Plumber salary: what plumbers actually make
Plumbers earned a median $30.67 an hour ($63,800 a year) in May 2025, across 465,840 jobs in the BLS employer survey. Pay by state and metro, the 20-year trend, and the union scale contractors must pay on federal work.
How much do plumbers make?
The median plumber earned $30.67 an hour, or $63,800 a year, in May 2025 according to the BLS employer survey of 465,840 jobs. Half earn more and half earn less; the middle 50% earn between $24.13 and $40.92 an hour.
The middle half of plumbers earn between $24.13 and $40.92 an hour. The top 10% earn more than $52.13 ($108,420 a year); the bottom 10% earn less than $21.22. The top 10% earn 2.5× what the bottom 10% earn.
Apprentice, journeyman and master plumber pay
Pay tracks licence and experience: an apprentice or entry-level plumber earns near the bottom of the range, a journeyman around the median, and a master plumber, foreman or specialist in the top quarter. The union pay scale (journeyman base plus fringe) for every county is in the prevailing-wage section.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $21.22 – $24.13 | $44,150 – $50,190 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $24.13 – $40.92 | $50,190 – $85,110 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $40.92 – $52.13 | $85,110 – $108,420 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification or licence requirement.
Plumber pay by state
Table
| State | Median $/hr | vs US |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $48.57 | 58% above |
| Illinois | $48.05 | 57% above |
| Oregon | $46.66 | 52% above |
| Minnesota | $45.39 | 48% above |
| Alaska | $45.15 | 47% above |
| Massachusetts | $45.14 | 47% above |
| Wisconsin | $39.04 | 27% above |
| Washington | $38.96 | 27% above |
| Michigan | $38.56 | 26% above |
| Montana | $38.44 | 25% above |
| New Jersey | $37.61 | 23% above |
| Hawaii | $37.53 | 22% above |
| New York | $37.26 | 21% above |
| Connecticut | $37.16 | 21% above |
| Rhode Island | $36.77 | 20% above |
| Indiana | $36.69 | 20% above |
| California | $35.01 | 14% above |
| Pennsylvania | $32.73 | 7% above |
| New Hampshire | $32.12 | 5% above |
| Missouri | $32.11 | 5% above |
| Maryland | $31.44 | 3% above |
| Kansas | $31.36 | 2% above |
| Delaware | $31.11 | 1% above |
| Kentucky | $30.84 | 1% above |
| Maine | $30.77 | about the same as |
| Iowa | $30.72 | about the same as |
| Louisiana | $30.62 | about the same as |
| North Dakota | $30.56 | about the same as |
| Ohio | $30.45 | 1% below |
| Colorado | $30.40 | 1% below |
| Wyoming | $30.01 | 2% below |
| Vermont | $29.89 | 3% below |
| Arizona | $29.84 | 3% below |
| Utah | $29.76 | 3% below |
| Nevada | $29.62 | 3% below |
| New Mexico | $29.54 | 4% below |
| Nebraska | $29.31 | 4% below |
| Virginia | $29.07 | 5% below |
| Texas | $28.77 | 6% below |
| Alabama | $28.21 | 8% below |
| Tennessee | $28.17 | 8% below |
| Oklahoma | $27.87 | 9% below |
| Georgia | $27.50 | 10% below |
| North Carolina | $27.44 | 11% below |
| West Virginia | $27.39 | 11% below |
| Mississippi | $26.67 | 13% below |
| South Carolina | $25.93 | 15% below |
| Florida | $25.44 | 17% below |
| Idaho | $25.18 | 18% below |
| South Dakota | $24.82 | 19% below |
| Arkansas | $23.39 | 24% below |
| State | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $48.57 | $44.19 | #4 | 1,010 |
| Illinois | $48.05 | $48.05 | #1 | 16,750 |
