Skilled Wages

Plumber salary in Iowa

Median $30.72 an hour for 5,730 plumbers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$30.72/hrMedian hourly wageIowa, May data
$63,890/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$21.88 – $46.8710th to 90th percentilehourly range
5,730Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-06

Plumber pay in Iowa: the full range

Wage percentiles, IowaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrIowa: 10th $21.88 · 25th $24.95 · median $30.72 · 75th $41.02 · 90th $46.87Iowa$30.72$21.88$46.87United States: 10th $21.22 · 25th $24.13 · median $30.67 · 75th $40.92 · 90th $52.13United States$30.67
Hourly wage percentiles for plumbers: Iowa vs United States, May 2025.

Iowa ranks 26th of 51 states for median plumber pay, and 15th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $34.99). 5,730 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$21.88 – $24.95$45,510 – $51,890roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$24.95 – $41.02$51,890 – $85,320the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$41.02 – $46.87$85,320 – $97,500the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Plumber pay by metro in Iowa

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrCedar Rapids: $40.01Cedar Rapids$40.01Davenport: $36.69Davenport$36.69Des Moines: $36.08Des Moines$36.08Ames: $30.68Ames$30.68Omaha: $30.48Omaha$30.48Waterloo: $29.91Waterloo$29.91Dubuque: $29.51Dubuque$29.51Iowa City: $29.49Iowa City$29.49Sioux City: $29.28Sioux City$29.28
Median hourly wage for plumbers by metro area in Iowa, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Cedar Rapids$22.99$40.01$44.96$45.4878030% above
Davenport$22.39$36.69$41.18$48.5268019% above
Des Moines$22.94$36.08$39.35$47.872,15017% above
Ames$20.03$30.68$34.55$46.87160about the same as
Omaha$22.46$30.48$33.17$47.382,4301% below
Waterloo$22.10$29.91$34.34$44.522203% below
Dubuque$19.00$29.51$33.80$48.991204% below
Iowa City$21.72$29.49$32.23$47.081904% below
Sioux City$21.92$29.28$33.85$46.832405% below

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

Plumber wages in Iowa over time

Iowa, 1999-2025IowaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$30.72Iowa$30.67United States
Median hourly wage for plumbers, Iowa vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearIowa $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$16.13$31.17$17.413,330
2000$16.60$31.04$18.193,990
2001$16.87$30.67$18.614,150
2002$17.31$30.98$19.314,290
2003$17.50$30.62$19.694,260
2004$17.69$30.15$19.854,930
2005$20.94$34.52$20.274,860
2006$20.00$31.94$20.565,490
2007$20.18$31.33$21.205,270
2008$20.42$30.53$21.945,380
2009$20.57$30.87$22.274,570
2010$21.58$31.86$22.434,140
2011$22.37$32.02$22.964,200
2012$21.90$30.71$23.624,020
2013$21.54$29.77$24.134,490
2014$21.56$29.32$24.364,720
2015$22.54$30.62$24.344,540
2016$22.88$30.69$24.744,340
2017$23.97$31.48$25.284,530
2018$24.74$31.72$25.924,270
2019$27.57$34.72$26.524,460
2020$25.50$31.72$27.084,590
2021$29.09$34.56$28.795,490
2022$29.44$32.39$28.895,780
2023$29.85$31.54$29.596,640
2024$29.44$30.21$30.276,350
2025$30.72$30.72$30.675,730

In today's dollars, the median plumber wage in Iowa changed by +0.3% over the last ten years of data and by -11.5% since 2019.

Are there more plumber jobs in Iowa?

+28.5%Jobs since 20194,460 then, 5,730 in 2025
+26.2%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.7Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.2× the US share, 12th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of plumbers counted in Iowa has changed by +72.1%, against +12.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +28.5%.

Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in Iowa vs United States, 1999 = 100IowaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200250200020052010201520202025172Iowa113United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Iowa vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearIowa jobsIowa indexUS index
19993,330100100
20003,990120106
20014,150125106
20024,290129106
20034,260128105
20044,930148103
20054,860146102
20065,490165106
20075,270158105
20085,380162106
20094,57013797
20104,14012487
20114,20012684
20124,02012182
20134,49013585
20144,72014290
20154,54013695
20164,340130100
20174,530136104
20184,270128106
20194,460134107
20204,590138101
20215,490165101
20225,780174104
20236,640199106
20246,350191110
20255,730172113

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 Iowa

+6.8%Projected growth in Iowa2024–2034, state agency
600Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
6,700Jobs in 20247,150 projected for 2034
+6.8%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Iowa's labor market agency projects the number of plumbers in the state to change by +6.8% between 2024 and 2034, from 6,700 to 7,150, with about 600 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +6.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,730 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for plumbers in Iowa

On federally funded construction in Iowa, contractors must pay plumbers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 39 of the 97 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $66.45 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $35.27). 58 of the 97 counties still use a survey rate dated 2016 or earlier (for example Adair County at $34.78). The market median for the state is $30.72.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, IAAdair: $34.78 (survey)Adams: $34.78 (survey)Allamakee: $35.27 (survey)Appanoose: $46.97 (survey)Audubon: $34.78 (survey)Benton: $67.08 (union)Black Hawk: $34.02 (survey)Boone: $34.78 (survey)Bremer: $33.51 (survey)Buchanan: $35.27 (survey)Buena Vista: $66.45 (union)Butler: $35.27 (survey)Calhoun: $66.45 (union)Carroll: $34.78 (survey)Cass: $34.78 (survey)Cedar: $46.97 (survey)Cerro Gordo: $34.08 (survey)Cherokee: $66.45 (union)Chickasaw: $35.27 (survey)Clarke: $34.78 (survey)Clay: $66.45 (union)Clayton: $35.27 (survey)Clinton: $73.15 (union)Crawford: $68.45 (union)Dallas: $68.45 (union)Davis: $46.97 (survey)Decatur: $34.78 (survey)Delaware: $35.27 (survey)Des Moines: $46.97 (survey)Dickinson: $66.45 (union)Dubuque: $65.33 (union)Emmet: $66.45 (union)Fayette: $35.27 (survey)Floyd: $35.27 (survey)Franklin: $35.27 (survey)Fremont: $34.78 (survey)Greene: $34.78 (survey)Grundy: $33.51 (survey)Guthrie: n/aHamilton: $66.45 (union)Hancock: $66.45 (union)Hardin: $35.27 (survey)Harrison: $68.45 (union)Henry: $46.97 (survey)Howard: $35.27 (survey)Humboldt: $66.45 (union)Ida: $66.45 (union)Iowa: $46.97 (survey)Jackson: $46.97 (survey)Jasper: $46.97 (survey)Jefferson: $46.97 (survey)Johnson: $67.08 (union)Jones: $67.08 (union)Keokuk: $46.97 (survey)Kossuth: $66.45 (union)Lee: $46.97 (survey)Linn: $67.08 (union)Louisa: $46.97 (survey)Lucas: $34.78 (survey)Lyon: $66.45 (union)Madison: n/aMahaska: $46.97 (survey)Marion: $46.97 (survey)Marshall: $46.97 (survey)Mills: $68.45 (union)Mitchell: $35.27 (survey)Monona: $34.78 (survey)Monroe: $46.97 (survey)Montgomery: $34.78 (survey)Muscatine: $42.14 (survey)O'Brien: $66.45 (union)Osceola: $66.45 (union)Page: $34.78 (survey)Palo Alto: $66.45 (union)Plymouth: $66.45 (union)Pocahontas: $66.45 (union)Polk: $68.45 (union)Pottawattamie: $68.45 (union)Poweshiek: $46.97 (survey)Ringgold: $34.78 (survey)Sac: $66.45 (union)Scott: $73.15 (union)Shelby: $34.78 (survey)Sioux: $66.45 (union)Story: $68.45 (union)Tama: $46.97 (survey)Taylor: $34.78 (survey)Union: $34.78 (survey)Van Buren: $46.97 (survey)Wapello: $68.45 (union)Warren: $68.45 (union)Washington: $40.66 (survey)Wayne: $34.78 (survey)Webster: $66.45 (union)Winnebago: $66.45 (union)Winneshiek: $35.27 (survey)Woodbury: $68.45 (union)Worth: $35.27 (survey)Wright: $66.45 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$34.78$44.07$57.99$66.45n/asurvey 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$40$60$80/hrWoodbury (Sioux City): market median $29.28, prevailing (union) $68.45, gap +$39.17Woodbury (Sioux City)+$39.17Harrison (Omaha): market median $30.48, prevailing (union) $68.45, gap +$37.97Harrison (Omaha)+$37.97Story (Ames): market median $30.68, prevailing (union) $68.45, gap +$37.77Story (Ames)+$37.77Johnson (Iowa City): market median $29.49, prevailing (union) $67.08, gap +$37.59Johnson (Iowa City)+$37.59Scott (Davenport): market median $36.69, prevailing (union) $73.15, gap +$36.46Scott (Davenport)+$36.46Dubuque (Dubuque): market median $29.51, prevailing (union) $65.33, gap +$35.82Dubuque (Dubuque)+$35.82Dallas (Des Moines): market median $36.08, prevailing (union) $68.45, gap +$32.37Dallas (Des Moines)+$32.37Benton (Cedar Rapids): market median $40.01, prevailing (union) $67.08, gap +$27.07Benton (Cedar Rapids)+$27.07Black Hawk (Waterloo): market median $29.91, prevailing (survey) $34.02, gap +$4.11Black Hawk (Waterloo)+$4.11
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for plumbers, metro counties in Iowa.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
ClintonUnion PLUM0025-006 2025-05-01$46.10$27.05$73.15IA20260038
ScottUnion PLUM0025-006 2025-05-01$46.10$27.05$73.15IA20260073
CrawfordUnion PLUM0033-001 2025-06-01$45.20$23.25$68.45IA20260039
DallasUnion PLUM0033-004 2025-06-01$45.20$23.25$68.45IA20260064
HarrisonUnion PLUM0033-028 2025-06-01$45.20$23.25$68.45IA20260067
MillsUnion PLUM0033-028 2025-06-01$45.20$23.25$68.45IA20260070
PolkUnion PLUM0033-004 2025-06-01$45.20$23.25$68.45IA20260071
PottawattamieUnion PLUM0033-028 2025-06-01$45.20$23.25$68.45IA20260072
StoryUnion PLUM0033-004 2025-06-01$45.20$23.25$68.45IA20260074
WapelloUnion PLUM0033-004 2025-06-01$45.20$23.25$68.45IA20260055
WarrenUnion PLUM0033-004 2025-06-01$45.20$23.25$68.45IA20260075
WoodburyUnion PLUM0033-028 2025-06-01$45.20$23.25$68.45IA20260077
BentonUnion PLUM0125-004 2025-06-30$45.51$21.57$67.08IA20260078
JohnsonUnion PLUM0125-004 2025-06-30$45.51$21.57$67.08IA20260068
JonesUnion PLUM0125-004 2025-06-30$45.51$21.57$67.08IA20260078

