Journeyman Pipefitter Salary
This is the Data Center Headhunters salary guide.
BLS does not measure Journeyman Pipefitter as its own occupation, so this page uses Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152, closest proxy). The median annual wage in the United States was $63,800 (BLS, May 2025), and the middle half earned $50,190 to $85,110.
This is what we do all day: recruit data center professionals.
Closest proxy
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters is the closest occupational proxy based on the work described, not a separate data center wage series. BLS does not distinguish this title, experience level, shift, credentials or data center employers. Confirm the actual duties before using this comparison.
National pay range
| Point | Annual wage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,150 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $50,190 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median | $63,800 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $85,110 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $108,420 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $72,170 | Average wage. |
| Point | Hourly wage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $21.22 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $24.13 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median | $30.67 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $40.92 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $52.13 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $34.7 | Average wage. |
What BLS wages include: base pay plus any guaranteed or production-based incentive pay. What they leave out: overtime, discretionary bonus, benefits, per diem and relocation.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 47-2152 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, United States. View this release at BLS.
Pay relative to all occupations
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| This occupation, median | $63,800 |
| All occupations (SOC 00-0000), median | $50,980 |
| Relative wage | 1.25 times |
A ratio of 1.00 means the same median as all workers in the area. It is arithmetic on two BLS medians, not a BLS statistic.
Pay in industries that hire this occupation
| Industry (BLS name) | NAICS | Employment | Share of occupation | Median | P25 to P75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Equipment Contractors | 238200 | 340,140 | 73.0% | $63,110 | $49,680 to $84,010 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | 238220 | 330,570 | 71.0% | $63,010 | $49,650 to $83,730 |
| Utility System Construction | 237100 | 14,960 | 3.2% | $61,400 | $48,600 to $75,470 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 236200 | 10,790 | 2.3% | $71,220 | $59,390 to $87,700 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors | 238210 | 6,640 | 1.4% | $64,420 | $50,360 to $92,360 |
| Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction | 237130 | 1,530 | 0.3% | $63,590 | $53,460 to $91,100 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 221100 | 1,370 | 0.3% | $115,310 | $91,270 to $124,120 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | 811300 | 1,340 | 0.3% | $68,110 | $60,380 to $79,980 |
| Facilities Support Services | 561200 | 1,000 | 0.2% | $74,760 | $61,340 to $87,350 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | 541380 | 40 | 0.0% | $49,350 | $47,580 to $52,120 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 335900 | 40 | 0.0% | $88,260 | $78,200 to $97,570 |
These national industry rows cover privately owned establishments. Industry names are exact BLS NAICS titles. Industries overlap, so shares do not sum to 100%. An industry row does not mean the employer runs data centers.
Pay in target metros
| Metro area | Median | P25 to P75 | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $71,860 | $55,780 to $94,050 | 9,420 | 1 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $61,250 | $47,910 to $75,290 | 11,980 | 0.99 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $63,750 | $54,430 to $90,470 | 9,270 | 1.3 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $58,380 | $45,950 to $71,950 | 5,470 | 0.63 |
| Columbus, OH | $63,260 | $49,340 to $85,370 | 3,060 | 0.93 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $103,380 | $74,300 to $122,540 | 12,750 | 0.94 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $107,560 | $76,040 to $155,600 | 3,830 | 1.13 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $101,010 | $72,440 to $128,360 | 4,600 | 1.27 |
Location quotient measures job concentration, not pay. A value above 1 means the occupation makes up a larger share of local jobs than it does nationally. It says nothing about wages.
Highest and lowest paying metros
Ranked by published median annual wage among 388 metro areas with an exact median.
| Rank | Metro area | Median | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $107,560 | 3,830 | 1.13 |
| 2 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $103,380 | 12,750 | 0.94 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $102,750 | 540 | 1.97 |
| 4 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $101,630 | 6,730 | 1.15 |
| 5 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $101,010 | 4,600 | 1.27 |
| 6 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $97,130 | 840 | 2.18 |
| 7 | Bloomington, IN | $96,980 | 320 | 1.45 |
| 8 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $96,760 | 9,200 | 1.14 |
| 9 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $96,670 | 200 | 1.85 |
| 10 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $95,530 | 390 | 1.24 |
| Rank | Metro area | Median | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 379 | Jonesboro, AR | $47,030 | 160 | 0.89 |
| 380 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $46,850 | 250 | 0.53 |
| 381 | Hot Springs, AR | $46,820 | 140 | 1.18 |
| 382 | Laredo, TX | $46,350 | 120 | 0.37 |
| 383 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $46,110 | 360 | 0.41 |
| 384 | Valdosta, GA | $46,070 | 80 | 0.5 |
| 385 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $32,300 | 800 | 0.39 |
| 386 | Aguadilla, PR | $31,660 | 40 | 0.26 |
| 387 | Mayaguez, PR | $30,120 | 30 | 0.21 |
| 388 | Ponce, PR | $29,690 | 40 | 0.23 |
Location quotient measures job concentration, not pay. A value above 1 means the occupation makes up a larger share of local jobs than it does nationally. It says nothing about wages.
