Skip to content
AffordMap
Salary comparison

Pipelayers vs. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workerss out-earn Pipelayerss by $31K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Pipelayerss land at $49,000 and First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workerss at $79,920. The education gap is real: pipelayer 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 Pipelayerss is Wisconsin ($86,870); for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workerss it's Washington ($109,570).

Pipelayers
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Median salary
$49,000
$79,920
Hourly rate
$23.56/hr
$38.42/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$37,730
$53,280
Senior level (90th %)
$80,170
$128,260
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
33,050
812,210
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Construction & Trades
Construction & Trades
Top-paying state
Wisconsin
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Pipelayers median pay.

State
Pipelayers
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Wisconsin
$86,870
$85,350
Washington
$82,450
$109,570
Minnesota
$81,980
$97,610
New Jersey
$78,830
$105,510
California
$76,180
$97,680
Indiana
$73,580
$82,530
Massachusetts
$72,770
$97,850
New York
$70,370
$95,700
Oregon
$64,230
$103,070
Nevada
$63,570
$81,990
Colorado
$59,740
$81,230
District of Columbia
$55,470
$86,520
Illinois
$49,590
$105,750
North Dakota
$47,810
$81,370
Pennsylvania
$41,600
$81,540

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Pipelayerss 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 $49,000 for Pipelayerss versus $79,920 for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workerss, a difference of $31K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

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

Pipelayers 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 Pipelayerss get paid the most?

Wisconsin is the top-paying state for Pipelayerss at $86,870/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

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

The gap varies significantly by state. In Wisconsin, Pipelayerss earn $86,870 vs. $85,350 for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Pipelayers salary breakdownView →Full First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Pipelayerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a pipelayersGuide →How to become a first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workersGuide →