Senior Maintenance Pipefitter Salary in the United States

How much does a Senior Maintenance Pipefitter make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Senior Maintenance Pipefitter in the United States is $80,400 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

However, a Senior Maintenance Pipefitter's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $106,955
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $72,600 to $94,300
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $65,499

Key Factors That Influence Senior Maintenance Pipefitter Salaries

A Senior Maintenance Pipefitter's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Senior Maintenance Pipefitter Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Senior Maintenance Pipefitter's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $77,839
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $78,421
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $81,437
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $85,587
  • Expert (over 8 years): $86,624
Levels Salary
Entry Level Senior Maintenance Pipefitter$77,839
Intermediate Level Senior Maintenance Pipefitter$78,421
Senior Level Senior Maintenance Pipefitter$81,437
Specialist Level Senior Maintenance Pipefitter$85,587
Expert Level Senior Maintenance Pipefitter$86,624

Top Paying Cities for Senior Maintenance Pipefitters

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $101,400
  • San Francisco: $100,300
  • Oakland: $98,200

What Skills Can Increase a Senior Maintenance Pipefitter's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 5.41% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Plumbing (Mentioned in 5.61% Job Postings): Plumbing is any system that conveys fluids for a wide range of applications. Plumbing uses pipes, valves, plumbing fixtures, tanks, and other apparatuses to convey fluids. Heating and cooling (HVAC), waste removal, and potable water delivery are among the most common uses for plumbing, but it is not limited to these applications. The word derives from the Latin for lead, plumbum, as the first effective pipes used in the Roman era were lead pipes. In the developed world, plumbing infrastructure is critical to public health and sanitation. Boilermakers and pipefitters are not plumbers although they work with piping as part of their trade and their work can include some plumbing.
  • Preventive Maintenance (Mentioned in 1.67% Job Postings): Preventive maintenance is the act of performing regularly scheduled maintenance activities to help prevent unexpected failures in the future. Put simply, it's about fixing things before they break.
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 5.41%
Plumbing 5.61%
Preventive Maintenance 1.67%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Senior Maintenance Pipefitter's salary.

  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Scheduling: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Project Management $94,068
17%
Scheduling $88,440
10%
Analysis $88,440
10%

Senior Maintenance Pipefitter Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Senior Maintenance Pipefitter salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $88,940. While startup companies pay approximate $75,319.

Senior Maintenance Pipefitter Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $75,319
Growth Stage 51~500 $79,629
Established 501~5000 $85,908
Enterprise 5000+ $88,940

Senior Maintenance Pipefitter Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Senior Maintenance Pipefitter roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Retail & Wholesale sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Senior Maintenance Pipefitter positions in Software & Networking or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Senior Maintenance Pipefitter as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Senior Maintenance Pipefitter

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$104,520$50.030%
Retail & Wholesale$100,500$48.025%
Biotechnology$96,480$46.020%
MFG Durable$92,460$44.015%
Construction$88,440$43.010%

How Education impacts a Senior Maintenance Pipefitter's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Senior Maintenance Pipefitters enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Senior Maintenance Pipefitter with a No Diploma is between $74,185 and $80,472).

Senior Maintenance Pipefitter Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Senior Maintenance Pipefitter
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 80.8%
High School 80.8%
Associates 15.4%
Bachelors 3.8%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%

Senior Maintenance Pipefitter Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Senior Maintenance Pipefitter's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$72,600
Average $80,400/year
$94,300
$6,050
Average $6,700/month
$7,858
$1,396
Average $1,546/week
$1,813
$35
Average $39/hour
$45
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $94,300 $7,858 $1,813 $45
Average $80,400 $6,700 $1,546 $39
25th Percentile $72,600 $6,050 $1,396 $35

Most common benefits for Senior Maintenance Pipefitter

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Senior Maintenance Pipefitter

Here are companies hiring for Senior Maintenance Pipefitter and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Senior Maintenance Pipefitter

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Senior Maintenance Pipefitter?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Senior Maintenance Pipefitter roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

2. Who makes more plumbers or pipefitters?

Experienced plumbers typically earn around $50,000 annually, while senior maintenance pipefitters have a salary range from $69,100 to $92,300, with a mid-salary of $80,000. This indicates that senior pipefitters generally earn more than plumbers, especially with additional hours worked, potentially exceeding $100,000.

3. What is the highest paying labor job in the US?

The highest paying labor job in the U.S. includes roles like air traffic controller and construction manager. Among skilled trades, a Senior Maintenance Pipefitter earns a competitive salary, with a minimum of $69,100, a mid-range of $80,000, and a maximum of $92,300, reflecting the demand for skilled labor in various industries.

4. What is the retirement age for pipefitters local 597?

The retirement age for pipefitters in Local 597 typically aligns with standard retirement ages, often around 65 years. However, specific retirement benefits and options may vary based on individual circumstances and union agreements. It's advisable to consult with the union for detailed information. Senior Maintenance Pipefitters can expect salaries ranging from $69,100 to $92,300, with a mid-salary of $80,000.

5. What is the highest salary of piping engineer?

The highest salary for a Senior Maintenance Pipefitter is approximately $92,300 per year, with a minimum salary of $69,100 and a mid-range salary of $80,000. This reflects the competitive compensation in the field, highlighting the value of skilled professionals in maintenance and piping systems.

6. Do pipefitters make more than electricians?

Based on the latest salary data, Senior Maintenance Pipefitters earn between $69,100 and $92,300, with a median salary of $80,000. In contrast, electricians have a median annual wage of $61,590. Therefore, Senior Maintenance Pipefitters generally make more than electricians.

7. How much do local 537 pipefitters make?

Local 537 pipefitters earn between $69,100 and $92,300 annually, with a median salary of $80,000. This translates to an estimated hourly rate of approximately $33.17 to $44.35. The overall compensation and benefits package is rated at -0.1/5 stars by employees.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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