $90,000 to $140,000 a year once overtime and per diem are counted.
How much do pipefitters make per hour?
The national median is $30.27/hr (May 2024). Apprentice pay starts around $18 to $25/hr, the 10th percentile is about $19.55, and the 90th percentile is about $50.55. Union journeyman base scale often runs $40 to $56/hr before benefits.
Can you make $100,000 as a pipefitter?
Yes. The top 10% of the trade already earns over $105,150 a year. Certified pipe welders on Gulf Coast turnarounds, and union fitters working steady overtime with per diem, regularly clear six figures.
What are the highest-paying pipefitter jobs?
Certified welding, industrial and petrochemical work, and traveling turnaround jobs with per diem pay the most. Illinois is the top-paying state at about $98,370 mean, and the Gulf Coast and Chicago are the strongest metro markets.