Skilled Wages

Plumber salary in Arkansas

Median $23.39 an hour for 3,370 plumbers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$23.39/hrMedian hourly wageArkansas, May data
$48,660/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$16.06 – $33.1110th to 90th percentilehourly range
3,370Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Plumber pay in Arkansas: the full range

Wage percentiles, ArkansasMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$20$40$60/hrArkansas: 10th $16.06 · 25th $18.82 · median $23.39 · 75th $29.12 · 90th $33.11Arkansas$23.39$16.06$33.11United States: 10th $21.22 · 25th $24.13 · median $30.67 · 75th $40.92 · 90th $52.13United States$30.67
Hourly wage percentiles for plumbers: Arkansas vs United States, May 2025.

Arkansas ranks 51st of 51 states for median plumber pay, and 49th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $26.92). 3,370 plumbers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.1× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$16.06 – $18.82$33,410 – $39,150roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$18.82 – $29.12$39,150 – $60,580the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$29.12 – $33.11$60,580 – $68,870the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Plumber pay by metro in Arkansas

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrMemphis: $28.22Memphis$28.22Fayetteville: $25.05Fayetteville$25.05Little Rock: $23.65Little Rock$23.65Texarkana: $23.31Texarkana$23.31Fort Smith: $23.24Fort Smith$23.24Jonesboro: $22.61Jonesboro$22.61Hot Springs: $22.51Hot Springs$22.51
Median hourly wage for plumbers by metro area in Arkansas, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Memphis$18.05$28.22$30.61$39.431,92021% above
Fayetteville$18.25$25.05$27.41$34.738307% above
Little Rock$16.88$23.65$26.45$32.958901% above
Texarkana$16.41$23.31$27.75$36.35150about the same as
Fort Smith$17.66$23.24$27.05$30.062501% below
Jonesboro$15.31$22.61$26.32$30.061603% below
Hot Springs$14.63$22.51$26.27$30.531404% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Plumber wages in Arkansas over time

Arkansas, 1999-2025ArkansasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$30.67United States$23.39Arkansas
Median hourly wage for plumbers, Arkansas vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearArkansas $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$13.05$25.22$17.413,060
2000$14.95$27.95$18.194,350
2001$15.21$27.65$18.613,570
2002$15.72$28.13$19.313,930
2003$15.81$27.66$19.693,620
2004$15.31$26.09$19.852,830
2005$15.80$26.05$20.273,060
2006$15.98$25.52$20.563,070
2007$16.54$25.68$21.203,350
2008$17.44$26.08$21.943,320
2009$17.96$26.95$22.272,840
2010$19.60$28.94$22.432,850
2011$19.22$27.51$22.962,910
2012$19.99$28.03$23.623,100
2013$18.56$25.65$24.133,120
2014$17.76$24.15$24.363,050
2015$17.00$23.09$24.343,040
2016$17.97$24.10$24.742,940
2017$19.20$25.22$25.282,680
2018$19.88$25.49$25.923,130
2019$20.38$25.66$26.523,030
2020$20.16$25.08$27.083,140
2021$21.95$26.08$28.793,090
2022$22.11$24.32$28.892,940
2023$22.82$24.11$29.593,520
2024$23.89$24.52$30.273,080
2025$23.39$23.39$30.673,370

In today's dollars, the median plumber wage in Arkansas changed by +1.3% over the last ten years of data and by -8.9% since 2019.

Are there more plumber jobs in Arkansas?

+11.2%Jobs since 20193,030 then, 3,370 in 2025
+10.9%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
2.6Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.9× the US share, 45th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of plumbers counted in Arkansas has changed by +10.1%, against +12.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +11.2%.

Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in Arkansas vs United States, 1999 = 100ArkansasUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages6080100120140160200020052010201520202025113United States110Arkansas
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Arkansas vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearArkansas jobsArkansas indexUS index
19993,060100100
20004,350142106
20013,570117106
20023,930128106
20033,620118105
20042,83092103
20053,060100102
20063,070100106
20073,350110105
20083,320108106
20092,8409397
20102,8509387
20112,9109584
20123,10010182
20133,12010285
20143,05010090
20153,0409995
20162,94096100
20172,68088104
20183,130102106
20193,03099107
20203,140103101
20213,090101101
20222,94096104
20233,520115106
20243,080101110
20253,370110113

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.

