Skilled Wages

Plumber salary in Kentucky

Median $30.84 an hour for 6,360 plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$30.84/hrMedian hourly wageKentucky, May data
$64,160/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$21.57 – $45.5310th to 90th percentilehourly range
6,360Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-09-28

Plumber pay in Kentucky: the full range

Wage percentiles, KentuckyMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrKentucky: 10th $21.57 · 25th $24.04 · median $30.84 · 75th $40.79 · 90th $45.53Kentucky$30.84$21.57$45.53United 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: Kentucky vs United States, May 2025.

Kentucky ranks 24th of 51 states for median plumber pay, and 21st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $34.19). 6,360 plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$21.57 – $24.04$44,860 – $50,000roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$24.04 – $40.79$50,000 – $84,840the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$40.79 – $45.53$84,840 – $94,710the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Plumber pay by metro in Kentucky

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrPaducah: $39.48Paducah$39.48Louisville: $35.91Louisville$35.91Cincinnati: $31.33Cincinnati$31.33Owensboro: $30.92Owensboro$30.92Bowling Green: $30.89Bowling Green$30.89Huntington: $29.88Huntington$29.88Lexington: $29.75Lexington$29.75Elizabethtown: $28.49Elizabethtown$28.49Clarksville: $28.33Clarksville$28.33
Median hourly wage for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters by metro area in Kentucky, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Paducah$22.28$39.48$45.8638028% above
Louisville$23.20$35.91$45.642,78016% above
Cincinnati$22.52$31.33$48.943,6402% above
Owensboro$22.14$30.92$43.83180about the same as
Bowling Green$22.14$30.89$45.03160about the same as
Huntington$18.76$29.88$41.754603% below
Lexington$21.77$29.75$46.258104% below
Elizabethtown$19.95$28.49$44.881808% below
Clarksville$18.26$28.33$53.202808% below

Plumber wages in Kentucky over time

Kentucky, 1999-2025KentuckyUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$30.84Kentucky$30.67United States
Median hourly wage for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, Kentucky vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearKentucky $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$17.50$33.82$17.416,850
2000$18.87$35.28$18.195,690
2001$17.63$32.05$18.615,790
2002$20.26$36.26$19.315,580
2003$21.25$37.18$19.695,890
2004$18.11$30.86$19.854,880
2005$19.44$32.05$20.275,150
2006$20.34$32.48$20.565,540
2007$19.59$30.42$21.205,550
2008$20.32$30.38$21.945,840
2009$20.30$30.46$22.275,640
2010$19.63$28.98$22.434,950
2011$20.40$29.20$22.965,310
2012$20.77$29.12$23.624,770
2013$22.35$30.89$24.134,800
2014$21.64$29.43$24.365,200
2015$22.43$30.47$24.345,490
2016$23.60$31.66$24.746,450
2017$23.86$31.34$25.286,230
2018$25.58$32.80$25.926,970
2019$27.10$34.13$26.526,360
2020$27.88$34.68$27.086,010
2021$28.40$33.74$28.794,740
2022$27.80$30.58$28.895,900
2023$29.11$30.76$29.595,760
2024$29.98$30.77$30.275,500
2025$30.84$30.84$30.676,360

In today's dollars, the median plumber wage in Kentucky changed by +1.2% over the last ten years of data.

