Pipelayers Salary
The median pay for a pipelayers in Indiana is $73,580/year ($35.38/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $95K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $80,144 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 23.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $74K get you in Indiana?
About pipelayers
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What this looks like in Indiana
Indiana sits well above the national pay line for pipelayers, local pay runs about 50% higher than the U.S. median of $49K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,144/month, 23.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Indiana offers a genuinely strong financial position for pipelayerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level pipelayers (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $95K or more, a $57K spread from bottom to top.
Pipelayers salary by metro in Indiana
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Bend-Mishawaka | $91K | +24% | 40 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $74K | +1% | 490 |
Compare to other states
Track pipelayers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a pipelayer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $74K, rent takes 23.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for pipelayers in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pipelayers typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,304/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 50% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is pipelayer a high-paying job in Indiana?
Local pay is 50% above the national median — $74K here vs. $49K nationally.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for pipelayers?
Indiana pays $74K median vs. the U.S. average of $49K — that’s +50%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do pipelayers make in Indiana?
The median is $73,580 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,400, and experienced pipelayers can clear $95,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,825/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 23.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a pipelayers salary go in Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 pipelayers salary is worth about $80,144 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do pipelayers 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.