Outlook for plumbers in Arkansas

+9.3%Projected growth in Arkansas2024–2034, state agency
320Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
3,360Jobs in 20243,680 projected for 2034
+6.8%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Arkansas's labor market agency projects the number of plumbers in the state to change by +9.3% between 2024 and 2034, from 3,360 to 3,680, with about 320 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +6.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 3,370 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Arkansas labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for plumbers in Arkansas

On federally funded construction in Arkansas, contractors must pay plumbers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 16 of the 75 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $50.11 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $23.21). 59 of the 75 counties still use a survey rate dated 2017 or earlier (for example Baxter County at $20.57). The market median for the state is $23.39.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, ARArkansas: $50.11 (union)Ashley: $50.11 (union)Baxter: $20.57 (survey)Benton: $25.73 (survey)Boone: $20.57 (survey)Bradley: $50.11 (union)Calhoun: $29.28 (survey)Carroll: $20.57 (survey)Chicot: $50.11 (union)Clark: $29.28 (survey)Clay: $23.21 (survey)Cleburne: $23.21 (survey)Cleveland: $29.81 (survey)Columbia: $29.28 (survey)Conway: $20.57 (survey)Craighead: $25.46 (survey)Crawford: $50.11 (union)Crittenden: $25.46 (survey)Cross: $23.21 (survey)Dallas: $29.28 (survey)Desha: $50.11 (union)Drew: $50.11 (union)Faulkner: $17.35 (survey)Franklin: $20.57 (survey)Fulton: $23.21 (survey)Garland: $50.11 (union)Grant: $50.11 (union)Greene: $23.21 (survey)Hempstead: $29.28 (survey)Hot Spring: $29.28 (survey)Howard: $29.28 (survey)Independence: $23.21 (survey)Izard: $23.21 (survey)Jackson: $23.21 (survey)Jefferson: $29.81 (survey)Johnson: $20.57 (survey)Lafayette: $29.28 (survey)Lawrence: $23.21 (survey)Lee: $23.21 (survey)Lincoln: $29.81 (survey)Little River: $30.15 (survey)Logan: $20.57 (survey)Lonoke: $50.11 (union)Madison: $22.66 (survey)Marion: $20.57 (survey)Miller: $30.15 (survey)Mississippi: $23.21 (survey)Monroe: $23.21 (survey)Montgomery: $29.28 (survey)Nevada: $29.28 (survey)Newton: $20.57 (survey)Ouachita: $29.28 (survey)Perry: $50.11 (union)Phillips: $50.11 (union)Pike: $29.28 (survey)Poinsett: $25.46 (survey)Polk: $20.57 (survey)Pope: $15.62 (survey)Prairie: $50.11 (union)Pulaski: $50.11 (union)Randolph: $23.21 (survey)St. Francis: $23.21 (survey)Saline: $50.11 (union)Scott: $20.57 (survey)Searcy: $20.57 (survey)Sebastian: $50.11 (union)Sevier: $29.28 (survey)Sharp: $23.21 (survey)Stone: $23.21 (survey)Union: $29.28 (survey)Van Buren: $20.57 (survey)Washington: $21.55 (survey)White: $23.21 (survey)Woodruff: $23.21 (survey)Yell: $20.57 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$20.57$23.21$29.28survey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for plumbers by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)Prevailing (survey)$20$30$40$50$60/hrGarland (Hot Springs): market median $22.51, prevailing (union) $50.11, gap +$27.60Garland (Hot Springs)+$27.60Crawford (Fort Smith): market median $23.24, prevailing (union) $50.11, gap +$26.87Crawford (Fort Smith)+$26.87Grant (Little Rock): market median $23.65, prevailing (union) $50.11, gap +$26.46Grant (Little Rock)+$26.46Little River (Texarkana): market median $23.31, prevailing (survey) $30.15, gap +$6.84Little River (Texarkana)+$6.84Craighead (Jonesboro): market median $22.61, prevailing (survey) $25.46, gap +$2.85Craighead (Jonesboro)+$2.85Benton (Fayetteville): market median $25.05, prevailing (survey) $25.73, gap +$0.68Benton (Fayetteville)+$0.68Crittenden (Memphis): market median $28.22, prevailing (survey) $25.46, gap −$2.76Crittenden (Memphis)−$2.76
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for plumbers, metro counties in Arkansas.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
ArkansasUnion PLUM0155-012 2025-08-01$34.41$15.70$50.11AR20260018
AshleyUnion PLUM0155-012 2025-08-01$34.41$15.70$50.11AR20260018
BradleyUnion PLUM0155-012 2025-08-01$34.41$15.70$50.11AR20260018
ChicotUnion PLUM0155-012 2025-08-01$34.41$15.70$50.11AR20260018
CrawfordUnion PLUM0155-015 2025-08-01$34.41$15.70$50.11AR20260025
DeshaUnion PLUM0155-012 2025-08-01$34.41$15.70$50.11AR20260018
DrewUnion PLUM0155-012 2025-08-01$34.41$15.70$50.11AR20260004
GarlandUnion PLUM0155-012 2025-08-01$34.41$15.70$50.11AR20260028
GrantUnion PLUM0155-014 2025-08-01$34.41$15.70$50.11AR20260037
LonokeUnion PLUM0155-014 2025-08-01$34.41$15.70$50.11AR20260029
PerryUnion PLUM0155-014 2025-08-01$34.41$15.70$50.11AR20260037
PhillipsUnion PLUM0155-012 2025-08-01$34.41$15.70$50.11AR20260018
PrairieUnion PLUM0155-012 2025-08-01$34.41$15.70$50.11AR20260018
PulaskiUnion PLUM0155-014 2025-08-01$34.41$15.70$50.11AR20260032
SalineUnion PLUM0155-014 2025-08-01$34.41$15.70$50.11AR20260033