| Oregon | $46.66 | $45.13 | #3 | 5,370 |
| Minnesota | $45.39 | $46.03 | #2 | 10,720 |
| Alaska | $45.15 | $44.09 | #5 | 1,200 |
| Massachusetts | $45.14 | $42.67 | #6 | 13,460 |
| Wisconsin | $39.04 | $41.49 | #7 | 10,210 |
| Washington | $38.96 | $36.41 | #11 | 12,470 |
| Michigan | $38.56 | $40.08 | #9 | 14,120 |
| Montana | $38.44 | $40.63 | #8 | 1,860 |
| New Jersey | $37.61 | $34.57 | #18 | 8,750 |
| Hawaii | $37.53 | $34.12 | #22 | 2,500 |
| New York | $37.26 | $34.53 | #19 | 23,210 |
| Connecticut | $37.16 | $35.87 | #13 | 5,410 |
| Rhode Island | $36.77 | $35.94 | #12 | 1,820 |
| Indiana | $36.69 | $39.32 | #10 | 11,280 |
| California | $35.01 | $31.63 | #31 | 47,660 |
| Pennsylvania | $32.73 | $33.53 | #23 | 13,620 |
| New Hampshire | $32.12 | $30.83 | #33 | 1,950 |
| Missouri | $32.11 | $35.36 | #14 | 8,310 |
| Maryland | $31.44 | $29.94 | #39 | 11,420 |
| Kansas | $31.36 | $34.81 | #16 | 4,590 |
| Delaware | $31.11 | $31.17 | #32 | 1,590 |
| Kentucky | $30.84 | $34.19 | #21 | 6,360 |
| Maine | $30.77 | $31.72 | #30 | 2,710 |
| Iowa | $30.72 | $34.99 | #15 | 5,730 |
| Louisiana | $30.62 | $34.72 | #17 | 8,360 |
| North Dakota | $30.56 | $34.34 | #20 | 1,620 |
| Ohio | $30.45 | $32.81 | #24 | 16,390 |
| Colorado | $30.40 | $29.49 | #43 | 10,080 |
| Wyoming | $30.01 | $32.37 | #26 | 1,140 |
| Vermont | $29.89 | $30.50 | #37 | 980 |
| Arizona | $29.84 | $29.63 | #40 | 11,810 |
| Utah | $29.76 | $30.09 | #38 | 7,030 |
| Nevada | $29.62 | $29.62 | #42 | 5,370 |
| New Mexico | $29.54 | $32.04 | #27 | 2,830 |
| Nebraska | $29.31 | $32.53 | #25 | 4,110 |
| Virginia | $29.07 | $28.75 | #45 | 13,780 |
| Texas | $28.77 | $29.63 | #41 | 44,090 |
| Alabama | $28.21 | $31.77 | #28 | 6,950 |
| Tennessee | $28.17 | $30.65 | #35 | 9,270 |
| Oklahoma | $27.87 | $31.74 | #29 | 6,050 |
| Georgia | $27.50 | $28.56 | #46 | 8,930 |
| North Carolina | $27.44 | $29.10 | #44 | 14,510 |
| West Virginia | $27.39 | $30.60 | #36 | 1,830 |
| Mississippi | $26.67 | $30.66 | #34 | 3,360 |
| South Carolina | $25.93 | $27.67 | #48 | 5,770 |
| Florida | $25.44 | $24.60 | #51 | 29,260 |
| Idaho | $25.18 | $26.37 | #50 | 3,090 |
| South Dakota | $24.82 | $28.01 | #47 | 1,760 |
| Arkansas | $23.39 | $26.92 | #49 | 3,370 |
Plumber wages over time
Table
| Year | Nominal $/hr | In 2025 $ | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $17.41 | $33.64 | 413,170 |
| 2000 | $18.19 | $34.01 | 437,140 |
| 2001 | $18.61 | $33.83 | 438,290 |
| 2002 | $19.31 | $34.56 | 438,560 |
| 2003 | $19.69 | $34.45 | 433,600 |
| 2004 | $19.85 | $33.83 | 424,360 |
| 2005 | $20.27 | $33.41 | 420,770 |
| 2006 | $20.56 | $32.83 | 435,960 |
| 2007 | $21.20 | $32.92 | 435,010 |
| 2008 | $21.94 | $32.81 | 437,540 |
| 2009 | $22.27 | $33.42 | 400,970 |
| 2010 | $22.43 | $33.12 | 358,790 |
| 2011 | $22.96 | $32.86 | 349,320 |
| 2012 | $23.62 | $33.12 | 340,370 |
| 2013 | $24.13 | $33.35 | 351,380 |
| 2014 | $24.36 | $33.13 | 372,570 |
| 2015 | $24.34 | $33.06 | 391,680 |
| 2016 | $24.74 | $33.19 | 411,870 |
| 2017 | $25.28 | $33.20 | 428,260 |
| 2018 | $25.92 | $33.23 | 438,070 |
| 2019 | $26.52 | $33.40 | 442,870 |
| 2020 | $27.08 | $33.69 | 417,440 |
| 2021 | $28.79 | $34.21 | 417,620 |
| 2022 | $28.89 | $31.78 | 427,920 |
| 2023 | $29.59 | $31.26 | 436,160 |
| 2024 | $30.27 | $31.07 | 455,940 |
| 2025 | $30.67 | $30.67 | 465,840 |
Adjusted for inflation, the median plumber wage changed by -7.2% over the last ten years and by -8.2% since 2019.
