Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters salary in Appleton, WI
Median pay for plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters in Appleton, WI: $78,210/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $47,410 – $99,240 · about 710 employed locally
Above the typical metro median ($59,690) by +$18,520 (+31%).
What it's really worth in Appleton
With Appleton's cost of living at 94 (US=100), that $78,210 has the buying power of about $83,436 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $79,958 · median home $350,370 · median rent $1,217/mo.
How Appleton ranks for this job
On raw pay, Appleton, WI is 17th of the 187 metros we hold plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters wages for. Once Appleton's cost of living is applied, it ranks 13th.
Pay and living costs are roughly in step here, so Appleton sits in much the same place whether you look at raw salary or spending power.
What that salary buys in Appleton
A median home in Appleton, WI costs $350,370 — about 4.5× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is more attainable here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $1,217/mo works out at 19% of gross pay — inside the conventional 30% affordability ceiling.
Where plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Appleton.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Appleton | Rent vs Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $101,560 | +30% | 1.9× |
| Kennewick, WA | $97,150 | +24% | 1.4× |
| Minneapolis, MN | $96,200 | +23% | 1.4× |
| Duluth, MN | $88,000 | +13% | 1.1× |
Same job elsewhere in WI
| Metro | Median pay | vs Appleton | Rent vs Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | $80,980 | +4% | 1.4× |
| Milwaukee, WI | $79,510 | +2% | 1.3× |
| Green Bay, WI | $77,490 | −1% | 1× |
Staying in WI keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters around Appleton
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- Pierce Manufacturing · Manufacturing
Other jobs in Appleton
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 187 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.