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Arkansas prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Arkansas?

68.0kConstruction jobsArkansas, 2026-09
+1.8%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202620k40k60k80k1990199520002005201020152020202568kSep 2026
Construction employment in Arkansas (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Contractor pay by county

Average pay at plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just plumbers), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages. Across the 60 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 28,946 in 2015 to 39,465 in 2025, +36.3%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Union County14222$99,027$1,904
Washington County1211,777$71,231$1,370
Pope County29165$71,218$1,370
Pulaski County1491,608$67,286$1,294
Benton County1431,204$63,808$1,227
Saline County80790$60,490$1,163
Independence County14218$59,914$1,152
Crawford County29230$58,705$1,129
Lonoke County44365$57,889$1,113
Sebastian County50643$57,425$1,104
Grant County976$56,782$1,092
Marion County1028$54,922$1,056

Keep comparing

Plumber pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Arkansas

More on Arkansas

Questions this page answers

How much do plumbers make in Arkansas?

The median plumber in Arkansas earned $23.39 an hour ($48,660 a year) in May 2025, 24% below the national median of $30.67. The middle half earn $18.82–$29.12; the top 10% earn more than $33.11.

Where does Arkansas rank for plumber pay?

Arkansas ranks 51st of 51 states for plumber pay, with a median of $23.39 an hour, and 49th after adjusting for Arkansas's cost of living (BEA price parity 86.9, US = 100).

What is the union plumber rate in Arkansas?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for plumbers in 16 counties, with a typical package of $50.11 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many plumbers work in Arkansas?

BLS counted 3,370 plumbers in Arkansas in May 2025, 2.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.86; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is plumber work growing in Arkansas?

The BLS employer survey count of plumbers in Arkansas went from 3,040 in 2015 to 3,370 in 2025, +10.9%, and +11.2% since 2019. Arkansas's labor market agency projects +9.3% growth for plumbers between 2024 and 2034, from 3,360 to 3,680 jobs.

How many plumber openings a year are there in Arkansas?

Arkansas projects about 320 openings a year for plumbers over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 42,000 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Arkansas and metro areas, SOC 47-2152. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Arkansas labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.