Pipelayers Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$56,980
- 25th Percentile — Junior$64,270
- 50th Percentile — Median$83,130
- 75th Percentile — Senior$126,640
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$130,120
Half of Pipelayers in California earn more than $83,130. The top 10% make $130,120 or more, while entry-level workers start around $56,980.
Pipelayers in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 2nd of 50 states for Pipelayers pay, at $94,440 per year (60.1% above the U.S. average of $59,000).
- 1,400 people work as Pipelayers in California — 3.3% of all U.S. Pipelayers jobs.
- Location quotient 0.29: Pipelayers jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $56,980; the top 10% earn over $130,120.
- Hourly equivalent: $45.4 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $96,920.
- Among construction jobs in California, Construction and Building Inspectors pays the most ($103,850).
Pipelayers Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Pipelayers here earn $94,440 on average, placing the state 2nd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $94,440 is roughly equivalent to $66,507 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Hawaii ($96,920), Washington ($90,790), Alaska ($83,530) are the closest alternatives for Pipelayers weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Construction Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Construction and Building Inspectors $103,850/yr California +10.0% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades $103,760/yr California +9.9% vs this role
- Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators $94,000/yr California 0.5% vs this role
- Electricians $85,860/yr California 9.1% vs this role
- Sheet Metal Workers $85,580/yr California 9.4% vs this role
- Plumbers Pipefitters and Steamfitters $82,320/yr California 12.8% vs this role
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers $80,920/yr California 14.3% vs this role
- Carpenters $78,810/yr California 16.6% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Pipelayers salary in California?
The average Pipelayers salary in California is $94,440 per year (median $83,130), which is 60.1% above the national average of $59,000.
How does California rank for Pipelayers pay?
California ranks 2nd out of 50 states. The highest-paying state is Hawaii ($96,920/yr).
How much do entry-level Pipelayers make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Pipelayers in California earn about $56,980 per year and the 25th percentile is $64,270.
How much do Pipelayers make per hour in California?
About $45.4 per hour, based on the $94,440 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Pipelayers work in California?
BLS counts 1,400 Pipelayers jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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