Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,430 or more. The middle half of helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in Chicago earn between $38,300 and $46,430.
- $38K10th
- $38K25th
- $40KMedian
- $46K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,640 | $3,553 | $20.50 |
| Median | $39,710 | $3,309 | $19.09 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,300 | $3,192 | $18.41 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,430 | $3,869 | $22.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($41,520) and about the same as the U.S. average ($43,730). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $42,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $42,640 | $39,710 | $38,290 | $46,430 | n/a |
| Illinois | $41,520 | $38,300 | $34,550 | $46,430 | n/a |
| United States | $43,730 | $42,360 | $33,590 | $57,780 | 44,330 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $42,640, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $34,472 a year, or $2,873 a month and $1,326 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $35,192 | $2,933 |
| Working in IL | $34,472 | $2,873 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $42,640 buys what about $41,160 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 8.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$39,510
- Madison, WI$43,150
- Grand Rapids, MI$48,110
- Indianapolis, IN$43,690
- Appleton, WI$40,210
- Cedar Rapids, IA$38,350
Highest-paying cities for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
Seattle, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($65,600).
- Seattle, WA$65,600
- Santa Maria, CA$58,030
- San Francisco, CA$54,650
- New York, NY$54,180
- Spokane, WA$51,280
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary by city
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Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary in Chicago: questions
How much do helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make an hour in Chicago?
$20.50 an hour on average, and $19.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,300, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters take-home pay in Chicago?
About $34,472 a year ($2,873 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,640.
Do helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($43,730).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-3015; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
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