Pipelayers Salary
The median pay for a pipelayers in Ohio is $71,560/year ($34.41/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $92K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $78,250 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 25.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $72K actually covers in Ohio, month by month
About pipelayers
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What this looks like in Ohio
Ohio sits well above the national pay line for pipelayers, local pay runs about 46% higher than the U.S. median of $49K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,188/month, 24.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Ohio offers a genuinely strong financial position for pipelayers at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ohio
Entry-level pipelayers (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $92K or more, a $45K spread from bottom to top.
Pipelayers salary by metro in Ohio
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youngstown-Warren | $81K | +14% | 30 |
| Cleveland | $80K | +12% | 100 |
| Toledo | $77K | +7% | 30 |
| Columbus | $72K | +0% | 430 |
| Cincinnati | $71K | -1% | 170 |
Compare to other states
Track pipelayers salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a pipelayer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 24.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for pipelayers in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pipelayers typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,258/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Ohio?
Local pay is 46% above the national median — $72K here vs. $49K nationally.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for pipelayers?
Ohio pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $49K — that’s +46%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $78K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do pipelayers make in Ohio?
The median is $71,560 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,840, and experienced pipelayers can clear $91,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,788/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 24.8% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $78,250 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.