Pipelayers Salary
The median pay for a pipelayers in North Carolina is $47,220/year ($22.7/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $50,961 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 39.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $47K get you in North Carolina?
About pipelayers
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Pipelayers pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $47K locally vs. $49K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,284/month, which is 40.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (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, North Carolina
Entry-level pipelayers (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $21K spread from bottom to top.
Pipelayers salary by metro in North Carolina
14 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $49K | +4% | 1,170 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $48K | +2% | 640 |
| Goldsboro | $48K | +2% | 50 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $48K | +1% | 120 |
| Winston-Salem | $47K | -0% | 190 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $47K | -1% | 110 |
| Asheville | $47K | -1% | 160 |
| Fayetteville | $46K | -2% | 110 |
| Wilmington | $46K | -2% | 160 |
| Burlington | $46K | -2% | 30 |
| Jacksonville | $44K | -7% | 70 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $43K | -8% | 100 |
| Rocky Mount | $43K | -8% | 50 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | $40K | -15% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 14 metros
Compare to other states
Track pipelayers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a pipelayer afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 40.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/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 pipelayers in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pipelayers typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,272/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 57% 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 North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $47K locally vs. $49K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for pipelayers?
North Carolina pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $49K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do pipelayers make in North Carolina?
The median is $47,220 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,870, and experienced pipelayers can clear $59,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,155/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 40.7% 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 pipelayers salary go in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $50,961 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.