Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary
The median pay for a plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in West Virginia is $56,980/year ($27.39/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $64,001 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 26.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $57K get you in West Virginia?
About plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Pay for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in West Virginia runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $64K. Rent runs $1,008/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, West Virginia
Entry-level plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary by metro in West Virginia
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weirton-Steubenville | $64K | +12% | 100 |
| Wheeling | $64K | +12% | 150 |
| Huntington-Ashland | $62K | +9% | 460 |
| Charleston | $59K | +3% | 260 |
| Morgantown | $59K | +3% | 160 |
| Beckley | $50K | -12% | 60 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna | $50K | -13% | 50 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when West Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 26.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,161/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter a high-paying job in West Virginia?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $57K here vs. $64K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters?
West Virginia pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make in West Virginia?
The median is $56,980 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,010, and experienced plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters can clear $83,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,815/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 26.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary go in West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary is worth about $64,001 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do 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.