Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary
In North Carolina, helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn $43,710 at the median, or about $21.02 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $47,172 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 42.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $44K get you in North Carolina?
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $44K locally vs. $42K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,284/month, which is 43.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $15K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary by metro in North Carolina
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $47K | +6% | 960 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $46K | +6% | 340 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $45K | +4% | 110 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $45K | +3% | 440 |
| Asheville | $43K | -2% | 140 |
| Wilmington | $41K | -7% | 150 |
| Rocky Mount | $41K | -7% | 50 |
| Burlington | $39K | -10% | 70 |
| Winston-Salem | $39K | -11% | 180 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $38K | -12% | N/A |
| Fayetteville | $38K | -13% | 80 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
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Track helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $44K, rent takes 43.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/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 North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,974/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 65% 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 North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $44K locally vs. $42K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters?
North Carolina pays $44K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make in North Carolina?
The median is $43,710 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,900, and experienced helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters can clear $48,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,933/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $47,172 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.