Are there more plumber jobs than there used to be?
The BLS employer survey counted 465,840 plumbers in May 2025, +18.9% compared with 391,680 ten years earlier and +5.2% since 2019.
Table
| Year | Jobs |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 413,170 |
| 2000 | 437,140 |
| 2001 | 438,290 |
| 2002 | 438,560 |
| 2003 | 433,600 |
| 2004 | 424,360 |
| 2005 | 420,770 |
| 2006 | 435,960 |
| 2007 | 435,010 |
| 2008 | 437,540 |
| 2009 | 400,970 |
| 2010 | 358,790 |
| 2011 | 349,320 |
| 2012 | 340,370 |
| 2013 | 351,380 |
| 2014 | 372,570 |
| 2015 | 391,680 |
| 2016 | 411,870 |
| 2017 | 428,260 |
| 2018 | 438,070 |
| 2019 | 442,870 |
| 2020 | 417,440 |
| 2021 | 417,620 |
| 2022 | 427,920 |
| 2023 | 436,160 |
| 2024 | 455,940 |
| 2025 | 465,840 |
Of the 35 states with a precise enough estimate to compare, 31 counted more plumbers in 2025 than ten years earlier. The fastest growth was in Arizona (+63.8%, 7,210 to 11,810); the weakest was Mississippi (-17.2%).
| State | Jobs in 2015 | Jobs in 2025 | Change over 10 years | Since 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 7,210 | 11,810 | +63.8% | +29.2% |
| North Carolina | 9,340 | 14,510 | +55.4% | +13.2% |
| Tennessee | 6,070 | 9,270 | +52.7% | +45.1% |
| Nevada | 3,630 | 5,370 | +47.9% | +14.5% |
| Wisconsin | 6,960 | 10,210 | +46.7% | +24.4% |
| Florida | 20,970 | 29,260 | +39.5% | +11.3% |
| Utah | 5,100 | 7,030 | +37.8% | +36.0% |
| South Carolina | 4,200 | 5,770 | +37.4% | +4.2% |
| Michigan | 10,670 | 14,120 | +32.3% | +15.9% |
| Washington | 9,470 | 12,470 | +31.7% | +27.1% |
| Alabama | 5,370 | 6,950 | +29.4% | +3.7% |
| California | 37,700 | 47,660 | +26.4% | +0.6% |
| Iowa | 4,540 | 5,730 | +26.2% | +28.5% |
| Texas | 35,300 | 44,090 | +24.9% | +2.0% |
| Minnesota | 8,630 | 10,720 | +24.2% | +7.7% |
| Colorado | 8,150 | 10,080 | +23.7% | -3.4% |
| Massachusetts | 11,070 | 13,460 | +21.6% | +3.8% |
| Ohio | 13,500 | 16,390 | +21.4% | +23.0% |
| Missouri | 6,870 | 8,310 | +21.0% | +9.5% |
| New Jersey | 7,360 | 8,750 | +18.9% | -0.3% |
| Kansas | 3,940 | 4,590 | +16.5% | +6.0% |
| Kentucky | 5,490 | 6,360 | +15.8% | 0.0% |
| Oregon | 4,680 | 5,370 | +14.7% | -2.9% |
| Virginia | 12,290 | 13,780 | +12.1% | -3.6% |
| Arkansas | 3,040 | 3,370 | +10.9% | +11.2% |
| Connecticut | 4,950 | 5,410 | +9.3% | +10.4% |
| Georgia | 8,220 | 8,930 | +8.6% | -9.8% |
| Maryland | 10,530 | 11,420 | +8.5% | +34.5% |
| Indiana | 10,470 | 11,280 | +7.7% | -3.0% |
| Oklahoma | 5,910 | 6,050 | +2.4% | -5.6% |
| Illinois | 16,620 | 16,750 | +0.8% | -4.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 15,120 | 13,620 | -9.9% | -12.4% |
| Louisiana | 9,660 | 8,360 | -13.5% | -15.0% |
| New York | 27,550 | 23,210 | -15.8% | -21.7% |
| Mississippi | 4,060 | 3,360 | -17.2% | +14.3% |
Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.
