Plumber salary: what plumbers actually make
BLS employer-survey wages for 465,840 plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters nationwide, plus the union scale contractors must pay on federal jobs.
What plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn: the full range
The middle half of plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters 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.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $21.22 – $24.13 | $44,150 – $50,190 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $24.13 – $40.92 | $50,190 – $85,110 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $40.92 – $52.13 | $85,110 – $108,420 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification. Union journeyman scale by county is in the prevailing-wage section below.
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.
Highest-paying metros for plumbers
| Metro | Median $/hr | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $51.71 | $74.81 | 3,830 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $49.70 | $61.15 | 12,750 |
| Bellingham, WA | $49.40 | $69.49 | 540 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $48.86 | $58.52 | 6,730 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $48.56 | $70.72 | 4,600 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $46.70 | $70.13 | 840 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $46.52 | $69.21 | 9,200 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $45.78 | $73.80 | 6,350 |
| Anchorage, AK | $45.00 | $56.15 | 640 |
| Springfield, MA | $44.27 | $57.13 | 670 |
| Appleton, WI | $44.11 | $57.63 | 890 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $43.62 | $53.69 | 870 |
| Green Bay, WI | $43.54 | $57.72 | 730 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $43.38 | $56.18 | 830 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $41.53 | $51.82 | 5,520 |
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 | — | 7/17 |
| 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 | 33% | $55.17 | $25.07 | 102/133 |
| 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% | — | $81.10 | 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 plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters employment to change by +6.8% over 2025-35, with about 42,000 openings a year from growth and people leaving the occupation. Typical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Compare plumber pay with other trades
Questions this page answers
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.
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.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2152 (Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters). Wages exclude overtime and benefits.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, latest year.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national. Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.