Where pay is highest relative to local wages
This compares the occupation's median with the all-occupations median in the same metro and on the same annual basis. It does not adjust for living costs. Only exact published medians are ranked. A top-coded lower bound cannot establish an exact rank.
| Metro | Occupation median | All-occupations median | Ratio | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IN | $96,980 | $47,660 | 2.03 times | 320 | 1.45 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $90,250 | $44,870 | 2.01 times | 420 | 2.18 |
| Rockford, IL | $94,230 | $47,120 | 2.00 times | 440 | 1.08 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $92,720 | $48,100 | 1.93 times | 210 | 0.81 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $103,380 | $54,720 | 1.89 times | 12,750 | 0.94 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $95,530 | $50,700 | 1.88 times | 390 | 1.24 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $90,730 | $48,510 | 1.87 times | 870 | 2.38 |
| Kokomo, IN | $91,470 | $48,980 | 1.87 times | 400 | 3.77 |
| Appleton, WI | $91,750 | $49,910 | 1.84 times | 890 | 2.39 |
| Green Bay, WI | $90,570 | $49,940 | 1.81 times | 730 | 1.4 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $82,200 | $45,540 | 1.81 times | 90 | 0.7 |
| Springfield, IL | $94,370 | $52,670 | 1.79 times | 220 | 0.72 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $82,120 | $45,860 | 1.79 times | 380 | 2.5 |
| Kankakee, IL | $81,620 | $45,830 | 1.78 times | 110 | 0.88 |
| Binghamton, NY | $87,990 | $49,460 | 1.78 times | 280 | 0.95 |
| Wausau, WI | $86,750 | $48,790 | 1.78 times | 260 | 1.25 |
| Bellingham, WA | $102,750 | $57,820 | 1.78 times | 540 | 1.97 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $90,230 | $50,840 | 1.77 times | 830 | 2.66 |
| Springfield, MA | $92,080 | $51,930 | 1.77 times | 670 | 1.1 |
| Columbus, IN | $85,930 | $48,470 | 1.77 times | 100 | 0.65 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $91,530 | $51,890 | 1.76 times | 150 | 0.8 |
| Flint, MI | $80,510 | $45,880 | 1.75 times | 790 | 1.95 |
| Monroe, MI | $80,700 | $46,240 | 1.75 times | 250 | 2.04 |
| Saginaw, MI | $80,440 | $46,200 | 1.74 times | 260 | 1.09 |
| Peoria, IL | $85,090 | $49,590 | 1.72 times | 560 | 1.12 |
Location quotient measures job concentration, not pay. A value above 1 means the occupation makes up a larger share of local jobs than it does nationally. It says nothing about wages.
Source: BLS OEWS BLS, May 2025, SOC 47-2152 and SOC 00-0000, matching metro areas. The ratio is our arithmetic on those published medians, not a BLS statistic.
Change since the prior BLS release
| Reference period | Median |
|---|---|
| May 2024 | $62,970 |
| May 2025 | $63,800 |
| Difference | +$830 (+1.3%) |
Two published BLS values, shown as released. Not annualized, not adjusted for inflation, and BLS metro boundaries and survey panels can differ between releases.
Levels above and below this title
These are different jobs, not experience bands within one occupation. The figures are not a promised raise.
| Title | Relationship | BLS occupation | Median | Against Journeyman Pipefitter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pipe Welder | Same job ladder | 51-4121 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $53,750 | Lower by $10,050 |
| Sheet Metal Worker / Duct Installer | Same job ladder | 47-2211 Sheet Metal Workers | $61,800 | Lower by $2,000 |
| HVAC Installer | Same job ladder | 49-9021 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $61,010 | Lower by $2,790 |
| Sheet Metal Foreman | Higher-scope title | 47-1011 First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $79,920 | Higher by $16,120 |
| Pipefitter Foreman | Higher-scope title | 47-1011 First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $79,920 | Higher by $16,120 |
Traveling Pipefitter (Per Diem) map to the same BLS occupation, so BLS shows one set of figures for the whole ladder. Level is not a BLS dimension.