Where the plumber jobs are
Louisiana has the highest concentration of plumbers, 1.4× the national share, followed by Maine (1.4×) and Maryland (1.4×). The lowest is District of Columbia at 0.5×. Concentration says where the trade is a large part of the local economy; the job count says where the most positions are.
| State | Jobs | Jobs per 1,000 | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 8,360 | 4.3 | 1.4× |
| Maine | 2,710 | 4.2 | 1.4× |
| Maryland | 11,420 | 4.1 | 1.4× |
| Utah | 7,030 | 4.0 | 1.4× |
| Wyoming | 1,140 | 4.0 | 1.4× |
| Nebraska | 4,110 | 4.0 | 1.3× |
| Hawaii | 2,500 | 4.0 | 1.3× |
| South Dakota | 1,760 | 3.8 | 1.3× |
| North Dakota | 1,620 | 3.8 | 1.3× |
| Massachusetts | 13,460 | 3.7 | 1.2× |
| Alaska | 1,200 | 3.7 | 1.2× |
| Iowa | 5,730 | 3.7 | 1.2× |
| Arizona | 11,810 | 3.6 | 1.2× |
| Montana | 1,860 | 3.6 | 1.2× |
| Minnesota | 10,720 | 3.6 | 1.2× |
| Rhode Island | 1,820 | 3.6 | 1.2× |
| Idaho | 3,090 | 3.6 | 1.2× |
| Indiana | 11,280 | 3.5 | 1.2× |
| Oklahoma | 6,050 | 3.5 | 1.2× |
| Colorado | 10,080 | 3.5 | 1.2× |
| Washington | 12,470 | 3.5 | 1.2× |
| Wisconsin | 10,210 | 3.5 | 1.2× |
| Nevada | 5,370 | 3.5 | 1.1× |
| Virginia | 13,780 | 3.4 | 1.1× |
| Alabama | 6,950 | 3.3 | 1.1× |
| Delaware | 1,590 | 3.3 | 1.1× |
| New Mexico | 2,830 | 3.2 | 1.1× |
| Vermont | 980 | 3.2 | 1.1× |
| Connecticut | 5,410 | 3.2 | 1.1× |
| Michigan | 14,120 | 3.2 | 1.1× |
| Kansas | 4,590 | 3.2 | 1.1× |
| Kentucky | 6,360 | 3.2 | 1.1× |
| Texas | 44,090 | 3.1 | 1.1× |
| Ohio | 16,390 | 3.0 | 1.0× |
| Florida | 29,260 | 3.0 | 1.0× |
| North Carolina | 14,510 | 2.9 | 1.0× |
| Mississippi | 3,360 | 2.9 | 1.0× |
| Missouri | 8,310 | 2.8 | 0.9× |
| New Hampshire | 1,950 | 2.9 | 0.9× |
| Tennessee | 9,270 | 2.8 | 0.9× |
| Illinois | 16,750 | 2.8 | 0.9× |
| Oregon | 5,370 | 2.7 | 0.9× |
| California | 47,660 | 2.6 | 0.9× |
| West Virginia | 1,830 | 2.6 | 0.9× |
| Arkansas | 3,370 | 2.6 | 0.9× |
| South Carolina | 5,770 | 2.5 | 0.8× |
| New York | 23,210 | 2.4 | 0.8× |
| Pennsylvania | 13,620 | 2.2 | 0.8× |
| New Jersey | 8,750 | 2.0 | 0.7× |
| Georgia | 8,930 | 1.8 | 0.6× |
| District of Columbia | 1,010 | 1.4 | 0.5× |
Metros with the most plumber jobs
| Metro | Jobs | Median $/hr |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 21,040 | $37.79 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 15,690 | $34.19 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 12,750 | $49.70 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 11,980 | $29.45 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 10,980 | $29.47 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 9,420 | $34.55 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 9,270 | $30.65 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 9,200 | $46.52 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 7,150 | $35.99 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 6,730 | $48.86 |
Highest-paying metros for plumbers
| Metro | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $51.71 | $46.84 | #5 | $74.81 | 3,830 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $49.70 | $47.97 | #2 | $61.15 | 12,750 |
