Skilled Wages

Plumber salary in Colorado

Median $30.40 an hour for 10,080 plumbers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$30.40/hrMedian hourly wageColorado, May data
$63,240/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$22.97 – $48.1910th to 90th percentilehourly range
10,080Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Plumber pay in Colorado: the full range

Wage percentiles, ColoradoMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrColorado: 10th $22.97 · 25th $25.18 · median $30.40 · 75th $37.86 · 90th $48.19Colorado$30.40$22.97$48.19United States: 10th $21.22 · 25th $24.13 · median $30.67 · 75th $40.92 · 90th $52.13United States$30.67
Hourly wage percentiles for plumbers: Colorado vs United States, May 2025.

Colorado ranks 30th of 51 states for median plumber pay, and 43rd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.49). 10,080 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$22.97 – $25.18$47,770 – $52,370roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$25.18 – $37.86$52,370 – $78,740the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$37.86 – $48.19$78,740 – $100,240the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Plumber pay by metro in Colorado

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrBoulder: $31.20Boulder$31.20Pueblo: $31.11Pueblo$31.11Denver: $30.72Denver$30.72Grand Junction: $29.53Grand Junction$29.53Fort Collins: $29.14Fort Collins$29.14Colorado Springs: $29.09Colorado Springs$29.09Greeley: $28.53Greeley$28.53
Median hourly wage for plumbers by metro area in Colorado, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Boulder$23.79$31.20$29.66$48.694203% above
Pueblo$21.42$31.11$33.89$54.041502% above
Denver$23.38$30.72$29.04$49.415,7501% above
Grand Junction$21.72$29.53$30.92$44.033003% below
Fort Collins$21.67$29.14$28.82$44.868004% below
Colorado Springs$22.15$29.09$28.89$42.181,0604% below
Greeley$22.50$28.53$28.47$39.035206% below

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

Plumber wages in Colorado over time

Colorado, 1999-2025ColoradoUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$30.67United States$30.40Colorado
Median hourly wage for plumbers, Colorado vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearColorado $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$16.01$30.94$17.4112,650
2000$17.62$32.94$18.1912,040
2001$18.55$33.72$18.6110,550
2002$19.29$34.52$19.319,600
2003$20.80$36.39$19.699,280
2004$20.16$34.36$19.858,320
2005$20.90$34.45$20.278,650
2006$20.48$32.71$20.569,700
2007$20.80$32.30$21.209,290
2008$20.92$31.28$21.949,950
2009$21.70$32.56$22.278,700
2010$21.83$32.23$22.437,220
2011$23.00$32.92$22.966,840
2012$22.43$31.45$23.626,730
2013$23.10$31.92$24.137,680
2014$22.19$30.18$24.368,160
2015$22.93$31.15$24.348,150
2016$23.29$31.24$24.748,440
2017$24.56$32.26$25.289,260
2018$24.95$31.99$25.9210,600
2019$25.12$31.63$26.5210,440
2020$25.67$31.93$27.0810,460
2021$28.41$33.75$28.798,670
2022$29.41$32.35$28.899,560
2023$29.75$31.43$29.599,340
2024$30.58$31.38$30.279,970
2025$30.40$30.40$30.6710,080

In today's dollars, the median plumber wage in Colorado changed by -2.4% over the last ten years of data and by -3.9% since 2019.

Are there more plumber jobs in Colorado?

-3.4%Jobs since 201910,440 then, 10,080 in 2025
+23.7%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.5Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.2× the US share, 20th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of plumbers counted in Colorado has changed by -20.3%, against +12.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -3.4%.

Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in Colorado vs United States, 1999 = 100ColoradoUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages406080100120200020052010201520202025113United States80Colorado
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Colorado vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearColorado jobsColorado indexUS index
199912,650100100
200012,04095106
200110,55083106
20029,60076106
20039,28073105
20048,32066103
20058,65068102
20069,70077106
20079,29073105
20089,95079106
20098,7006997
20107,2205787
20116,8405484
20126,7305382
20137,6806185
20148,1606490
20158,1506495
20168,44067100
20179,26073104
201810,60084106
201910,44082107
202010,46083101
20218,67068101
20229,56076104
20239,34074106
20249,97079110
202510,08080113

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 Colorado

+22.6%Projected growth in Colorado2024–2034, state agency
1,190Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
10,460Jobs in 202412,830 projected for 2034
+6.8%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Colorado's labor market agency projects the number of plumbers in the state to change by +22.6% between 2024 and 2034, from 10,460 to 12,830, with about 1,190 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +6.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 10,080 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for plumbers in Colorado

