Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary
In New York, helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn $52,000 at the median, or about $25 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.21), that's roughly $52,948 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,917/month, about 56.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New York. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $52K get you in New York?
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 New York
New York sits well above the national pay line for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters, local pay runs about 23% higher than the U.S. median of $42K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,917/month, which is 55.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.21) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New York
Entry-level helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary by metro in New York
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $52K | +0% | 4,360 |
| Syracuse | $47K | -10% | 100 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | $46K | -12% | 120 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $44K | -15% | 170 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $44K | -16% | 200 |
| Rochester | $39K | -26% | 150 |
Compare to other states
Track helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New York numbers change.
Related careers in Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter afford a 2BR apartment alone in New York?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 55.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,917/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 New York?
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 $2,204/month. At HUD’s $1,917/month FMR, rent would take 87% 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 New York?
Local pay is 23% above the national median — $52K here vs. $42K nationally.
How does New York compare to the national average for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters?
New York pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s +23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.21), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make in New York?
The median is $52,000 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,740, and experienced helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters can clear $72,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in New York?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,464/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,917/month, which eats 55.3% 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 New York?
New York has a Regional Price Parity of 98.21 (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 $52,948 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.