| Bellingham, WA | $49.40 | $47.82 | #3 | $69.49 | 540 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $48.86 | $46.62 | #8 | $58.52 | 6,730 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $48.56 | $46.07 | #9 | $70.72 | 4,600 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $46.70 | $46.65 | #7 | $70.13 | 840 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $46.52 | $42.95 | #14 | $69.21 | 9,200 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $45.78 | $41.21 | #20 | $73.80 | 6,350 |
| Anchorage, AK | $45.00 | $42.69 | #15 | $56.15 | 640 |
| Springfield, MA | $44.27 | $46.07 | #10 | $57.13 | 670 |
| Appleton, WI | $44.11 | $47.74 | #4 | $57.63 | 890 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $43.62 | $46.01 | #11 | $53.69 | 870 |
| Green Bay, WI | $43.54 | $46.77 | #6 | $57.72 | 730 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $43.38 | $49.52 | #1 | $56.18 | 830 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $41.53 | $41.41 | #19 | $51.82 | 5,520 |
Metros with at least 500 plumbers. Cost-of-living adjustment divides the median by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100); the adjusted rank is among the 148 metros with a parity.
Union scale and prevailing wage for plumbers
Federal construction projects must pay the Davis-Bacon rate for each county. Where the rate comes from a union contract it is the local journeyman scale: base wage plus fringe (health, pension, training). Where it comes from a survey, it is often older and lower. This table summarises the Building-construction determination for plumbers in every state.
| State | Counties with a union rate | Typical union package (base + fringe, $/hr) | Typical survey rate | Counties with a rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 100% | $107.06 | — | 21/21 |
| Massachusetts | 100% | $106.27 | — | 14/14 |
| California | 91% | $97.04 | $42.37 | 58/58 |
| Oregon | 100% | $95.49 | — | 36/36 |
| Washington | 44% | $94.87 | $35.00 | 39/39 |
| Rhode Island | 100% | $88.84 | — | 5/5 |
| Wisconsin | 100% | $87.91 | — | 72/72 |
| Hawaii | 100% | $87.02 | — | 5/5 |
| Connecticut | 100% | $86.43 | — | 7/8 |
| Alaska | 100% | $83.20 | — | 30/30 |
| Missouri | 98% | $82.53 | $27.96 | 115/115 |
| West Virginia | 49% | $77.76 | $61.16 | 55/55 |
| District of Columbia | 100% | $77.01 | — | 1/1 |
| Illinois | 100% | $73.68 | — | 102/102 |
| Pennsylvania | 78% | $72.45 | $48.73 | 67/67 |
| Ohio | 58% | $72.33 | $46.77 | 88/88 |
| Arizona | 33% | $72.15 | $22.11 | 15/15 |
| New York | 71% | $72.00 | $65.08 | 62/62 |
| Indiana | 96% | $70.44 | $18.98 | 92/92 |
| Colorado | 100% | $68.91 | — | 64/64 |
| Iowa | 40% | $66.45 | $35.27 | 97/99 |
| Kansas | 16% | $65.84 | $38.64 | 105/105 |
| Tennessee | 16% | $65.65 | $21.81 | 95/95 |
| Maine | 56% | $64.71 | $25.44 | 16/16 |
| Kentucky | 47% | $64.54 | $50.08 | 120/120 |
| Michigan | 99% | $62.12 | $19.80 | 82/83 |
| Utah | 31% | $61.93 | $28.62 | 29/29 |
| Montana | 55% | $61.47 | $36.62 | 56/56 |
| Nebraska | 95% | $61.16 | $30.34 | 93/93 |
| North Dakota | 49% | $61.13 | $28.25 | 53/53 |
| New Mexico | 100% | $59.67 | — | 33/33 |
| Idaho | 100% | $58.57 | — | 32/44 |
| Georgia | 64% | $58.19 | $21.90 | 159/159 |
| Vermont | 21% | $56.42 | $31.14 | 14/14 |
| Virginia | 36% | $55.17 | $25.07 | 131/133 |
| Florida | 31% | $55.09 | $17.51 | 67/67 |
| Oklahoma | 86% | $52.68 | $35.02 | 77/77 |
| South Dakota | 21% | $50.60 | $24.22 | 66/66 |
| Arkansas | 21% | $50.11 | $23.21 | 75/75 |
| Alabama | 79% | $48.71 | $19.33 | 67/67 |
| North Carolina | 5% | $47.44 | $20.13 | 100/100 |
| Louisiana | 95% | $46.35 | $32.02 | 64/64 |
