Skilled Wages

Plumber salary in Colorado

Median $30.40 an hour for 10,080 plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$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 2026-09-28

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, pipefitters and steamfitters: 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, pipefitters and steamfitters work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$22.97 – $25.18$47,770 – $52,370roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$25.18 – $37.86$52,370 – $78,740the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$37.86 – $48.19$78,740 – $100,240the 75th–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, pipefitters and steamfitters by metro area in Colorado, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Boulder$23.79$31.20$48.694203% above
Pueblo$21.42$31.11$54.041502% above
Denver$23.38$30.72$49.415,7501% above
Grand Junction$21.72$29.53$44.033003% below
Fort Collins$21.67$29.14$44.868004% below
Colorado Springs$22.15$29.09$42.181,0604% below
Greeley$22.50$28.53$39.035206% below

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, pipefitters and steamfitters, 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.

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 2026-09-28. 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?

191.1kConstruction jobsColorado, 2026-08
+1.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k50k100k150k200k250k19901995200020052010201520202025191kAug 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.

CountyEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Denver County3,822$96,160$1,849
Adams County4,433$91,222$1,754
Jefferson County2,896$89,541$1,722
Eagle County693$87,820$1,689
Arapahoe County3,020$86,895$1,671
Boulder County1,046$85,478$1,644
Gilpin County10$84,381$1,623
Archuleta County136$83,473$1,605
Larimer County2,702$80,576$1,550
Douglas County998$79,351$1,526
Summit County193$78,598$1,512
San Miguel County80$76,335$1,468

Keep comparing

Plumber pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in 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, pipefitters and steamfitters in Colorado in May 2025, 3.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.17; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Colorado and metro areas, SOC 47-2152.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.