On federally funded construction in Colorado, contractors must pay plumbers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 64 of the 64 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $68.91 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $30.40.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, COAdams: $68.91 (union)Alamosa: $68.91 (union)Arapahoe: $68.91 (union)Archuleta: $68.91 (union)Baca: $68.91 (union)Bent: $68.91 (union)Boulder: $68.91 (union)Broomfield: $68.91 (union)Chaffee: $68.91 (union)Cheyenne: $68.91 (union)Clear Creek: $68.91 (union)Conejos: $68.91 (union)Costilla: $68.91 (union)Crowley: $68.91 (union)Custer: $68.91 (union)Delta: $68.91 (union)Denver: $68.91 (union)Dolores: $68.91 (union)Douglas: $68.91 (union)Eagle: $68.91 (union)Elbert: $68.91 (union)El Paso: $65.70 (union)Fremont: $68.91 (union)Garfield: $68.91 (union)Gilpin: $68.91 (union)Grand: $68.91 (union)Gunnison: $68.91 (union)Hinsdale: $68.91 (union)Huerfano: $68.91 (union)Jackson: $68.91 (union)Jefferson: $68.91 (union)Kiowa: $68.91 (union)Kit Carson: $68.91 (union)Lake: $68.91 (union)La Plata: $68.91 (union)Larimer: $68.91 (union)Las Animas: $68.91 (union)Lincoln: $68.91 (union)Logan: $68.91 (union)Mesa: $68.91 (union)Mineral: $68.91 (union)Moffat: $68.91 (union)Montezuma: $68.91 (union)Montrose: $68.91 (union)Morgan: $68.91 (union)Otero: $68.91 (union)Ouray: $68.91 (union)Park: $68.91 (union)Phillips: $68.91 (union)Pitkin: $68.91 (union)Prowers: $68.91 (union)Pueblo: $65.70 (union)Rio Blanco: $68.91 (union)Rio Grande: $68.91 (union)Routt: $68.91 (union)Saguache: $68.91 (union)San Juan: $68.91 (union)San Miguel: $68.91 (union)Sedgwick: $68.91 (union)Summit: $68.91 (union)Teller: $65.70 (union)Washington: $68.91 (union)Weld: $68.91 (union)Yuma: $68.91 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr
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)$20$40$60$80/hrWeld (Greeley): market median $28.53, prevailing (union) $68.91, gap +$40.38Weld (Greeley)+$40.38Larimer (Fort Collins): market median $29.14, prevailing (union) $68.91, gap +$39.77Larimer (Fort Collins)+$39.77Mesa (Grand Junction): market median $29.53, prevailing (union) $68.91, gap +$39.38Mesa (Grand Junction)+$39.38Adams (Denver): market median $30.72, prevailing (union) $68.91, gap +$38.19Adams (Denver)+$38.19Boulder (Boulder): market median $31.20, prevailing (union) $68.91, gap +$37.71Boulder (Boulder)+$37.71El Paso (Colorado Springs): market median $29.09, prevailing (union) $65.70, gap +$36.61El Paso (Colorado Springs)+$36.61Pueblo (Pueblo): market median $31.11, prevailing (union) $65.70, gap +$34.59Pueblo (Pueblo)+$34.59
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for plumbers, metro counties in Colorado.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AdamsUnion PLUM0003-009 2025-06-01$47.23$21.68$68.91CO20260015
AlamosaUnion PLUM0003-006 2025-06-01$47.23$21.68$68.91CO20260001
ArapahoeUnion PLUM0003-009 2025-06-01$47.23$21.68$68.91CO20260016
ArchuletaUnion PLUM0003-006 2025-06-01$47.23$21.68$68.91CO20260001
BacaUnion PLUM0003-006 2025-06-01$47.23$21.68$68.91CO20260001
BentUnion PLUM0003-006 2025-06-01$47.23$21.68$68.91CO20260001
BoulderUnion PLUM0003-009 2025-06-01$47.23$21.68$68.91CO20260017
BroomfieldUnion PLUM0003-009 2025-06-01$47.23$21.68$68.91CO20260018
ChaffeeUnion PLUM0003-006 2025-06-01$47.23$21.68$68.91CO20260001
CheyenneUnion PLUM0003-006 2025-06-01$47.23$21.68$68.91CO20260001
Clear CreekUnion PLUM0003-009 2025-06-01$47.23$21.68$68.91CO20260019
ConejosUnion PLUM0003-006 2025-06-01$47.23$21.68$68.91CO20260001
CostillaUnion PLUM0003-006 2025-06-01$47.23$21.68$68.91CO20260001
CrowleyUnion PLUM0003-006 2025-06-01$47.23$21.68$68.91CO20260001
CusterUnion PLUM0003-006 2025-06-01$47.23$21.68$68.91CO20260001

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

Is construction work growing in Colorado?

193.6kConstruction jobsColorado, 2026-09
+3.8%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k50k100k150k200k250k19901995200020052010201520202025194kSep 2026
Construction employment in Colorado (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 48 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 96,806 in 2015 to 118,768 in 2025, +22.7%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Denver County1863,822$96,160$1,849
Adams County2804,433$91,222$1,754
Jefferson County3052,896$89,541$1,722
Eagle County78693$87,820$1,689
Arapahoe County2613,020$86,895$1,671
Boulder County911,046$85,478$1,644
Gilpin County310$84,381$1,623
Archuleta County12136$83,473$1,605
Larimer County2012,702$80,576$1,550
Douglas County142998$79,351$1,526
Summit County40193$78,598$1,512
San Miguel County880$76,335$1,468

Keep comparing

Plumber pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Colorado

More on Colorado

Questions this page answers

How much do plumbers make in Colorado?

The median plumber in Colorado earned $30.40 an hour ($63,240 a year) in May 2025, 1% below the national median of $30.67. The middle half earn $25.18–$37.86; the top 10% earn more than $48.19.

Where does Colorado rank for plumber pay?

Colorado ranks 30th of 51 states for plumber pay, with a median of $30.40 an hour, and 43rd after adjusting for Colorado's cost of living (BEA price parity 103.1, US = 100).

What is the union plumber rate in Colorado?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for plumbers in 64 counties, with a typical package of $68.91 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many plumbers work in Colorado?

BLS counted 10,080 plumbers in Colorado in May 2025, 3.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.17; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is plumber work growing in Colorado?

The BLS employer survey count of plumbers in Colorado went from 8,150 in 2015 to 10,080 in 2025, +23.7%, and -3.4% since 2019. Colorado's labor market agency projects +22.6% growth for plumbers between 2024 and 2034, from 10,460 to 12,830 jobs.

How many plumber openings a year are there in Colorado?

Colorado projects about 1,190 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, Colorado 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: Colorado labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.