Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $60,110 a year ($28.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 620 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,460 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $63,800. Pay here is 5% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $57,080. There are 1.8 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.60). The average (mean) salary is $58,630, close to the median.
Pay range for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,820 | $21.07 |
| 25th percentile | $48,370 | $23.25 |
| Median | $60,110 | $28.90 |
| 75th percentile | $65,040 | $31.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,460 | $36.76 |
| Average (mean) | $58,630 | $28.19 |
Half of plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,009.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,504.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,311.92 |
| Weekly | $1,155.96 |
| Hourly | $28.90 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $60,110 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $61,870 | 5,100 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $60,540 | 2,810 |
| Asheville, NC | $59,200 | 460 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $58,690 | 3,840 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $57,510 | 1,110 |
| Greenville, NC | $57,080 | 250 |
| Burlington, NC | $56,890 | 260 |
| Wilmington, NC | $56,390 | 690 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $56,220 | 140 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $53,230 | 270 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $51,740 | 390 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $51,330 | 330 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $51,260 | 160 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $49,240 | 860 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $48,440 | 130 |
Highest-paying states for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $101,020 |
| Illinois | $99,950 |
| Oregon | $97,050 |
| Minnesota | $94,410 |
| Alaska | $93,920 |
| Massachusetts | $93,880 |
| Wisconsin | $81,210 |
| Washington | $81,030 |
| Michigan | $80,190 |
| Montana | $79,960 |
See Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician | $59,220 | $28.47 |
| Construction Laborer | $46,560 | $22.38 |
| Carpenter | $51,540 | $24.78 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $50,820 | $24.44 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $46,520 | $22.37 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $44,420 | $21.36 |
| Pipelayer | $46,860 | $22.53 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $57,810 | $27.79 |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $54,800 | $26.35 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $46,240 | $22.23 |
| Glazier | $47,270 | $22.73 |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | $49,450 | $23.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $75,430 | $36.27 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $73,590 | $35.38 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2152. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $60,110 a year, or $28.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $76,460 a year. The top 25% earn $65,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,820 a year, and a quarter of plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn $48,370 or less.
How many plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 620 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.