Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary
In South Carolina, helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn $39,450 at the median, or about $18.97 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $42,342 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,263/month, about 46.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $39K get you in South Carolina?
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters pay in South Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $39K locally vs. $42K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,263/month, which is 46.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (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, South Carolina
Entry-level helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary by metro in South Carolina
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $43K | +9% | 180 |
| Florence | $42K | +7% | 40 |
| Columbia | $39K | -2% | 140 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $39K | -2% | 250 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $38K | -4% | 80 |
| Sumter | $36K | -8% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 46.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/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 South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,864/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 68% 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 South Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $39K locally vs. $42K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters?
South Carolina pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — below the national median.
How much do helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make in South Carolina?
The median is $39,450 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,060, and experienced helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters can clear $47,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,737/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $42,342 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.