Union scale and prevailing wage for plumbers in Kentucky

On federally funded construction in Kentucky, contractors must pay plumbers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 56 of the 120 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $64.54 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $50.08). 64 of the 120 counties still use a survey rate dated 2015 or earlier (for example Adair County at $50.08). The market median for the state is $30.84.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, KYAdair: $50.08 (survey)Allen: $64.54 (union)Anderson: $43.98 (survey)Ballard: $64.54 (union)Barren: $50.08 (survey)Bath: $43.98 (survey)Bell: $51.38 (survey)Boone: $62.66 (union)Bourbon: $62.66 (union)Boyd: $62.66 (union)Boyle: $43.98 (survey)Bracken: $62.66 (union)Breathitt: $51.38 (survey)Breckinridge: $64.54 (union)Bullitt: $66.79 (union)Butler: $64.54 (union)Caldwell: $64.54 (union)Calloway: $64.54 (union)Campbell: $62.66 (union)Carlisle: $64.54 (union)Carroll: $43.98 (survey)Carter: $51.38 (survey)Casey: $50.08 (survey)Christian: $64.54 (union)Clark: $62.66 (union)Clay: $51.38 (survey)Clinton: $50.08 (survey)Crittenden: $64.54 (union)Cumberland: $50.08 (survey)Daviess: $64.54 (union)Edmonson: $64.54 (union)Elliott: $51.38 (survey)Estill: $43.98 (survey)Fayette: $62.66 (union)Fleming: $43.98 (survey)Floyd: $51.38 (survey)Franklin: $43.98 (survey)Fulton: $64.54 (union)Gallatin: $62.66 (union)Garrard: $43.98 (survey)Grant: $62.66 (union)Graves: $64.54 (union)Grayson: $64.54 (union)Green: $50.08 (survey)Greenup: $62.66 (union)Hancock: $64.54 (union)Hardin: $66.79 (union)Harlan: $51.38 (survey)Harrison: $43.98 (survey)Hart: $50.08 (survey)Henderson: $64.54 (union)Henry: $66.79 (union)Hickman: $64.54 (union)Hopkins: $64.54 (union)Jackson: $51.38 (survey)Jefferson: $66.79 (union)Jessamine: $62.66 (union)Johnson: $51.38 (survey)Kenton: $62.66 (union)Knott: $51.38 (survey)Knox: $50.08 (survey)Larue: $66.79 (union)Laurel: $50.08 (survey)Lawrence: $51.38 (survey)Lee: $51.38 (survey)Leslie: $51.38 (survey)Letcher: $51.38 (survey)Lewis: $43.98 (survey)Lincoln: $43.98 (survey)Livingston: $64.54 (union)Logan: $50.08 (survey)Lyon: $64.54 (union)McCracken: $64.54 (union)McCreary: $50.08 (survey)McLean: $64.54 (union)Madison: $43.98 (survey)Magoffin: $51.38 (survey)Marion: $50.08 (survey)Marshall: $64.54 (union)Martin: $51.38 (survey)Mason: $43.98 (survey)Meade: $66.79 (union)Menifee: $43.98 (survey)Mercer: $43.98 (survey)Metcalfe: $50.08 (survey)Monroe: $50.08 (survey)Montgomery: $43.98 (survey)Morgan: $51.38 (survey)Muhlenberg: $64.54 (union)Nelson: $66.79 (union)Nicholas: $43.98 (survey)Ohio: $64.54 (union)Oldham: $66.79 (union)Owen: $43.98 (survey)Owsley: $51.38 (survey)Pendleton: $62.66 (union)Perry: $51.38 (survey)Pike: $51.38 (survey)Powell: $43.98 (survey)Pulaski: $50.08 (survey)Robertson: $43.98 (survey)Rockcastle: $43.98 (survey)Rowan: $43.98 (survey)Russell: $50.08 (survey)Scott: $62.66 (union)Shelby: $66.79 (union)Simpson: $50.08 (survey)Spencer: $66.79 (union)Taylor: $50.08 (survey)Todd: $64.54 (union)Trigg: $64.54 (union)Trimble: $66.79 (union)Union: $64.54 (union)Warren: $64.54 (union)Washington: $43.98 (survey)Wayne: $50.08 (survey)Webster: $64.54 (union)Whitley: $50.08 (survey)Wolfe: $51.38 (survey)Woodford: $62.66 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$50.08$51.38$62.66$64.54survey 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)$20$40$60$80/hrHardin (Elizabethtown): market median $28.49, prevailing (union) $66.79, gap +$38.30Hardin (Elizabethtown)+$38.30Christian (Clarksville): market median $28.33, prevailing (union) $64.54, gap +$36.21Christian (Clarksville)+$36.21Allen (Bowling Green): market median $30.89, prevailing (union) $64.54, gap +$33.65Allen (Bowling Green)+$33.65Daviess (Owensboro): market median $30.92, prevailing (union) $64.54, gap +$33.62Daviess (Owensboro)+$33.62Bourbon (Lexington): market median $29.75, prevailing (union) $62.66, gap +$32.91Bourbon (Lexington)+$32.91Boyd (Huntington): market median $29.88, prevailing (union) $62.66, gap +$32.78Boyd (Huntington)+$32.78Boone (Cincinnati): market median $31.33, prevailing (union) $62.66, gap +$31.33Boone (Cincinnati)+$31.33Bullitt (Louisville): market median $35.91, prevailing (union) $66.79, gap +$30.88Bullitt (Louisville)+$30.88Ballard (Paducah): market median $39.48, prevailing (union) $64.54, gap +$25.06Ballard (Paducah)+$25.06
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for plumbers, metro counties in Kentucky.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BullittUnion PLUM0502-006 2024-08-01$41.90$24.89$66.79KY20260087
HardinUnion PLUM0502-006 2024-08-01$41.90$24.89$66.79KY20260091
HenryUnion PLUM0502-006 2024-08-01$41.90$24.89$66.79KY20260104
JeffersonUnion PLUM0502-006 2024-08-01$41.90$24.89$66.79KY20260093
LarueUnion PLUM0502-006 2024-08-01$41.90$24.89$66.79KY20260105
MeadeUnion PLUM0502-006 2024-08-01$41.90$24.89$66.79KY20260105
NelsonUnion PLUM0502-006 2024-08-01$41.90$24.89$66.79KY20260096
OldhamUnion PLUM0502-006 2024-08-01$41.90$24.89$66.79KY20260104
ShelbyUnion PLUM0502-006 2024-08-01$41.90$24.89$66.79KY20260106
SpencerUnion PLUM0502-006 2024-08-01$41.90$24.89$66.79KY20260106
TrimbleUnion PLUM0502-006 2024-08-01$41.90$24.89$66.79KY20260106
AllenUnion PLUM0184-006 2025-07-01$44.26$20.28$64.54KY20260099
BallardUnion PLUM0184-003 2025-07-01$44.26$20.28$64.54KY20260041
BreckinridgeUnion PLUM0184-003 2025-07-01$44.26$20.28$64.54KY20260041
ButlerUnion PLUM0184-006 2025-07-01$44.26$20.28$64.54KY20260099

