Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary
In Virginia, helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn $38,190 at the median, or about $18.36 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $50K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $40,289 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 63.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $38K get you in Virginia?
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What this looks like in Virginia
Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $38K locally vs. $42K nationwide, a 10% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,646/month, which is 63.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Virginia
Entry-level helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $50K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary by metro in Virginia
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester | $39K | +1% | 50 |
| Richmond | $38K | -1% | 370 |
| Charlottesville | $38K | -1% | 40 |
| Lynchburg | $36K | -5% | 40 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $36K | -7% | 380 |
| Roanoke | $35K | -7% | 60 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 63.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/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 Virginia?
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 $1,852/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 89% 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 Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $38K locally vs. $42K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters?
Virginia pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — below the national median.
How much do helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make in Virginia?
The median is $38,190 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,860, and experienced helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters can clear $49,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,587/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 63.6% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $40,289 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.