Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary
In Texas, helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn $41,950 at the median, or about $20.17 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $54K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $45,852 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,415/month, about 46.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $42K get you in Texas?
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What this looks like in Texas
Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters pay in Texas tracks closely to the national median, $42K locally vs. $42K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,415/month, which is 47.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Texas
Entry-level helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $54K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary by metro in Texas
19 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $45K | +7% | 1,500 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $44K | +6% | 590 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $44K | +4% | 2,330 |
| Odessa | $41K | -2% | 50 |
| Corpus Christi | $41K | -2% | 140 |
| Waco | $40K | -5% | 70 |
| Killeen-Temple | $40K | -6% | 90 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $39K | -6% | 610 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $39K | -7% | 160 |
| Lubbock | $38K | -9% | 60 |
| Victoria | $38K | -9% | 30 |
| Longview | $38K | -10% | 90 |
| College Station-Bryan | $38K | -10% | 70 |
| Abilene | $37K | -11% | 50 |
| Tyler | $37K | -12% | 90 |
| San Angelo | $36K | -13% | 30 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $36K | -14% | 70 |
| Amarillo | $36K | -15% | 80 |
| El Paso | $35K | -16% | 120 |
Showing 1–10 of 19 metros
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Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $42K, rent takes 47.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/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 Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,102/month. At HUD’s $1,415/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 Texas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $42K locally vs. $42K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Texas compare to the national average for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters?
Texas pays $42K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $46K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make in Texas?
The median is $41,950 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,030, and experienced helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters can clear $54,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,979/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 47.5% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $45,852 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.