Pipelayers Salary
The median pay for a pipelayers in Wisconsin is $86,870/year ($41.77/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $70K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $92,092 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 21.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $87K get you in Wisconsin?
About pipelayers
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Wisconsin sits well above the national pay line for pipelayers, local pay runs about 77% higher than the U.S. median of $49K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 21.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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. Combined with manageable housing costs, Wisconsin offers a genuinely strong financial position for pipelayerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level pipelayers (10th percentile) start around $70K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Pipelayers salary by metro in Wisconsin
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $94K | +8% | 90 |
| Green Bay | $92K | +5% | 40 |
| Madison | $87K | +0% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track pipelayers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a pipelayer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $87K, rent takes 21.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for pipelayers in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pipelayers typically earn — is $70K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,176/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is pipelayer a high-paying job in Wisconsin?
Local pay is 77% above the national median — $87K here vs. $49K nationally.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for pipelayers?
Wisconsin pays $87K median vs. the U.S. average of $49K — that’s +77%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $92K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do pipelayers make in Wisconsin?
The median is $86,870 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $69,600, and experienced pipelayers can clear $98,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,495/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 21.9% 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 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 pipelayers salary is worth about $92,092 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.