SOC 47-3015 · Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary in Des Moines, IA

The average salary for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in Des Moines, Iowa is $47,150 a year ($22.67 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $47,710: half of the people in this job in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 8% more than the U.S. average for this job ($43,730).

$47,150average per year

$22.67 / hourMedian $47,710Take-home ≈ $38,885

  • $34K10th
  • $39K25th
  • $48KMedian
  • $57K75th
  • $58K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

n/apeople in this job
+8%vs U.S. average
#1 of 2Iowa metros
92cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay range in Des Moines

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,910 a year or less, while the top 10% make $57,870 or more. The middle half of helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in Des Moines earn between $39,000 and $57,110.

  • $34K10th
  • $39K25th
  • $48KMedian
  • $57K75th
  • $58K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$47,150$3,929$22.67
Median$47,710$3,976$22.94
Entry level (25th percentile)$39,000$3,250$18.75
Experienced (75th percentile)$57,110$4,759$27.46

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters pay in Des Moines vs. Iowa and the U.S.

Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in Des Moines earn 13% more than the Iowa average ($41,600) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($43,730). At the median the gap is +13% against the U.S. median of $42,360.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Des Moines$47,150$47,710$33,910$57,870n/a
Iowa$41,600$37,870$31,680$57,100350
United States$43,730$42,360$33,590$57,78044,330

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 Des Moines

On the average salary of $47,150, a single filer in Des Moines takes home about $38,885 a year, or $3,240 a month and $1,496 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.

Iowa paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Des Moines a good place for helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Des Moines area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.7), so the average $47,150 buys what about $51,417 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Des Moines ($51,820). A typical home costs $296,070, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $47,150 is worth in another city

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary in other Iowa cities

Des Moines ranks 1st of 2 Iowa metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.

All Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salaries in Iowa

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).

Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary by city

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Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary in Des Moines: questions

How much do helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make an hour in Des Moines?

$22.67 an hour on average, and $22.94 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary in Des Moines?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,910 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,000, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters take-home pay in Des Moines?

About $38,885 a year ($3,240 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,150. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.

Do helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters earn more in Des Moines than elsewhere?

The average here is 8% more than 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (19780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 11.5%.
  • 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 (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.

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