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Pipe Fabricator Salary in the United States

How much does a Pipe Fabricator make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Pipe Fabricator in the United States is $60,162 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

However, a Pipe Fabricator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $70,718
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $54,759 to $65,687
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $49,840
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Pipe Fabricator Salaries

A Pipe Fabricator'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 Pipe Fabricator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Pipe Fabricator'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): $60,387
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $61,288
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $63,263
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $63,532
  • Expert (over 8 years): $63,981
Levels Salary
Entry Level Pipe Fabricator$60,387
Intermediate Level Pipe Fabricator$61,288
Senior Level Pipe Fabricator$63,263
Specialist Level Pipe Fabricator$63,532
Expert Level Pipe Fabricator$63,981
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How Do Pipe Fabricator Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Pipe Fabricators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $66,611.
  • California: $66,359.
  • Massachusetts: $65,474.

Top Paying Cities for Pipe Fabricators

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: $75,882
  • San Francisco: $75,051
  • Oakland: $73,470

What Skills Can Increase a Pipe Fabricator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 3.51% 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.
  • Pneumatics (Mentioned in 5.46% Job Postings): Pneumatics (pronounced new-MATT-ix) is an aspect of physics and engineering that is concerned with using the energy in compressed gas to make something move or work.
  • Product Quality (Mentioned in 2.05% Job Postings): Product quality refers to how well a product satisfies customer needs, serves its purpose and meets industry standards. When evaluating product quality, businesses consider several key factors, including whether a product solves a problem, works efficiently or suits customers' purposes.
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 3.51%
Pneumatics 5.46%
Product Quality 2.05%
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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 Pipe Fabricator's salary.

  • Mechanical Systems: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Teamwork: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Mechanical Systems $63,772
6%
Project Management $63,170
5%
Teamwork $62,568
4%
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Pipe Fabricator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Pipe Fabricator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Pipe Fabricator positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Pipe Fabricator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Pipe Fabricator

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$84,227$40.040%
Biotechnology$78,210$38.030%
Energy & Utilities$72,194$35.020%
Aerospace & Defense$69,186$33.015%
Construction$66,178$32.010%

How Education impacts a Pipe Fabricator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Pipe Fabricators 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 Pipe Fabricator with a No Diploma is between $47,328 and $52,989).

Pipe Fabricator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Pipe Fabricator
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 8.3%
High School 62.5%
Associates 16.7%
Bachelors 12.5%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Pipe Fabricator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Pipe Fabricator'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
$54,759
Average $60,162/year
$65,687
$4,563
Average $5,013/month
$5,474
$1,053
Average $1,157/week
$1,263
$26
Average $29/hour
$32
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $65,687 $5,474 $1,263 $32
Average $60,162 $5,013 $1,157 $29
25th Percentile $54,759 $4,563 $1,053 $26

Most common benefits for Pipe Fabricator

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

Common company salaries for Pipe Fabricator

Here are companies hiring for Pipe Fabricator and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Pipe Fabricator

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Pipe Fabricator?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Pipe Fabricator roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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