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Kentucky prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Kentucky?

96.4kConstruction jobsKentucky, 2026-08
+1.3%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202640k60k80k100k120k1990199520002005201020152020202596kAug 2026
Construction employment in Kentucky (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
Jefferson County5,535$85,747$1,649
Hardin County560$83,483$1,605
Fayette County2,213$79,961$1,538
Mason County257$79,749$1,534
Henderson County186$78,774$1,515
Meade County213$78,197$1,504
Campbell County360$77,416$1,489
McCracken County684$75,366$1,449
Kenton County587$73,926$1,422
Harrison County9$73,869$1,421
Scott County176$73,598$1,415
Larue County82$73,473$1,413

Keep comparing

Plumber pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Kentucky

Questions this page answers

How much do plumbers make in Kentucky?

The median plumber in Kentucky earned $30.84 an hour ($64,160 a year) in May 2025, 1% above the national median of $30.67. The middle half earn $24.04–$40.79; the top 10% earn more than $45.53.

Where does Kentucky rank for plumber pay?

Kentucky ranks 24th of 51 states for plumber pay, with a median of $30.84 an hour, and 21st after adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.2, US = 100).

What is the union plumber rate in Kentucky?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for plumbers in 56 counties, with a typical package of $64.54 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many plumbers work in Kentucky?

BLS counted 6,360 plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in Kentucky in May 2025, 3.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.06; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Kentucky 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.