National Salary Info » Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Highest Paying Industries for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

The top 100 highest paying industries for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $76,650, waste treatment and disposal is the highest paying industry for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters. It is followed by metal ore mining industry (average annual salary $76,380). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 100 Highest Paying Industries for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Waste Treatment and Disposal	$76,650	$28,510	80
2	Metal Ore Mining	$76,380	$60,200	430
3	Mining (except Oil and Gas)	$74,830	$55,170	470
4	Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events	$71,510	$39,720	30
5	Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries	$70,740	$39,830	120
6	Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences	$70,690	$44,130	180
7	Scientific Research and Development Services	$70,690	$44,130	180
8	Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing	$69,470	$49,190	530
9	Spectator Sports	$69,360	$39,700	90
10	Motor Vehicle Manufacturing	$68,760	$59,000	1,340
11	Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution	$68,270	$48,770	870
12	Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing	$67,710	$45,090	1,290
13	Beverage Manufacturing	$66,020	$51,270	50
14	Specialty hospitals - Privately owned	$65,380	$48,680	60
15	Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing	$65,320	$37,660	130
16	Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing	$65,110	$32,980	310
17	Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing	$64,700	$34,200	50
18	Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills	$64,320	$44,690	600
19	Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing	$63,900	$51,300	100
20	Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing	$63,130	$37,350	750
21	Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing	$62,800	$36,350	80
22	Paper Manufacturing	$62,730	$45,570	670
23	Chemical Manufacturing	$62,440	$36,140	620
24	Activities Related to Real Estate	$62,260	$33,590	140
25	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals - Local government owned	$61,660	$41,370	240
26	Hospitals - Local government owned	$61,660	$41,370	240
27	Rail Transportation	$61,290	$47,320	190
28	Natural Gas Distribution	$60,960	$40,090	5,050
29	Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction	$59,880	$31,010	1,360
30	Management of Companies and Enterprises	$59,710	$39,900	340
31	Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals	$59,640	$45,090	90
32	Real Estate	$58,960	$32,220	370
33	Utilities	$58,930	$35,220	7,450
34	Elementary and Secondary Schools - Privately owned	$58,790	$47,100	50
35	Security Systems Services	$58,790	$36,280	770
36	Investigation and Security Services	$58,790	$36,280	770
37	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services	$58,440	$40,110	200
38	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - Privately owned	$58,090	$36,900	1,370
39	Other Building Equipment Contractors	$57,950	$33,300	3,380
40	Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers	$57,540	$35,450	70
41	Real Estate and Rental and Leasing	$57,230	$31,600	390
42	Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing	$57,010	$31,590	1,060
43	Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government)	$56,730	$31,160	1,660
44	Oil and Gas Extraction	$56,660	$26,290	150
45	Educational Services - Privately owned	$56,540	$35,520	1,800
46	Engineering Services	$56,310	$35,710	770
47	Converted Paper Product Manufacturing	$56,090	$49,490	70
48	Lessors of Real Estate	$56,010	$28,110	160
49	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals	$55,190	$39,370	1,800
50	Drywall and Insulation Contractors	$54,800	$30,900	40
51	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals - State government owned	$54,780	$38,670	110
52	Hospitals (including private, state, and local government hospitals)	$54,780	$38,480	2,060
53	Hospitals - Privately owned	$54,760	$39,270	1,530
54	Health Care and Social Assistance	$54,590	$38,330	2,110
55	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$54,460	$31,710	1,630
56	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals - Privately owned	$54,420	$39,090	1,460
57	Coal Mining	$54,330	$35,390	n/a
58	Grain and Oilseed Milling	$54,320	$34,400	80
59	Transportation Equipment Manufacturing	$54,290	$34,030	8,790
60	Basic Chemical Manufacturing	$54,190	$36,370	180
61	Food Manufacturing	$54,180	$35,980	140
62	Educational Support Services - Local government owned	$54,090	$33,800	100
63	Tobacco Manufacturing	$53,930	$32,590	40
64	Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing	$53,800	$31,300	140
65	Educational Support Services	$53,680	$33,830	n/a
66	Manufacturing	$53,630	$32,300	14,800
67	Federal government, including USPS	$53,330	$41,300	3,400
68	Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)	$53,330	$41,300	3,380
69	Casino Hotels	$53,290	$34,120	140
70	Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services	$53,180	$31,690	1,030
71	Junior colleges - Local government owned	$52,960	$31,140	190
72	Facilities Support Services	$52,630	$33,050	370
73	State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$52,340	$36,000	1,390
74	Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	$52,140	$33,230	3,900
75	Commercial and Industrial Machinery Equipment (except Auto and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance	$51,500	$31,230	1,010
76	Mining	$51,500	$27,170	2,740
77	Transportation and Warehousing	$51,300	$29,260	1,260
78	Nonresidential Building Construction	$51,220	$31,150	14,760
79	Junior Colleges (including private, state, and local government schools)	$51,210	$31,460	230
80	Traveler Accommodation	$51,160	$31,750	230
81	Masonry Contractors	$51,110	$40,390	n/a
82	Accommodation	$50,990	$31,310	230
83	Accommodation and Food Services	$50,890	$31,330	230
84	Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors	$50,770	$29,470	255,080
85	Building Equipment Contractors	$50,770	$29,490	263,280
86	Specialty Trade Contractors	$50,630	$29,360	267,610
87	Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions	$50,620	$25,930	50
88	Hospitals - State government owned	$50,610	$32,850	290
89	Construction	$50,490	$29,340	304,480
90	Utility System Construction	$50,400	$28,640	17,370
91	Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing	$50,330	$36,410	40
92	Industrial Machinery Manufacturing	$50,070	$39,620	120
93	Construction of Buildings	$50,070	$30,110	17,860
94	State government, including schools and hospitals	$50,000	$33,340	4,250
95	Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing	$49,910	$29,730	120
96	Repair and Maintenance	$49,880	$28,570	1,120
97	Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors	$49,860	$27,710	790
98	Educational Services	$49,830	$31,390	7,290
99	Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers	$49,780	$31,170	810
100	Rubber Product Manufacturing	$49,710	$24,990	120