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Salary comparison

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters vs. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workerss out-earn Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitterss by $38K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitterss land at $42,360 and First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workerss at $79,920. The education gap is real: helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitterss is Washington ($56,140); for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workerss it's Washington ($109,570).

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Median salary
$42,360
$79,920
Hourly rate
$20.36/hr
$38.42/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$33,590
$53,280
Senior level (90th %)
$57,780
$128,260
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
44,330
812,210
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Construction & Trades
Construction & Trades
Top-paying state
Washington
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters median pay.

State
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Washington
$56,140
$109,570
Hawaii
$52,000
$102,630
New York
$52,000
$95,700
Alaska
$47,290
$102,140
California
$47,130
$97,680
District of Columbia
$45,440
$86,520
Oregon
$44,800
$103,070
New Jersey
$44,360
$105,510
Massachusetts
$44,340
$97,850
Indiana
$42,240
$82,530
Wisconsin
$41,670
$85,350
Connecticut
$38,930
$92,260
Illinois
$38,300
$105,750
Vermont
$37,440
$82,490
Missouri
$34,630
$87,520

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitterss or First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workerss?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workerss earn more nationally. The median is $42,360 for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitterss versus $79,920 for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workerss, a difference of $38K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters or First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters or First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers?

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitterss get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitterss at $56,140/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters vs. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitterss earn $56,140 vs. $109,570 for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary breakdownView →Full First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitterss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfittersGuide →How to become a first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workersGuide →