| Mississippi | 67% | $41.88 | $20.38 | 82/82 |
| Texas | 69% | $39.29 | $25.12 | 251/254 |
| Delaware | 0% | — | $61.63 | 3/3 |
| Maryland | 0% | — | $73.71 | 24/24 |
| Minnesota | 0% | — | $71.29 | 87/87 |
| New Hampshire | 0% | — | $34.11 | 10/10 |
| Nevada | 0% | — | $87.10 | 17/17 |
| South Carolina | 0% | — | $19.16 | 46/46 |
| Wyoming | 0% | — | $51.65 | 23/23 |
Source: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions, Building construction type. Not the official determination; see each state page for county detail and links to the official text.
Job outlook
The BLS Employment Projections program expects the number of plumbers to change by +6.8% over 2025-35, from 510,600 to 545,200, with about 42,000 openings a year.
Of those openings, 3,500 a year come from growth in the number of jobs and 38,500 from replacement: 14,000 for people who retire or leave the workforce and 24,500 for people who move to another occupation.
BLS worker characteristics, 2025-35: typical education for entry: high school diploma or equivalent; related work experience: none; on-the-job training: apprenticeship. The Occupational Outlook Handbook entry describes the work.
What each state projects
State labor market agencies publish their own projections on a 2024–2034 cycle. Colorado projects the fastest growth for plumbers at +22.6%; by openings, California (4,870 a year), Texas (4,220 a year), Florida (2,940 a year) lead. 51 states publish a figure for this occupation.
| State | Jobs, 2024 | Projected, 2034 | Change | Openings per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 10,460 | 12,830 | +22.6% | 1,190 |
| Idaho | 5,780 | 7,090 | +22.6% | 650 |
| Arizona | 13,840 | 16,850 | +21.7% | 1,540 |
| Wyoming | 1,270 | 1,520 | +20.2% | 140 |
| Rhode Island | 2,270 | 2,680 | +17.9% | 240 |
| Tennessee | 10,520 | 12,380 | +17.7% | 1,110 |
| Utah | 7,300 | 8,470 | +15.9% | 750 |
| Florida | 29,250 | 33,370 | +14.1% | 2,940 |
| Delaware | 1,680 | 1,900 | +12.8% | 170 |
| Mississippi | 3,340 | 3,740 | +12.0% | 330 |
| West Virginia | 1,940 | 2,170 | +12.0% | 190 |
| Oregon | 6,640 | 7,410 | +11.7% | 640 |
| Montana | 2,010 | 2,240 | +11.6% | 200 |
| Wisconsin | 9,930 | 11,000 | +10.7% | 950 |
| Georgia | 7,990 | 8,790 | +10.1% | 760 |
| South Dakota | 1,980 | 2,180 | +10.0% | 190 |
| Nevada | 5,670 | 6,230 | +9.9% | 540 |
| Connecticut | 4,750 | 5,200 | +9.4% | 450 |
| Arkansas | 3,360 | 3,680 | +9.3% | 320 |
| Nebraska | 5,090 | 5,540 | +8.9% | 480 |
| Texas | 45,260 | 49,280 | +8.9% | 4,220 |
| California | 52,300 | 56,800 | +8.6% | 4,870 |
| North Dakota | 1,720 | 1,860 | +8.3% | 160 |
| Alabama | 9,610 | 10,330 | +7.4% | 880 |
| Minnesota | 9,300 | 9,990 | +7.4% | 850 |
| New Jersey | 10,770 | 11,520 | +7.0% | 980 |
| New Mexico | 3,160 | 3,380 | +6.9% | 290 |
| Iowa | 6,700 | 7,150 | +6.8% | 600 |
| Massachusetts | 16,650 | 17,730 | +6.5% | 1,500 |
| Maryland | 12,420 | 13,190 | +6.2% | 1,110 |
| Louisiana | 10,050 | 10,640 | +5.9% | 900 |
| Washington | 11,680 | 12,360 | +5.8% | 1,110 |
| South Carolina | 6,370 | 6,730 | +5.7% | 570 |
| North Carolina | 15,620 | 16,500 | +5.6% | 1,390 |
| Virginia | 12,520 | 13,210 | +5.5% | 1,160 |
| Vermont | 1,130 | 1,190 | +5.4% | 100 |
| Indiana | 12,410 | 13,070 | +5.3% | 1,100 |
| Illinois | 19,580 | 20,610 | +5.2% | 1,730 |
| Kansas | 4,480 | 4,700 | +4.8% | 390 |
| District of Columbia | 620 | 650 | +4.6% | 60 |
