--- title: "Pipefitter & Steamfitter Programs in North Carolina" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/pipefitter/north-carolina/ description: "Pipefitter & Steamfitter pay in North Carolina: BLS average $56,720 (all experience levels), median $57,080, bottom 10% $38,860. 13 listed programs." updated: 2026-11-03 wage_source: "BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15" --- 1. [Home](https://highpayingtrades.com/) 2. [Trades](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/) 3. [Pipefitter & Steamfitter](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/pipefitter/) 4. North Carolina North Carolina # Pipefitter & Steamfitter programs in *North Carolina* 13 listed pipefitter programs in North Carolina, plus BLS pay data for the state and 16 metro areas. - **$56,720** Average pay (state, all experience levels) - **$38,860** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$57,080** Median pay (state) - **$75,850** Top 10% earn over 14,510 jobs in North Carolina · 13 listed programs. Average = BLS mean across all experience levels, not starting pay. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Cities with listed programs - [Fayetteville 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/pipefitter/north-carolina/fayetteville/) - [Raleigh 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/pipefitter/north-carolina/raleigh/) - [Shelby 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/pipefitter/north-carolina/shelby/) - [Wilmington 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/pipefitter/north-carolina/wilmington/) - [Winston-Salem 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/pipefitter/north-carolina/winston-salem/) - [Grantsboro 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/pipefitter/north-carolina/grantsboro/) - [Jamestown 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/pipefitter/north-carolina/jamestown/) - [Weldon 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/pipefitter/north-carolina/weldon/) BLS wage data ## Pipefitter & Steamfitter pay in North Carolina Annual wages from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | North Carolina | $38,860 | $46,550 | $57,080 | $63,290 | $75,850 | $56,720 | 14,510 | | United States | $44,150 | $50,190 | $63,800 | $85,110 | $108,420 | $72,170 | 465,840 | Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. ### Metro areas | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $45,720 | $49,500 | $61,870 | $65,510 | $75,410 | $59,280 | 5,100 | | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $42,940 | $48,370 | $60,540 | $70,010 | $77,610 | $60,290 | 2,810 | | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $43,820 | $48,370 | $60,110 | $65,040 | $76,460 | $58,630 | 620 | | Asheville, NC | $39,550 | $46,540 | $59,200 | $61,950 | $73,760 | $56,120 | 460 | | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $42,320 | $47,430 | $58,690 | $64,230 | $76,010 | $58,140 | 3,840 | | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $39,550 | $46,930 | $57,510 | $63,010 | $73,860 | $56,230 | 1,110 | | Greenville, NC | $40,190 | $46,340 | $57,080 | $64,260 | $74,530 | $56,470 | 250 | | Burlington, NC | $38,730 | $46,080 | $56,890 | $63,990 | $74,050 | $56,230 | 260 | | Wilmington, NC | $39,090 | $46,370 | $56,390 | $62,610 | $76,600 | $56,280 | 690 | | Rocky Mount, NC | $37,300 | $44,800 | $56,220 | $64,330 | $74,140 | $55,600 | 140 | | Jacksonville, NC | $37,840 | $43,360 | $53,230 | $63,380 | $78,730 | $56,010 | 270 | | Fayetteville, NC | $37,440 | $45,090 | $51,740 | $62,220 | $74,540 | $54,690 | 390 | Metropolitan area estimates, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Only areas BLS published are shown. Programs ## Listed programs in North Carolina Every pipefitter program we matched in North Carolina. Schools with published tuition are listed first. | Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Cape Fear Community College](https://www.cfcc.edu/) Plumbing Technology/Plumber | Wilmington, NC | Certificate (1-2 years) | 8 | $2,772–$8,916 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0503 | | [Cape Fear Community College](https://www.cfcc.edu/) Plumbing Technology/Plumber | Wilmington, NC | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 5 | $2,772–$8,916 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0503 | | [Cleveland Community College](https://www.clevelandcc.edu/) Plumbing Technology/Plumber | Shelby, NC | Certificate (1-2 years) | 2 | $2,588–$8,732 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0503 | | [Cleveland Community College](https://www.clevelandcc.edu/) Plumbing Technology/Plumber | Shelby, NC | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 2 | $2,588–$8,732 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0503 | | [Fayetteville Technical Community College](https://www.faytechcc.edu/) Plumbing Technology/Plumber | Fayetteville, NC | Certificate (1-2 years) | 11 | $2,344–$7,720 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0503 | | [Fayetteville Technical Community College](https://www.faytechcc.edu/) Plumbing Technology/Plumber | Fayetteville, NC | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 17 | $2,344–$7,720 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0503 | | [Forsyth Technical Community College](https://www.forsythtech.edu/) Plumbing