Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary
In Wisconsin, helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn $41,670 at the median, or about $20.03 an hour. The range runs from $23K at the entry level to $57K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $44,175 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 42.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $42K get you in Wisconsin?
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $42K locally vs. $42K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,202/month, which is 42% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (10th percentile) start around $23K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $57K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary by metro in Wisconsin
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $46K | +10% | 60 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $39K | -6% | N/A |
| Appleton | $38K | -9% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $42K, rent takes 42% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/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 Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters typically earn — is $23K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,408/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 85% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $42K locally vs. $42K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters?
Wisconsin pays $42K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make in Wisconsin?
The median is $41,670 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $23,470, and experienced helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters can clear $57,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,863/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 42% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $44,175 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.