Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary
In Louisiana, helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn $37,380 at the median, or about $17.97 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $42,828 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,191/month, about 46.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $37K get you in Louisiana?
About helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Pay for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in Louisiana runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $42K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,191/month, which is 46.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitterss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Louisiana
Entry-level helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary by metro in Louisiana
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | $40K | +6% | 380 |
| Baton Rouge | $38K | +2% | 600 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington | $38K | +2% | 150 |
| Lake Charles | $37K | -2% | 170 |
| Alexandria | $37K | -2% | 70 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $36K | -3% | 170 |
| Monroe | $35K | -6% | 70 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux | $35K | -8% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 46.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/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 Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,787/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 67% 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 Louisiana?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $37K here vs. $42K nationally. Cost of living is 13% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters?
Louisiana pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $43K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make in Louisiana?
The median is $37,380 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,780, and experienced helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters can clear $48,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,581/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 46.1% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $42,828 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.