Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Career, Salary and Skills
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $63,800 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 465,840. Wage data is published for 442 locations.
Occupation description
Assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases. May install heating and cooling equipment and mechanical control systems. Includes sprinkler fitters.
O*NET code
47-2152.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
Post-Secondary Certificate
Experience
Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$63,800
Hourly median
$30.67
Employment
465,840
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.50 | 3.50 |
| Repairing | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | 3.12 | 2.88 |
| Operation and Control | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Coordination | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Speaking | 3.00 | 2.62 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.00 | 2.88 |
Typical tasks
- Install underground storm, sanitary, or water piping systems, extending piping as needed to connect fixtures and plumbing.
- Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment.
- Locate and mark the position of pipe installations, connections, passage holes, or fixtures in structures, using measuring instruments such as rulers or levels.
- Inspect work sites for obstructions or holes that could cause structural weakness.
- Cut, thread, or hammer pipes to specifications, using tools such as saws, cutting torches, pipe threaders, or pipe benders.
- Lay out full scale drawings of pipe systems, supports, or related equipment, according to blueprints.
- Plan pipe system layout, installation, or repair, according to specifications.
- Shut off steam, water, or other gases or liquids from pipe sections, using valve keys or wrenches.
Technology
- Quicken
- AEC Design Group CADPIPE
- Atlas Construction Business Forms
- Autodesk Building Systems
- Bentley Systems AutoPIPE
- Bookkeeping software
- COADE CAESAR II
- Database software
- Drawing and drafting software
- Elite Software DPIPE
- Elite Software FIRE
- Elite Software HSYM
- Elite Software Plumbing CAD
- Elite Software Spipe
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary in CAMedian $72,830 · Employment 47,660
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary in TXMedian $59,840 · Employment 44,090
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary in FLMedian $52,910 · Employment 29,260
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary in NYMedian $77,490 · Employment 23,210
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary in New York, NYMedian $78,610 · Employment 21,040
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary in ILMedian $99,950 · Employment 16,750
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary in OHMedian $63,330 · Employment 16,390
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $71,110 · Employment 15,690
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary in NCMedian $57,080 · Employment 14,510
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary in MIMedian $80,190 · Employment 14,120
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary in VAMedian $60,470 · Employment 13,780
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary in PAMedian $68,080 · Employment 13,620
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- Structural Iron and Steel WorkersNational median $62,780
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- Sheet Metal WorkersNational median $61,800
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersNational median $65,380
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.