| New Hampshire | 2,710 | 2,830 | +4.6% | 240 |
| Hawaii | 2,960 | 3,090 | +4.5% | 260 |
| Oklahoma | 7,820 | 8,170 | +4.4% | 680 |
| Kentucky | 5,970 | 6,230 | +4.3% | 520 |
| Ohio | 16,140 | 16,640 | +3.1% | 1,380 |
| Pennsylvania | 15,400 | 15,880 | +3.1% | 1,310 |
| Michigan | 13,670 | 13,960 | +2.1% | 1,150 |
| Missouri | 7,720 | 7,860 | +1.8% | 640 |
| Maine | 2,740 | 2,760 | +0.6% | 220 |
| Alaska | 1,260 | 1,250 | -0.7% | 100 |
| New York | 25,110 | 24,790 | -1.3% | 1,990 |
Source: state labor market information agencies via Projections Central, 2024–2034 projections. State base counts include the self-employed, so they run higher than the BLS survey count above.
Compare plumber pay with other trades
Questions this page answers
How much do plumbers make an hour?
Hourly pay runs from about $21.22 at the 10th percentile to $52.13 at the 90th, with a median of $30.67. Overtime, per-diem and union fringe benefits are not included in these figures.
What does a starting or apprentice plumber make?
Entry-level pay sits near the bottom of the distribution: roughly $21.22 to $24.13 an hour ($44,150 to $50,190 a year). Registered apprentices usually start at a fixed percentage of the local journeyman rate and step up every six to twelve months.
Which state pays plumbers the most?
District of Columbia had the highest median at $48.57 an hour in May 2025, followed by Illinois ($48.05) and Oregon ($46.66). Adjusted for cost of living the order changes; see the state table.
Are plumber wages going up?
In today's dollars the median plumber wage changed by -7.2% over the last ten years of data (CPI-adjusted). The nominal median rose from $24.34 to $30.67.
Is plumber a good career?
By the numbers: median pay of $63,800 a year, a 90th percentile of $108,420, projected growth of +6.8% and about 42,000 openings a year. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself; this site only reports the pay and demand data.
Are plumber jobs growing?
The BLS employer survey counted 465,840 plumbers in May 2025, +18.9% compared with ten years earlier and +5.2% since 2019. Looking ahead, BLS projects +6.8% growth over 2025-35 with about 42,000 openings a year, most of them replacing people who leave the occupation.
Which states will need the most plumbers?
By projected annual openings, the state agencies' figures put California (4,870 a year, +8.6% growth), Texas (4,220 a year, +8.9% growth), Florida (2,940 a year, +14.1% growth) at the top. Every state's projection is in the outlook table above.
Where are plumbers most concentrated?
Relative to the size of each state's workforce, Louisiana has the highest concentration at 1.4× the national share, then Maine (1.4×) and Maryland (1.4×). The largest absolute job counts are usually in the most populous states; see the map above.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2152 (Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters). Wages exclude overtime and benefits; job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, 2024.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35 (Tables 1.2, 1.10 and 1.12). Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.
- State projections: state labor market information agencies via Projections Central (Projections Managing Partnership), 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05. State figures include the self-employed.