What is inside the BLS pay figure
For construction and commissioning hires, separate expense reimbursements and overtime from straight-time pay. Check a project bonus on its actual terms. Guaranteed pay and production incentives count in BLS wages; discretionary nonproduction bonuses do not.
| Component | In the BLS figure? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Base rate and guaranteed pay | Included | BLS counts the "base rate" and "guaranteed pay". |
| Production and incentive pay | Included | BLS counts "incentive pay including commissions and production bonuses". |
| On-call pay | Included | BLS lists "on-call pay" and "hazardous-duty pay" as wages. |
| Overtime pay matters here | Left out | BLS excludes "overtime pay". Straight-time pay only. |
| Shift differentials | Left out | BLS excludes "shift differentials", so night and weekend premiums are not in the figure. |
| Project-completion and discretionary bonuses matters here | Depends on the terms | Guaranteed pay and production incentives are included. Discretionary nonproduction bonuses are excluded. Check how the payment is defined. |
| Per diem, travel and relocation matters here | Left out | BLS does not name these as wages. They are expense reimbursements and are not in the figure. |
| Benefits and employer costs | Left out | BLS excludes "employer costs for supplementary benefits". |
Recruiter's read
Qualitative, not from BLS data.
Journeyman Pipefitter candidates are usually screened on chilled water and condenser piping, grooved and welded; hydro testing and flushing; OSHA 30.
We usually find them through mechanical contractors; pipe trades union halls; refinery and industrial maintenance. We contact working people directly rather than relying on job applications.
Questions
What is the median pay for Journeyman Pipefitter?
The BLS median annual wage for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters nationally is $63,800 (BLS, May 2025).
What range do most Journeyman Pipefitter earn?
Per BLS, the middle half earned $50,190 to $85,110, and 10% earned less than $44,150.
Is this the exact job title?
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters is the closest occupational proxy based on the work described, not a separate data center wage series. BLS does not distinguish this title, experience level, shift, credentials or data center employers. Confirm the actual duties before using this comparison.
How many people are employed in this occupation?
BLS estimates 465,840 jobs nationally in Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters across all industries.
What do BLS wages leave out?
They leave out overtime, shift differentials, discretionary bonus, benefits, per diem and relocation. Base pay, guaranteed pay, on-call pay and production-based incentive pay are included.
Hiring Market Brief
A one-page brief for Journeyman Pipefitter: BLS pay, mapping and caveats.
Hiring Journeyman Pipefitter?
Pay is one input. Scope, license and travel decide whether the person says yes.
Related
What the published rows say about Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States
Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States is represented here by Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, SOC 47-2152, in the May 2025 OEWS release. For Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States, data Center Headhunters uses the proxy crosswalk for this title; the occupation row, rather than a separate survey of Journeyman Pipefitter, supplies the figures on this page. For Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States, the published annual median is $63,800 and the middle-half endpoints are $50,190 and $85,110.
The Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States middle-half band spans $34,920 on the annual basis. For Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States, its lower quarter-to-median distance is $13,610, compared with $21,310 from the median to the upper quarter. For Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States, the upper interval is at least as wide as the other interval in this row. For Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States, for an offer against this Journeyman Pipefitter crosswalk, these are published reference points, not experience grades; the width does not establish a reason for differences between individual workers.
Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States can also be compared with New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where the annual median for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters is $78,610 in May 2025. For Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States, this comparison metro is selected by published occupation employment, not by a national geographic distance. For Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States, the Journeyman Pipefitter crosswalk comparison differs by $14,810 from the the United States median.
Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States can also be compared with Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where the annual median for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters is $71,110 in May 2025. For Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States, this comparison metro is selected by published occupation employment, not by a national geographic distance. For Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States, the Journeyman Pipefitter crosswalk comparison differs by $7,310 from the the United States median.
Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States has no local industry-by-occupation wage breakdown in the loaded OEWS rows. For Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States, the highest published national industry medians loaded for SOC 47-2152 are Hydroelectric Power Generation at $128,380 and Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution at $115,310. For Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States, these May 2025 observations describe the national Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters occupation in those industries, not the pay of data center employers in the United States; they cannot support a local industry ranking.
The Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States matched median changed from $62,970 in May 2024 to $63,800 in May 2025, a difference of $830 up. For Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States, both observations use SOC 47-2152, area code 99 and the same annual wage basis. For Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States, this Journeyman Pipefitter comparison reports the released values without adjusting for inflation, annualizing the change or attributing it to a particular employer.
Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States uses the OEWS straight-time wage definition, not a complete cost-to-employ budget. For Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States, for an offer mapped to Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, separate overtime, shift differentials and expense reimbursements from the annual figures for the United States; BLS excludes those categories. For Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States, on-call pay, guaranteed pay and production incentives are included under the wage definition. For Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States, no Journeyman Pipefitter-specific per diem, travel allowance or relocation amount is observed in this row, so this May 2025 page adds no dollar allowance on top.
Questions about Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States
Which BLS row supports Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States?
Journeyman Pipefitter is mapped to SOC 47-2152, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters; the May 2025 the United States annual median is $63,800. The mapping is proxy, not a separate survey of this niche title.
Does the the United States figure show all offer costs for Journeyman Pipefitter?
Journeyman Pipefitter pay in the United States uses straight-time OEWS wages. Overtime and shift differentials are excluded; on-call and guaranteed pay are included. No allowance for travel or relocation is added to this 47-2152 observation.
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- methodology
Nearest-area selection uses Census Gazetteer internal points, not road distance. Source: 2025 Census Gazetteer.