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Pipe Fitter Helper Salary in the United States

How much does a Pipe Fitter Helper make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Pipe Fitter Helper in the United States is $59,340 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $69,755
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $54,011 to $64,792
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $49,160
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Pipe Fitter Helper Salaries

A Pipe Fitter Helper'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 Fitter Helper Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Pipe Fitter Helper'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): $59,561
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $60,449
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $62,399
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $62,665
  • Expert (over 8 years): $63,108
Levels Salary
Entry Level Pipe Fitter Helper$59,561
Intermediate Level Pipe Fitter Helper$60,449
Senior Level Pipe Fitter Helper$62,399
Specialist Level Pipe Fitter Helper$62,665
Expert Level Pipe Fitter Helper$63,108
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How Do Pipe Fitter Helper 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 Fitter Helpers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $65,701.
  • California: $65,451.
  • Massachusetts: $64,579.

Top Paying Cities for Pipe Fitter Helpers

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: $74,845
  • San Francisco: $74,025
  • Oakland: $72,465

What Skills Can Increase a Pipe Fitter Helper'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 Fitter Helper'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 $62,900
6%
Project Management $62,306
5%
Teamwork $61,713
4%
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Pipe Fitter Helper Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Pipe Fitter Helper 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 Fitter Helper positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Pipe Fitter Helper as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Pipe Fitter Helper

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$83,075$40.040%
Biotechnology$77,141$37.030%
Energy & Utilities$71,207$34.020%
Aerospace & Defense$68,240$33.015%
Construction$65,273$31.010%

How Education impacts a Pipe Fitter Helper's Salary?

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

Pipe Fitter Helper Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Pipe Fitter Helper
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 Fitter Helper Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Pipe Fitter Helper'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 October 01, 2026
$54,011
Average $59,340/year
$64,792
$4,501
Average $4,945/month
$5,399
$1,039
Average $1,141/week
$1,246
$26
Average $29/hour
$31
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $64,792 $5,399 $1,246 $31
Average $59,340 $4,945 $1,141 $29
25th Percentile $54,011 $4,501 $1,039 $26

Most common benefits for Pipe Fitter Helper

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

Common company salaries for Pipe Fitter Helper

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

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FAQ about Pipe Fitter Helper

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Pipe Fitter Helper?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Pipe Fitter Helper 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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