Technology/Plumber | Winston-Salem, NC | Certificate (1-2 years) | 8 | $2,276–$6,884 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0503 | | [Forsyth Technical Community College](https://www.forsythtech.edu/) Plumbing Technology/Plumber | Winston-Salem, NC | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 8 | $2,276–$6,884 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0503 | | [Guilford Technical Community College](https://www.gtcc.edu/) Plumbing Technology/Plumber | Jamestown, NC | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 8 | $2,334–$7,710 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0503 | | [Halifax Community College](https://halifaxcc.edu/) Plumbing Technology/Plumber | Weldon, NC | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 14 | $2,638–$8,782 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0503 | | [Pamlico Community College](https://www.pamlicocc.edu/) Plumbing Technology/Plumber | Grantsboro, NC | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 0 | $1,946–$6,554 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0503 | | [Wake Technical Community College](https://www.waketech.edu/) Plumbing Technology/Plumber | Raleigh, NC | Certificate (1-2 years) | 5 | $2,284–$6,892 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0503 | | [Wake Technical Community College](https://www.waketech.edu/) Plumbing Technology/Plumber | Raleigh, NC | Certificate (12 weeks to 1 year) | 2 | $2,284–$6,892 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 46.0503 | Schools: NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code; “Graduates 2023-24” is the number of first-major certificates or associate degrees the school awarded in that program from July 2023 to June 2024 (IPEDS). Tuition: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (updated 2026-10-15), matched by IPEDS unit ID; it is the published figure, not a quote. Apprenticeship sponsors: DOL Office of Apprenticeship partner file (retrieved 2026-10-29); apprenticeships are typically paid, so no tuition is listed — contact the program. ### Browse by city - [Fayetteville 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/pipefitter/north-carolina/fayetteville/) - [Raleigh 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/pipefitter/north-carolina/raleigh/) - [Shelby 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/pipefitter/north-carolina/shelby/) - [Wilmington 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/pipefitter/north-carolina/wilmington/) - [Winston-Salem 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/pipefitter/north-carolina/winston-salem/) - [Grantsboro 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/pipefitter/north-carolina/grantsboro/) - [Jamestown 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/pipefitter/north-carolina/jamestown/) - [Weldon 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/pipefitter/north-carolina/weldon/) Related resources ## Keep researching [**Plumber and pipefitter path for veterans** Military experience and apprenticeship entry. · MilitaryToTrades.com](https://militarytotrades.com/careers/plumber-pipefitter/) [**GI Bill-approved plumbing programs** Schools that accept VA education benefits. · VeteranTradeSchools.com](https://veterantradeschools.com/plumbing/) [**All registered apprenticeships in North Carolina** The full DOL sponsor list for the state. · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/nc/) ## Sources - **Wages:** U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 ([news release USDL-26-0725](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm); [data tables](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm)). Cross-checked against the BLS Public Data API on 2026-11-03. - **Occupation:** O\*NET OnLine, [47-2152.00 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-2152.00), retrieved 2026-11-03 (CC BY 4.0). - **Apprenticeship sponsors:** U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship: partner sponsors file, retrieved 2026-10-29 ([Partner Finder](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/partner-finder)). - **Schools & graduates:** U.S. Department of Education, NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24 (C2024\_A) and Institutional Characteristics (HD2024), award year 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code ([completions file](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/data/C2024_A.zip); [CIP-SOC crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Files/CIP2020_SOC2018_Crosswalk.xlsx)). - **Tuition:** U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts: Institution + Field of Study), data updated 2026-10-15, matched by IPEDS unit ID ([source](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/)). Program listings are matched from public files by occupation code or organization name; they are not endorsements and we have not visited or tested any program. Confirm schedules, entry requirements and costs with the program. Compiled by the HighPayingTrades team; last refreshed 2026-11-03. --- Canonical HTML: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/pipefitter/north-carolina/ Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm). Programs: NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions; DOL Office of Apprenticeship. Tuition: College Scorecard.