FederalPay.org
Pipefitter - Federal Salaries of 2021
Pay Rates for "Pipefitter"
How much does a Pipefitter in the federal government get paid? $67,038.82* *Based on the 2021 average.Pipefitter was the 196th most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2021, with 719 employed. The most common payscale was the nonsupervisory pay schedules - federal wage system payscale.
In 2021, the Veterans Health Administration hired the most employees titled Pipefitting, with an average salary of $65,140.
Government Pipefitting jobs are classified under the Federal Wage Schedule, Wage Grade (FWS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Pipefitting job is FWS-10, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is FWS-10. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
This standard is used to grade all nonsupervisory jobs involved in the installation, maintenance, and repair of high temperature water and high-pressure piping systems such as hydraulic, nitrogen, oxygen, steamheating, and steam-generating systems.
Agencies that have hired a Pipefitter
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Health Administration | 576 | $65,139.74 |
| U.S. Coast Guard | 45 | $66,857.96 |
| Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System | 44 | $79,260.50 |
| Social Security Administration | 13 | $69,807.62 |
| Smithsonian Institution (Exchange Sep Boards of Trust) | 9 | $70,146.78 |
| Government Printing Office | 7 | $101,798.14 |
| Bureau of Engraving and Printing | 6 | $96,110.83 |
| U.S. Mint | 4 | $67,803.75 |
| Public Buildings Service | 3 | $74,374.00 |
| Agricultural Research Service | 2 | $63,704.50 |
| Indian Health Service | 2 | $69,142.50 |
| National Gallery of Art | 1 | $87,131.00 |
| St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation | 1 | $70,114.00 |
| Presidio Trust | 1 | $98,319.00 |
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | 1 | $64,822.00 |
| Forest Service | 1 | $61,839.00 |
| National Institute of Standards and Technology | 1 | $75,695.00 |
| Bureau of the Census | 1 | $66,325.00 |
| Offices, Boards and Divisions | 1 | $72,002.00 |
Pipefitter Pay Distribution
The average pay for a Pipefitter is $67,038.82. The highest paid Pipefitter made $122,570 in 2021.
Common Pipefitter Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Pipefitting Employees |
|---|---|
| WG - Nonsupervisory Pay Schedules - Federal Wage System | 589 |
| WS - Supervisory Pay Schedules - Federal Wage System | 73 |
| WL - Leader Pay Schedule - Federal Wage System | 32 |
| WB - Wage Positions Under The Federal Wage System Not Otherwise Designated | 9 |
| KP - Government Printing Office Negotiated Rates For Engineering Journeypersons | 7 |
| WE - Currency Manufacturing | 6 |
| WD - Production Facilitating Non-supervisory - Federal Wage System | 2 |
| AD - Administratively Determined Rates, Not Elsewhere Specified | 1 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $11.60 to $32.52 / hour at paygrade FWS-10 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $11.60 to $32.52 / hour at paygrade FWS-10 |
| Occupation Family: | PLUMBING AND PIPEFITTING FAMILY |
Other Jobs at the FWS-10 Paygrade
FWS-10 is the starting paygrade for Pipefitting jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the FWS-10 paygrade.
| Occupation | Starting Paygrade | Maximum Paygrade |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Machinery Mechanic | FWS-8 | FWS-10 |
| Small Craft Operating | FWS-4 | FWS-12 |
| Crane Operating | FWS-7 | FWS-11 |
| Electric Power Controlling | FWS-8 | FWS-10 |
| Heating and Boiler Plant Equipment Mechanic | FWS-8 | FWS-10 |
Average Pipefitting Pay Trend from 2004 to 2021
In 2004, the average pay for a Pipefitter was $49,636. Since then, the average pay has increased to $67,039 in 2021.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 4204.