Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary
In Lexington-Fayette, KY, helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn $43,000 at the median, or about $20.67 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $56K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.89), which stretches that salary to about $46,291 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,272/month, about 43.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $43K get you in Lexington-Fayette?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lexington-Fayette’s Regional Price Parity (92.89). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
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What this looks like in Lexington-Fayette
Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters pay in Lexington-Fayette tracks closely to the national median, $43K locally vs. $42K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,272/month, which is 43.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in metros near Lexington-Fayette, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $45K | $49K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $40K | $38K |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $45K | $47K |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $47K | $49K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lexington-Fayette, KY
Entry-level helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $43K. Top earners bring in $56K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $56K | +33% | 600 |
| Hawaii | $52K | +23% | 180 |
| New York | $52K | +23% | 4,840 |
| Maine | $48K | +14% | N/A |
| Arizona | $48K | +13% | 460 |
| Alaska | $47K | +12% | 100 |
| California | $47K | +11% | 2,500 |
| Maryland | $46K | +9% | 970 |
| New Hampshire | $46K | +9% | 70 |
| Ohio | $46K | +8% | 1,090 |
| District of Columbia | $45K | +7% | N/A |
| Wyoming | $45K | +7% | 40 |
| Colorado | $45K | +6% | 240 |
| Oregon | $45K | +6% | 210 |
| Tennessee | $45K | +5% | 1,100 |
| Nebraska | $45K | +5% | 70 |
| New Jersey | $44K | +5% | 760 |
| Massachusetts | $44K | +5% | N/A |
| North Carolina | $44K | +3% | 3,070 |
| Utah | $43K | +2% | 390 |
| Kentucky | $43K | +2% | 960 |
| Michigan | $43K | +1% | 270 |
| Indiana | $42K | -0% | 390 |
| Pennsylvania | $42K | -0% | 920 |
| Texas | $42K | -1% | 7,210 |
| Wisconsin | $42K | -2% | 450 |
| Montana | $41K | -2% | 110 |
| Nevada | $41K | -3% | 350 |
| Kansas | $41K | -4% | 320 |
| Idaho | $40K | -5% | N/A |
| New Mexico | $40K | -5% | 400 |
| Oklahoma | $40K | -5% | 740 |
| South Carolina | $39K | -7% | 1,090 |
| Connecticut | $39K | -8% | 160 |
| Illinois | $38K | -10% | N/A |
| Virginia | $38K | -10% | 1,640 |
| Iowa | $38K | -11% | 350 |
| Georgia | $38K | -11% | 2,100 |
| Arkansas | $38K | -11% | 330 |
| Florida | $38K | -11% | 4,500 |
| Alabama | $37K | -12% | 770 |
| Vermont | $37K | -12% | 140 |
| Mississippi | $37K | -12% | 400 |
| Louisiana | $37K | -12% | 2,010 |
| South Dakota | $37K | -14% | 210 |
| Delaware | $36K | -15% | 140 |
| West Virginia | $36K | -15% | 130 |
| Missouri | $35K | -18% | 280 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Lexington-Fayette numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lexington-Fayette?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $43K, rent takes 43.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Lexington-Fayette?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,222/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 57% 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 Lexington-Fayette?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $43K locally vs. $42K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Lexington-Fayette compare to the national average for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters?
Lexington-Fayette pays $43K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $46K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The median is $43,000 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,040, and experienced helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters can clear $55,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $43K enough to live in Lexington-Fayette?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,906/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 43.8% 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 Lexington-Fayette?
Lexington-Fayette has a Regional Price Parity of 92.89 (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 $46,291 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.