Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary
In Kansas, helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn $40,540 at the median, or about $19.49 an hour. The range runs from $24K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.54), which stretches that salary to about $45,276 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,066/month, about 38.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $41K get you in Kansas?
About helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Kansas
Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters pay in Kansas tracks closely to the national median, $41K locally vs. $42K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,066/month, which is 38.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.54 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kansas
Entry-level helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (10th percentile) start around $24K. Mid-career wages sit at $41K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary by metro in Kansas
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $45K | +11% | 40 |
| Wichita | $38K | -6% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kansas numbers change.
Related careers in Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $41K, rent takes 38.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,066/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in Kansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters typically earn — is $24K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,410/month. At HUD’s $1,066/month FMR, rent would take 76% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter a high-paying job in Kansas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $41K locally vs. $42K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Kansas compare to the national average for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters?
Kansas pays $41K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $45K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make in Kansas?
The median is $40,540 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $23,500, and experienced helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters can clear $49,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $41K enough to live in Kansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,747/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,066/month, which eats 38.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary go in Kansas?
Kansas has a Regional Price Parity of 89.54 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary is worth about $45,276 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.