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Help plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, or pipelayers by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment. Construction laborers who do not primarily assist plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, or pipelayers are classified under "Construction Laborers" (47-2061). Apprentice workers are classified with the appropriate skilled construction trade occupation (47-2011 through 47-2231).
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54,790 | 2.9 % | $15.31 | $31,830 | 0.8 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $10.17 | $12.20 | $14.37 | $17.69 | $22.09 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $21,150 | $25,380 | $29,890 | $36,790 | $45,940 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Equipment Contractors | 42,700 | 2.07 | $14.96 | $31,110 |
| Utility System Construction | 3,290 | 0.65 | $15.42 | $32,060 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 3,200 | 0.41 | $18.77 | $39,050 |
| Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | 760 | 0.01 | $19.13 | $39,800 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 600 | 0.09 | $14.78 | $30,730 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Equipment Contractors | 42,700 | 2.07 | $14.96 | $31,110 |
| Utility System Construction | 3,290 | 0.65 | $15.42 | $32,060 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 3,200 | 0.41 | $18.77 | $39,050 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 260 | 0.23 | $14.88 | $30,950 |
| Support Activities for Mining | 370 | 0.14 | $15.39 | $32,010 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Gas Distribution | 60 | 0.05 | $20.36 | $42,350 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | (8) | (8) | $19.61 | $40,790 |
| Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | 760 | 0.01 | $19.13 | $39,800 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 3,200 | 0.41 | $18.77 | $39,050 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | (8) | (8) | $17.84 | $37,120 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 9,520 | 0.80 | 2.08 | $15.36 | $31,940 |
| Florida | 5,390 | 0.64 | 1.67 | $13.72 | $28,540 |
| Louisiana | 3,170 | 1.67 | 4.34 | $15.91 | $33,100 |
| New York | 2,900 | 0.31 | 0.82 | $19.28 | $40,110 |
| North Carolina | 2,900 | 0.67 | 1.75 | $14.20 | $29,550 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 3,170 | 1.67 | 4.34 | $15.91 | $33,100 |
| New Mexico | 750 | 0.94 | 2.44 | $15.52 | $32,270 |
| District of Columbia | 600 | 0.85 | 2.20 | $19.38 | $40,320 |
| Texas | 9,520 | 0.80 | 2.08 | $15.36 | $31,940 |
| South Carolina | 1,420 | 0.71 | 1.84 | $14.28 | $29,710 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | (8) | (8) | (8) | $24.22 | $50,370 |
| Missouri | 340 | 0.12 | 0.32 | $20.79 | $43,230 |
| Hawaii | 200 | 0.31 | 0.80 | $20.06 | $41,720 |
| District of Columbia | 600 | 0.85 | 2.20 | $19.38 | $40,320 |
| New York | 2,900 | 0.31 | 0.82 | $19.28 | $40,110 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 3,210 | 1.10 | 2.85 | $17.75 | $36,920 |
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 2,300 | 0.34 | 0.90 | $19.84 | $41,260 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 2,190 | 0.87 | 2.26 | $16.44 | $34,200 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,390 | 0.53 | 1.38 | $15.27 | $31,760 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | 1,310 | 1.31 | 3.41 | $13.78 | $28,660 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 1,280 | 0.52 | 1.34 | $14.76 | $30,700 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 1,020 | 0.86 | 2.23 | $14.61 | $30,390 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 1,010 | 1.52 | 3.95 | $12.74 | $26,500 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 920 | 1.66 | 4.31 | $14.35 | $29,840 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 860 | 7.68 | 19.97 | (8) | (8) |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles, LA | 860 | 7.68 | 19.97 | (8) | (8) |
| Hattiesburg, MS | 120 | 1.97 | 5.13 | $12.58 | $26,160 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 750 | 1.90 | 4.95 | $14.44 | $30,030 |
| Ogden-Clearfield, UT | 450 | 1.81 | 4.70 | $15.34 | $31,910 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 920 | 1.66 | 4.31 | $14.35 | $29,840 |
| Alexandria, LA | 100 | 1.60 | 4.17 | $15.06 | $31,320 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 1,010 | 1.52 | 3.95 | $12.74 | $26,500 |
| Santa Fe, NM | 80 | 1.37 | 3.56 | $15.95 | $33,180 |
| Hammond, LA | 60 | 1.36 | 3.55 | $14.97 | $31,150 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | 1,310 | 1.31 | 3.41 | $13.78 | $28,660 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | (8) | (8) | (8) | $24.75 | $51,480 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 160 | 0.12 | 0.32 | $23.56 | $48,990 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | 110 | 0.11 | 0.29 | $22.65 | $47,110 |
| Dutchess County-Putnam County, NY Metropolitan Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $21.90 | $45,550 |
| New Bedford, MA | (8) | (8) | (8) | $21.59 | $44,900 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 100 | 0.22 | 0.58 | $21.37 | $44,440 |
| Syracuse, NY | 40 | 0.15 | 0.39 | $21.27 | $44,250 |
| Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division | 210 | 0.13 | 0.33 | $21.18 | $44,060 |
| Tacoma-Lakewood, WA Metropolitan Division | (8) | (8) | (8) | $20.67 | $43,000 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 290 | 0.27 | 0.71 | $20.32 | $42,270 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 230 | 1.18 | 3.07 | $14.72 | $30,630 |
| West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 230 | 1.19 | 3.09 | $13.62 | $28,330 |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | 210 | 1.17 | 3.03 | $11.08 | $23,040 |
| Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 180 | 1.08 | 2.81 | $14.06 | $29,240 |
| Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 170 | 0.66 | 1.71 | $12.98 | $27,000 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Florida nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 1.56 | 4.06 | $12.12 | $25,210 |
| West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 230 | 1.19 | 3.09 | $13.62 | $28,330 |
| Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 230 | 1.18 | 3.07 | $14.72 | $30,630 |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | 210 | 1.17 | 3.03 | $11.08 | $23,040 |
| Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 180 | 1.08 | 2.81 | $14.06 | $29,240 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 0.63 | 1.64 | $21.60 | $44,920 |
| Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $20.70 | $43,050 |
| Balance of Alaska nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $19.87 | $41,320 |
| Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.42 | 1.09 | $19.68 | $40,930 |
| West Montana nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $18.17 | $37,780 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2017 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 30, 2018