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Iowa prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Iowa?

92.4kConstruction jobsIowa, 2026-09
+4.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202620k40k60k80k100k120k1990199520002005201020152020202592kSep 2026
Construction employment in Iowa (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 89 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 48,022 in 2015 to 55,511 in 2025, +15.6%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Polk County1484,936$93,825$1,804
Woodbury County48705$90,444$1,739
Linn County722,122$87,280$1,678
Benton County794$84,377$1,623
Scott County551,151$83,930$1,614
Pottawattamie County38397$80,299$1,544
Wapello County16279$79,163$1,522
Boone County9190$78,983$1,519
Black Hawk County30521$77,457$1,490
Carroll County14149$75,167$1,446
Johnson County40443$71,992$1,384
Dubuque County38354$71,482$1,375

Keep comparing

Plumber pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Iowa

More on Iowa

Questions this page answers

How much do plumbers make in Iowa?

The median plumber in Iowa earned $30.72 an hour ($63,890 a year) in May 2025, about the same as the national median of $30.67. The middle half earn $24.95–$41.02; the top 10% earn more than $46.87.

Where does Iowa rank for plumber pay?

Iowa ranks 26th of 51 states for plumber pay, with a median of $30.72 an hour, and 15th after adjusting for Iowa's cost of living (BEA price parity 87.8, US = 100).

What is the union plumber rate in Iowa?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for plumbers in 39 counties, with a typical package of $66.45 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many plumbers work in Iowa?

BLS counted 5,730 plumbers in Iowa in May 2025, 3.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.23; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is plumber work growing in Iowa?

The BLS employer survey count of plumbers in Iowa went from 4,540 in 2015 to 5,730 in 2025, +26.2%, and +28.5% since 2019. Iowa's labor market agency projects +6.8% growth for plumbers between 2024 and 2034, from 6,700 to 7,150 jobs.

How many plumber openings a year are there in Iowa?

Iowa projects about 600 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, Iowa 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 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Iowa labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.